The Origin of Species!

Rating: 9/10 (28 August 2011)

I haven't reviewed a film for quite a while now, and the main reason is that for the past year or so, films that get ratings of 7 or 8 on this site have proved to be rather disappointing.
So again I saw a rating of 8 and thought I might be disappointed.
HOW WRONG I WAS! This film has an almost perfect mix of script, acting and effects to keep you thrilled and tense throughout the story. Not only that but it provides a perfect explanation for how the original story began. There are no loose ends and you really get a feeling of "Wow!! THAT'S how it happened!" (I have just dug out the original with Charlton Heston to watch again!)
It also provides you with a very deep understanding of the enmity between the apes and man - in fact, it drives home vividly the desperation of caged animals.
Seeing the protagonist Caesar - the utterly brilliant Andy Serkis - grow from a baby chimp to the leader of the Apes is in itself worth the ticket.
And for those expecting blockbuster action, you won't be disappointed either! The bridge scene and the prior buildup to it must be one of the best choreographed fights I have ever seen on screen - literally mind-blowing...
I could not find a single fault with this film, and came out of the cinema gushing, excited, and elated. SUPERB!!