Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Rating: 10/10 (13 December 2011)

How do I start a review about a movie so damn fantastic? I can't praise this movie enough. It blew me away in every conceivable way. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (ignore the awful title) is a prequel that also works as a reboot. Something 20th Century Fox also did well with X-Men First Class. It plants the first seeds of increased ape intelligence and how the human race becomes endangered. Franco plays a scientist battling Alzheimer's. His experiments have an adverse reaction on a chimp, which gives birth to a super intelligent baby. He raises the chimp at home, but as it grows it has trouble adapting to life. He is soon shown the cruel nature of humans, and starts a revolution against his human oppresses.
Let me start with the human elements of this movie. They are the key to this films greatness. Franco and Lithgow share extraordinary chemistry . It's heartbreaking to see Lithgow seesaw between a fractured mind and getting healthier. It makes Franco's actions perfectly understandable. Pinto works as some eye-candy and also the voice of reason. She's the one telling Franco to be careful with his connection to Caesar. Oyelowo plays your usual greedy business man, but he isn't afraid to put a stop to experiments he feels go too far. He also takes responsibility for his actions and tries to correct them. Cox and Felton play grimy sanctuary workers with a malicious streak against apes. Felton may just be playing Malfoy extreme, but he does it very well. It's important to hate him so much, as it makes us root for these apes. Their inhumanity is just as important as the apes humanity.
Next, let's focus on the apes. WOW! I'm no fan of CGI, but this necessary. You couldn't do this with people. Sure they don't always look real, but it never stood out during the film because I was absorbed into this world. The subtle touches to the facial expressions could never be done with make-up. These are special effects made special by the story. Caesar is the protagonist of this movie. Not the humans. We have to feel for him. This is the greatest CGI creation ever. More so than Gollum, as the whole film rests on Caesar's shoulders. We have to identify with him, sympathise him, cheer him on AND be terrified of him. Sometimes all at the same time. Caesar's rise into revolutionary figure is perfectly believable. He starts with self doubt, which turns into fear, and soon he realises he is different and can make a change.
Caesar is also surrounded by a group of apes that compliment him. A vicious leader that shows him the power of strength, a confidant that also knows sign, a large brute known as Buck who trusts Caesar with his life, and one that may cause problems in the future.
I started the film smiling and almost cried from happiness. Just seeing the interactions between Caesar, Franco, and Lithgow was enough to create a powerful emotional moment. It then escalated me to anger and despair as Caesar is mistreated. As Caesar rises I was with him every step of the way. The final reel is an all out Apeocalypse. It's a zombie film with apes, making it that much better. Wyatt also offers great visual moments, such as the zoo apes using bars from their cage as weapons. The weapons of oppression are soon used for freedom.
The action was also handled amazingly, we swing with the chimps, and feel every hit. I cheered the chimps, but cowered as they beat humans. This is something you need to see. A Hollywood blockbuster with heart and balls.