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From Amazon.co.uk
A galaxy's worth of nihilism buried under a 70s Velveeta topping, The Planet of the Apes series stands today as a dark marvel of pop cinema, a group of wildly variable films that combine to form a giant inescapable kiss-off to the human race. (That said message was able to withstand such distractions as ever-cheapening makeup and Charlton Heston loudly pounding sand makes its achievements even more impressive, really.) Boasting a keen awareness of its predecessors' particular charms and a gem of a central CGI performance by Andy Serkis, Rise of the Planet of the Apes makes for a rather miraculous summer movie: a big-budget special effects extravaganza that also delivers a killer backhand. Sort of redoing 1972's Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, the film follows the events set in motion when a bereaved scientist (James Franco) attempts to create a cure for Alzheimer's, resulting in a supernaturally intelligent chimp named Caesar. The old bit about science tampering in God's domain quickly applies. Director Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist) displays an admirable sense of pacing, deftly levying the escalating action scenes with small character moments from the likes of John Lithgow and Brian Cox. That said, the film belongs to Caesar, whose path from wide-eyed innocent to reluctant revolutionary generates the ironic pulp empathy that gave the original series such a kick. Watching the climactic confrontation on the Golden Gate Bridge, it's distressingly easy to figure out which side to root for. Chuck Heston would no doubt grit his teeth in approval. Note: Those skeptical that this revamp could wholly retain the original's doomy backbeat would do well to stick around during the end credits. --Andrew Wright
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
53 of 56 people found the following review helpful
By Rob Payne
Format:Blu-ray
What a very very good film this is. In `Rise of The Planet of the Apes', English director Rupert Wyatt has a stab at doing what Tim Burton failed spectacularly to do in 2001 - resurrecting the Planet of the Apes franchise. What Wyatt has created, against all the odds, is a thoughtful, intelligent and stirring piece which provides the perfect antidote to all the silly, lacklustre `Apes' films since Franklin J. Schaffer's classic original from 1968.
The film charts the rise of Caesar, an orphaned laboratory chimp, from timid youngster to a sort of revolutionary leader of his fellow Simians. Will Rodman (James Franco) is a scientist at a pharmaceutical company researching a new drug and potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease that reverses the damage to brain tissue, tested on chimps. The effect it has on these animals is to rapidly increase intelligence to an unprecedented degree. After one of the apes goes berserk and trashes the laboratory, the drug is rejected by investors and all but one of the chimps, the baby Caesar, are killed. Will takes the chimp home with him and raises it himself but continues to use the drug on his father (John Lithgow), an Alzheimer's sufferer. Needless to say things go awry, and Caesar is taken away to a special facility where a large number of primates are held in captivity. Along the way there are various maltreatments of Caesar and his fellow chimps at the hands of sadistic humans, all of which contributes to his rise to power. Here begins the most powerful section of the movie, as Caesar gains the trust of his fellow apes and then eventually begins to command them.... Read more ›
The film charts the rise of Caesar, an orphaned laboratory chimp, from timid youngster to a sort of revolutionary leader of his fellow Simians. Will Rodman (James Franco) is a scientist at a pharmaceutical company researching a new drug and potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease that reverses the damage to brain tissue, tested on chimps. The effect it has on these animals is to rapidly increase intelligence to an unprecedented degree. After one of the apes goes berserk and trashes the laboratory, the drug is rejected by investors and all but one of the chimps, the baby Caesar, are killed. Will takes the chimp home with him and raises it himself but continues to use the drug on his father (John Lithgow), an Alzheimer's sufferer. Needless to say things go awry, and Caesar is taken away to a special facility where a large number of primates are held in captivity. Along the way there are various maltreatments of Caesar and his fellow chimps at the hands of sadistic humans, all of which contributes to his rise to power. Here begins the most powerful section of the movie, as Caesar gains the trust of his fellow apes and then eventually begins to command them.... Read more ›
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By F_wise
Format:DVD
For being a girl aged 19, when my boyfriend finally decided to buy this film I was thinking is this really a film for my viewing? & how wrong was I?
Only seeing James Franco in a Spiderman & 127 hours I knew how good his acting could be, & was eager to see him act in a different genre of films.
This was definitely the film for him, I was hooked!
As me & my boyfriend sat down to watch this I didn't look over at the time once as it draws you straight into the story & what they are doing to the apes.
When the first ape is shot due to thinking its out of control Dr Franklin realises that she had a young ape to look after & thats all she was doing, so Will(James Franco) takes him home so they don't test on the young ape he soon grows into a clever ape, as he's trying to find a cure for alzeimers as his father (John Lithgow) has, & Cesar(the ape) is a very caring young ape!
With moments, when I went "aww" & moments I wanted to cry, I enjoyed this movie & will watch it again.
Another great performance by James Franco.
Only seeing James Franco in a Spiderman & 127 hours I knew how good his acting could be, & was eager to see him act in a different genre of films.
This was definitely the film for him, I was hooked!
As me & my boyfriend sat down to watch this I didn't look over at the time once as it draws you straight into the story & what they are doing to the apes.
When the first ape is shot due to thinking its out of control Dr Franklin realises that she had a young ape to look after & thats all she was doing, so Will(James Franco) takes him home so they don't test on the young ape he soon grows into a clever ape, as he's trying to find a cure for alzeimers as his father (John Lithgow) has, & Cesar(the ape) is a very caring young ape!
With moments, when I went "aww" & moments I wanted to cry, I enjoyed this movie & will watch it again.
Another great performance by James Franco.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Syriat
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the updated origin story of the Planet of The Apes series. Updated in terms of story, CGI and pace. The CGI was much feted before the release of the film and its a shame that the first real shot of the Ape in the lab isn't as clean as everything else. Because as a whole the CGI work is extremely impressive. The story is simple enough and if you can leave a little disbelief at the door you will be more than well entertained here. The acting is good. John Lithgow's part shows off his skills well as he plays the father who is struggling with Alzheimer's. The story goes along at a pace and has humour and doesn't overly play the sentiment card.
The one thing this also has is a lot of love the original material. Don't believe me go back and watch it again. Notice the Charlton Heston films in the Ape house. See the story from the TV in the background where the space mission is launched that will eventually come back to a Planet of The Apes. Its not just the repetition of the obvious line of dialogue here. The whole thing pays tribute to the previous films.
This film hasn't been mentioned in many best of lists from last year. But its probably the blockbuster of last year that actually lived up to its expectations. It bears repeated watching and if you haven't seen it then you are in for a treat.
The one thing this also has is a lot of love the original material. Don't believe me go back and watch it again. Notice the Charlton Heston films in the Ape house. See the story from the TV in the background where the space mission is launched that will eventually come back to a Planet of The Apes. Its not just the repetition of the obvious line of dialogue here. The whole thing pays tribute to the previous films.
This film hasn't been mentioned in many best of lists from last year. But its probably the blockbuster of last year that actually lived up to its expectations. It bears repeated watching and if you haven't seen it then you are in for a treat.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
The word reimagining is a much-abused one in movies, but Rise of the Planet of the Apes is such a superb example of how a disappointing film can be remade as a genuinely satisfying one by approaching the same basic story points from a very different angle. This isn't the conquest of the planet but the first step, and one that begins with the best intentions before escalating along with the genetically-enhanced chimp Caesar's growing intelligence. It manages to be both smart and entertaining, packing a lot more into its 105-minute running time than many a more bloated blockbuster and fits in firmly with the original series of films, from the references to Taylor's lost mission being launched to the origins of the plague that, in Conquest, was held responsible for the death of all domestic pets but here seems more dangerous to humans. And it's satisfying that, true to the Lawgiver's scrolls, it's the word No that is pivotal. Just as satisfyingly, it doesn't overdo the sly references to the original that are there to be discovered rather than hitting you over the head with them - Charlton Heston on TV, Caesar's mother sharing the same name the apes give Taylor in the original (Bright Eyes), an elderly orangutan called Maurice.
Abandoning prosthetics for mocap for the apes, the special effects are superb, allowing Andy Serkis to give another of his remarkable creature performances that was sadly ignored yet again at awards season while at the same time being far more convincingly simian than even the great John Chambers could manage. These apes look and move and behave like primates even in the exhilarating finale when the simian Spartacus re-enacts a moment from Kubrick's film before the impressive Golden Gate showdown.... Read more ›
Abandoning prosthetics for mocap for the apes, the special effects are superb, allowing Andy Serkis to give another of his remarkable creature performances that was sadly ignored yet again at awards season while at the same time being far more convincingly simian than even the great John Chambers could manage. These apes look and move and behave like primates even in the exhilarating finale when the simian Spartacus re-enacts a moment from Kubrick's film before the impressive Golden Gate showdown.... Read more ›
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not great.
Sorry, didn't do it for me. Found it too silly to be believable. Plus I don't like monkeys! Filming was ok but just not for me.
Published 9 days ago by Robin Walker
4.0 out of 5 stars
Better than expected
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is basically the first film as part of the Planet of the Ape series remake. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Laura Hartley
5.0 out of 5 stars
thought provoking
realy good thought provoking film, i loved it, sad and entertaining at the same time...it made me think about what could happen...... Read more
Published 18 days ago by Paul Eady
5.0 out of 5 stars
A big improvement
I love the original planet of the apes movies and the saturday morning series that followed it. I was hoping they wouldn't mess it up like they did with the film a few years ago... Read more
Published 18 days ago by papasumo
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent
great film in opinion arrived promptly and works fine and good value not sure what more I can say enjoy
Published 26 days ago by S. Fletcher
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great film.
I thought this was a really great film. I am unsure if it would be as great if you have never seen the original films. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Martin Nicholls
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent
Watch the film at the cinema, wanted to add it to my collection, it was reasonable priced, since watched it and its on loan to family members.
Published 1 month ago by Margo
5.0 out of 5 stars
good
Very good film we really enjoyed watching this full off action good story line well worth getting to watch again
Published 1 month ago by Anthony Peachey
5.0 out of 5 stars
a good watch
highly recommended would buy similiar items again,good price and arrived promptly very pleased with product has met all my expectations.
Published 1 month ago by Pauline Snelling
3.0 out of 5 stars
Brought it but still not watched it yet
Not sure why, but I still have not watched this DVD yet. An impulse purchase yet to be used a year later.....
Published 2 months ago by Underdog
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