"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is one of the year's best films the best "Apes" since the original

Rating: 10/10 (6 March 2012)

The 2011 reboot "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is directed by Rupert Wyatt from a script by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. Starring James Franco, Freida Pinto and John Lithgow as our human leads, the film is most notable for yet another marvelous motion-capture performance by Andy Serkis (Golum from the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and the titular character from the 2005 "King Kong" remake), whom steals the show with a tragic, touching and nuanced performance as Caesar, the ape who eventually leads the rebellion against the humans. This film, in every sense of the word, is what I can call a complete and utter accomplishment. It is a strongly written character study, an accomplished action film, and an effects-driven thriller. It succeeds on literally all levels. I am in awe of this film.
Franco portrays Will Rodman, a scientist searching for a cure to the dreaded Alzheimer's disease, which his father Charles (Lithgow) suffers. He works for Steven Jacobs (David Dyelowd) at an immense research facility, where his experimental drug is tested on apes captured from the wild. The apes show positive results from the experiments, with improved brain function. However, the program is terminated when one of the apes goes on a wild rampage to protect her newborn infant, and all of the apes are ordered to be put down. Not having the heart to kill the infant ape, Will adopts it and names it Caesar, taking it home with him secretly. Caesar has inherited the drug's effects from his mother, and displays intellectual development that not only matches, but far exceeds that of a human child of a comparable age. When will also decides to test the drug on his father, whose condition is rapidly deteriorating, Will discovers that he too improves dramatically, even beyond the normal level of function- between Caesar and Charles, Will realizes that the drug does far more than cure damage- it improved brain function and can potentially increase intelligence and problem-solving to super-human levels.
However, as Caesar grows older and reaches his "adolescent years", he becomes aware of his awkward station in the world, and begins to express doubt (via sign language) to Will about his life and his past. When he is captured by animal control after attacking a neighbor who was fighting with Charles, Caesar is thrown into a sanctuary run by the corrupt John Landon (Brian Cox, slimy and delightful as always) and his violent son Dodge (Tom Felton of "Harry Potter" fame), where he encounters other apes for the first time, and feels more and more disconnected from the human world and from his adoptive human father-figure. As he is mistreated by John and Dodge, he eventually decides to sever all emotional ties to the human world, and to lead a revolt with the help of the other apes (Maurice, Rocket, Coba, Buck, Cornelia, etc, all played marvelously by motion-captured actors) from the sanctuary, that he infects with the drug, as they begin a search for a new home.
The film, as I said before, is a great and well-made ride. The script is very tight and well-paced and makes every effort to establish and develop all characters, human and ape alike. You will shed tears for Caesar, feel thrilled for Will when he feels the drug has accomplished its goal, feel happiness for Charles when his condition improves this film truly captures and depicts realistic, living, breathing characters. Wyatt's direction is remarkably impressive, and is very kinetic and vibrant. He knows how to communicate themes and how to wow you with epic action. He is a fantastic director, there is no doubt. Patrick Doyle's musical score is a triumph and is full of memorable themes and thought-out compositions. All of the human actors are incredible, particularly Franco and Cox, whom never fail to disappoint, and Lithgow is a joy as always.
But as many have mentioned, Serkis is truly the heart of this film. His portrayal of Caesar will capture your heart and your imagination. Caesar is not only an incredible realization of computer graphics (he looks perfectly real in almost every single shot), and another leap forward in motion-capture technology but he's also a three-dimensional, thought-out and highly developed character with his share of flaws and triumphs. He is one of the most compelling characters you are likely to see in any film from 2011, and has all of the flaws and perfections and imperfections of a real, living "human." He is a very fleshed-out character. I watched the making-of material on the Blu-Ray and they showed Serkis performing in character as Caesar, and it is incredible how much of the character was communicated by him and translated perfectly by the Motion-capture technology. Serkis should have won an award for this performance. Plain and simple.
I'm having trouble thinking of any flaws, to be perfectly honest. This is a rare "perfect" (or as close to perfect as one can be) film. I am highly excited for the upcoming sequel that Wyatt has planned, and will eagerly await its release.
This is easily the best "of the Apes" film since the original Charleton Heston-starring/Rod Serling-written classic. This is, to me, a perfect 10. It is light-years beyond the last messy reboot, and even beyond any of the sequels to the original. This is the future of the franchise. This movie is awesome!