Rise of the Planet of the Apes

This is a must see film! The use of CGI technology and special effects are just outstanding. Not only are the visual aspects excellent, but even the story line as well as the characters, managed to bring something special to the film. Some may disagree with me and feel that it will never out shine the original 1986 Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but for me I just feel that this film tops all the others that have been coming out lately.

This film is filled of drama, action, adventure, science fiction and fantasy. It also has a way of engaging the audience through feelings of emotion, violence, intolerance and inhumanity. This 'emotion' comes through the depiction of the apes, it is not every day we see these animals with such human like charcateristics. It is a two hour film that will not leave you board out of your mind and will provoke anticipation for the sequel, as the end of the film feels like just the beginning.

Will Rodman (James Franco) is a Scientist that is trying to find a cure for Alzheimer's. They do this by testing the drugs on chimps. However, the operation is called off when one particular chimp seems to go a bit crazy and destroy the inside of the building where the testing is conducted. Later we find out that she didnt have a reaction to the drug, but that she was protecting her baby chimp - Caeser. This is the chimp that Will takes home and brings up. This is where his father, Charles Rodman (John Lithgow) who is suffereing from Alzheimer's disease grows attached to Caeser. Later Will gives his father the drug, only to find him the next morning reciting Bach at the piano. However, the effects of the drug soon wear off and the disease comes back with vengence. Caeser, received the drug through his mother at birth and is 'super intelligent'. We learn that the chimps and humans react differently to the drug.

Later, he soon comes face to face with the other 'side' to human beings, cruelty and heartlessness. This is where he begins the revolution against this inhumanity, in order to save his fellow chimps. However, this is not seen straight away, he goes through stages of self-doubt, terror and then only realizes that he is different from his fellow companions. Freida Pinto (Caroline Aran) plays the Veterinarian that Will falls in love with, but she is also the one that right from the beginning warns him about becoming too attached to Caeser. Caeser is the protagonist in this film, we feel for him during his hardships. He gives us mixed emotions in the sense that we feel for him, cheer him on but at the same time fear him. This emotion is evident when the battles takes place on the Golden Gate Bridge. We see so many emotions coming through Caeser, which gives us a reason to be on his side. The emotion is evident right from the beginning of the film, with regards to the interaction we see between Will, Charles and Caeser. We also feel the same emotion when after the battle Caeser and Will have a moment to confront each other and take different paths.

 A movie you don't want to miss on the big screen. It will capture you from beginning to end.

Directed by:   Rupert Wyatt's
Written by:     Pierre Boulle, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver
Time:             2hr