Film Review: Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes

It's fair to say that after 1973's Battle For The Planet Of The Apes, the franchise took knock after knock. The next year, the ill fated TV show hit the airwaves, lasting only 13 episodes. But at the same time, the original 5 films were re-released at cinemas, as well as a slew of merchandise which paved the way for merch saturation for films like Star Wars.

There was a similarly short lived animated series, which only lasted a year, then things went quiet, save for the occasional TV reference like the inspired musical parody in The Simpsons. And then, in 2001 the remake was released. It was terrible, and in my opinion was the start of the slippery slope that is Tim Burton's output in the last decade. Slaves talking, Mark Wahlberg, THAT terrible ending. It was a major misfire, and the apes vanished again, till now, ten years later.

Reading several interviews (some that contradict others, it seems) director of the newest entry into the franchise, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, Rupert Wyatt states that is the beginning of a new series of films, rather than a prequel to the original, but from where I sat, it seems that it can be both. There's too much happening in a background plot (a missing space mission - I mean, come on!) for it NOT to be a prequel. I know we saw the planet pre-ape in the original movies, but this really slots in nicely.

The story begins with Will Rodman (James Franco), a scientist developing a cure for Alzheimers by testing on chimpanzees. After a disastrous first test, Will is left to care for a baby ape, the offspring of the ape that was being tested on. Bringing him home to live with him and his Alzheimer suffering father Charles (John Lithgow), Will discovers that the ape, named Caesar (a nod to the original films only) is making major advances in terms of intelligence, and as several years pass, Caesar grows up with the family, but after an unfortunate and violent incident with their neighbour, he is sent to a facility for Primates run by John Landon (Brian Cox). Mirroring what happens to the humans in the original, the apes are treated badly by the likes of Landon's son Dodge (Tom Felton, whose characters name is another reference to the original), and before a long an uprising erupts that will start to change the planet forever...

This is truly the film that fans of the Apes films have been waiting for, a telling of events that led to what becomes the Planet Of The Apes. The aforementioned space mission, that is only mentioned briefly, or shown on televisions is bound to become the space mission that winds up in the future, where apes rule. But who knows whether that will be part of this series of films.

I mention a series of films, because the film is very open ended. It's clearly only the start of things (and a post first round of credits scene seems to reinforce that, and what a start! It's got all the elements of what made (some of) the original films so good, a combination of drama, action, social satire and some lighter moments too. But it stays true to the originals but staying dark for the most part. Whilst not quite reaching the misery of say, Beneath or Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes (and there are some story similarities to Conquest, this is a good thing) it's certainly not a positive film as it nears the end. You know what's going to happen as a result.

The acting across the board is fine, with two standouts, namely John Lithgow in what must be a very difficult role, which he handles with great tact and tenderness. And there's Andy Serkis as Caesar, using motion capture technology which is what they used in Avatar, but on the next level, essentially. There's is so much emotion put across just by facial expressions and movements, it's a spectacular performance. It's hard to believe that an avid Apes series fan such as myself did not care for a minute that it wasn't humans in makeup. It's how they evolve, and just jaw droppingly stunning.

Fans of the original series are treated to a slew of in-jokes, from character names like Cornelia and Maurice (references to characters and actors from the first film) to even a visual gag for that most shocking of endings. But the best reference is the most obvious, and it's more what happens after it that will get you. I saw it in a full screen, and EVERYONE gasped at it. One of those special moments you can only get in a cinema.

It took 38 years for Planet Of The Apes to return (and return in the correct manner - I'm talking to you Mr. Burton, your film doesn't count) to the big screen, and it not only has supplied a entry to match the original, it's kick started a entire new series of films AND turned into one of the best films of the Summer, and the year.

*****
Finally, the Apes return in this stunning origin story. If it's a prequel it was an amazing way to tell the story, if not it's an equally amazing way to start a new series of films. Fans will love it, newcomers too. Run, don't walk to the cinema ASAP.