Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

September 15, 2011.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a 2011 American science fiction film directed by Rupert Wyatt. The film stars James Franco and Andy Serkis who plays Ceasar. It is intended to act as a foundation with its own origin story for a new film series.

Will Rodman (James Franco) is a scientist at pharmaceutical company Gen-Sys who has been trying to develop a cure for Alzheimer's disease by testing a genetically engineered retrovirus on chimpanzees. The virus mutates the chimpanzees, giving them a human level of intelligence. The most successful subject, a female chimpanzee named Bright Eyes (Terry Notary), goes on a rampage because she believes her baby, to whom she secretly gave birth, is threatened; she is killed disrupting a board meeting where Will is presenting the cure. Will's boss Steven Jacobs (David Oyelowo) orders chimp handler Robert Franklin (Tyler Labine) to put all the test chimpanzees down; Franklin cannot bring himself to kill the baby chimp and instead gives him to Will. Will names him Ceasar and brings him up in his house. Ceasar is given his own room up in the loft and becomes one of the family. Ceasar inherited his mothers high level of intelligence and therefore begins to develop and learn very quickly. Three years later, Ceasar outgrows his surroundings and takes a trip outside the house to the neighbours garden. He then proceeds to accidently scare one of the children and earns a cut on the leg in doing so. Will takes Ceasar to to the local zoo and the primatologist Caroline Aranha treats his injuries. She is impressed that Will has taught Ceasar to sign and suggests that he needs to have more open space. Will then takes Ceasar to Redwood frequently where he swings up the trees and looks out accross the horizon. However, after an encounter with another familys dog, Ceasar becomes disheartened and believes that he is just a 'pet'.

Five years down the line, Will is determined to try out a sample of his cure on his father, Charles. At first everything seems to be working but after a short period of time the effects start to wear off. A confused Charles then gets into their neighbours car damages it, causing the neighbour to lose his temper. As the neighbour threatens Charles and pushes him to the ground, Ceasar steps in and defends him by attacking the neighbour.

Ceasar is then removed from Wills house by force and sent to a primate sanctuary where he is cruely treated. Whilst there Ceasar befriends a circus orangutang who also knows sign. Ceasar then manages to escape from his cage after stealing a pocket knife from a visitor who got too close and releases the Gorilla, Buck, from solitary confinement. After releasing him, Ceasar is respected and then becomes the dominant ape. When Will returns, to his shock and dismay, Ceasar refuses to leave the sanctuary. Later that night he escapes and returns to his 'family home' to steal canisters of the virus to release into the cages of the other apes, enhancing their intelligence.

The next morning, chaos starts.

I personally really enjoyed this film. My only issues were that it took quite a while to get going, and the actual 'rise' of the apes didn't take up much of the film at all. But apart from that, i was highly impressed. The use of special effects were fantastic and really kept me interested. The storyline was touching and on a few occasions i did infact end up watery eyed. The acting was clean, there were no awkward or badly acted moments. The ending was very touching when Ceasar told Will he was 'home' at Redwood. It was so well constructed that you really felt for Ceasar and it made you glad that him and the rest of the apes had gained freedom, rather than worrying about what havock they might cause. When the film finished i just knew there was going to be a sequel. I know i shall be going to see the next installment. I have high expecations after this one!

See this film if you liked...
- The original Planet of the Apes series.
- King Kong
- Jurassic Park movies.