A surprise package for skeptical viewers, and I would say seeing is believing

Rating: 8/10 (9 January 2017)

Reviewed February 2011
Unabashedly good fun. It is based on a winning formula that has been tried upon an enormous number of times and only a few have succeeded in execution and this will be right among the best. The thrills, visuals and drama are just breathtaking.
Will Rodman (James Franco) is a bio-scientist on the verge of pitching his latest invention, a cure for Alzheimer's disease currently being tested upon apes. All seems to be going well when the ape being tested upon goes berserk before a demo resulting in temporary suspension of the project. Later Will and the team realizes that the ape that was to represent the demo, just had given birth to its child and the earlier reaction was protective than aggressive. Will adopts the baby secretly and names him Caesar. Caesar has inherited the vaccine given to his mother and displays extraordinary analytical skills and emotions. In a freak incident, Caesar attacks a neighbor and gets detained. Spending time with his species for the first time and realizing the conditions of the place he is in and the attitude of humans towards the caged animals, he starts a revolt.
Andy Serkis needs no introduction and one should not expect anything less than excellence if he is playing a central character, an ape. He delivers just that. He and the technical team makes you believe in Caesar's emotions, the pain and the urge to hit back. Animation is excellent and screenplay never drags. Has never been a fan of this franchise and this movie is the one to suck many new fans just like me. James Franco delivers a controlled performance and for most part lets Caesar to take center stage. Frieda Pinto is neither effective nor serves as eye candy. Background score mixes with the action and emotions well.
A surprise package for skeptical viewers, and I would say seeing is believing.