Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Director: Rupert Wyatt
Cast: James Franco, Freida Pinto, Andy Serkis, John Lithgow and Brian Cox
DVD release: 7 December 2011
Rated: M

How remarkable to think back to the original King Kong and compare the special effects of that era with today, namely in this new Planet of the Apes adventure, which makes use of the motion capture technique to great advantage. Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a non-stop thrill ride from the opening (a chimpanzee hunt in dense forest), pulling out all stops including a remarkably mobile camera sweeping about the action and keeping the audience riveted to the screen.

A sort of contemporary prequel to The Planet of The Apes, the film uses a sci-fi background to show how, through genetic engineering, apes became intelligent beyond imagination.

Scientist Will Rodman (James Franco) is working on a serum which may improve the brain capacity in Alzheimer’s sufferers, hoping to help his father (John Lithgow) who has the disease. When a female chimpanzee runs amok in the lab after taking the serum and has to be put down, Rodman decides to illegally continue his experiments and bring up the chimpanzee’s baby in his own home. He’s aided by attractive zoo vet Caroline (Freida Pinto) and together they watch the young chimp, Caesar, over a few years develop remarkable intelligence inherited from his mother.

Rodman decides to give the drug to his aging dad who’s off with the fairies, and there’s rapid improvement. However later when Rodman uses a newer version of the serum things go pear-shaped. His father rejects the drug and returns to his befuddled state, and Caesar (after a bout of destruction) has to be placed in a grim facility for primates under a court order. In the hands of an indifferent overseer (Brian Cox) and taunted by a sadistic young keeper (Tom Felton) Caesar, using his increased intellect, soon bands together the other apes at the prison in a revolt. Their violent escape soon spreads spectacularly across the city of San Francisco.

The remarkable performance of Andy Serkis as Caesar welds the film together. This excellent character player (Burke and Hare) was Kong in the remake of King Kong, and may well be typecast as a monkey in the future. Using the motion capture system used in Avatar, he brings such human expressions to Ceasar’s face it’s uncanny. James Franco, generally a fine actor (127 Hours), while genial enough as Rodman, seems to be coasting through this one, lacking that degree of gravitas for a top scientist playing God.

John Lithgow (Confessions of a Shopaholic) does an eye rolling impression of Alzheimer’s, at his best in the scene where he tries to drive a car with disastrous results. Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) has little to do except decorate the sets, which fortunately she does well. Tom Felton (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) is suitably obnoxious as the keeper, and Brian Cox (RED) steps up as the heartless primate facility manager.

Director Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist), now released from the hefty make-up of previous Ape adventures, uses motion capture to provide real character to his simians so we can easily identify with various individuals. Wyatt doesn’t take his foot of the gas pedal, and pushes it flat to the floor in the exciting scene on the Golden Gate Bridge. Full marks to the stunts, editing and camerawork; and no expense is spared in the special effects department.

We all remember King Kong scaling the Empire State Building, and seeing dozens of “Kongs” swarming over San Francisco is a notable image. Neat touches include a shower of leaves in a suburban street, as the hordes of apes escape through the tree tops. Then there’s the running gag of Rodman’s unlucky neighbour, who cops all sorts of flack from an aggressive chimp and a slightly demented father.

More entertaining than expected, thrill-packed action from the opening scenes, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a worthy successor to the first Planet of the Apes.

John Bale