A Fun Summer Sci-fi film

Rating: 7/10 (10 July 2014)

I was introduced two the first Planet of the Apes films when I was around 10. While I enjoyed them, they weren't anything that I wanted to view again. I got around to watching this film with no anticipation or any idea of the concept but merely a recommendation from my friends. I witnessed a film that impressed me and continues to do so. While the CGI apes are occasionally phony, I was sincerely impressed on a special effects level and a sci-fi story level. The downside however are the human characters. Franco has been given very little to work with, and the rest are a bit cartoony: the boss that is only concerned about money, an overly-aggravated neighbour and a bratty aggravated teen played by Malfoy. His father also doesn't react too concerned when he is axed off. Franco sees his pet chimp lead an army of apes into the redwoods however he isn't scared, worried or any normal reaction, in fact he seems proud that his pet ape lead an army of apes and killed innocent people. The one plot convenience that bothered me is that, Caesar, our leading ape was born with increased brain function which is hereditary due to his mother being injected with an anti-Alzheimer formula. When spending time with other apes he exposes them to this medicine which makes them smarter. After they escape they rally up some more apes from zoos who haven't been exposed. And I guess they instinctively know what they are doing and where they are going. Other than that, the best aspect is the apes who give almost human-like performances with real emotion. Go see it. 7/10