Culture

Directed by Rupert Wyatt, (4.5/5).

How to make a successful prequel to a disastrous first film: 1. Ignore original movie in its entirety. 2. Replace bad actors with good actors. 3. Ditch terrible ape costumes and go digital, employing Weta motion-capture. 4. Reboot.
 
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is an origins story that explains how the apes became intelligent and began their conquest of the planet. Will Rodman (James Franco) is a researcher who has developed a retrovirus to treat Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases by repairing eroded pathways in the brain. One of the apes Will has treated with the virus escapes her cell and disrupts a board meeting, leading to the abandonment of the project and the ordered destruction of the test apes. Finding a baby ape hidden in a cell, Will is implored by the ape handler to take it home or else put it down himself. Will names the ape Caesar and, after taking it home, realises it has increased intelligence and raises it as part of his family.
 
I could give a more detailed description of the story but I really don’t want to give too much away, it’s a really enjoyable ride and the less you know now the better, so do not go and watch trailers or clips for this film!
 
Although I’m not much of a fan of digitally produced animals, after the initial shock of seeing apes not dressed in Cadbury-esque costumes, you can settle in and let digital detail work wonders on the emotions and actions of the newly refurbished apes. Andy Serkis plays the lead ape Caesar, and you really can’t imagine anyone else doing a better job at translating human emotions. Give this guy an award already! He totally deserves it.
 
All in all this is a damn good film. Interesting storyline, good actors, appropriate music and fantastic visual effects all come together to make a good fucking movie! It is a surprisingly difficult task to make a well-crafted, lighthearted action flick these days but they got it right with Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Make sure you see this in the cinema, it’s worth the cost and you will feel happy, despite humanity’s impending ape-related doom.