Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Director: Rupert Wyatt
Writer: Pierre Boulle
Starring: James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, David Oyelowo, Tyler Labine, Jamie Harris, Andy Serkis

Story Following scientist Will Rodman (James Franco) trying to find a cure for Alzheimer by trying a new experimental drug on chimps. When his boss Steven Jacobs (David Oyelowo) take Will to try and sell his drug to the markets something goes wrong causing Bright Eyes the brightest cheap to cause problem leading to the drug trial to be closed down. After having to put down all the adult chimps Will’s chimp handler Robert (Tyler Labine) finds a baby chimp. Will has to take the baby chimp home naming it Caesar Will discovers that the drug had transferred into Caesar giving him higher intelligence. Will lives with his father Charles (John Listgow) who has Alzheimer’s. While Caesar continued to grow in intelligence Will decides to give the drug to his father, Charles regains brain power and becomes Caesar’s close friend before the drug starts losing its effect when Caesar starts to become more of a helper to Charles. One day Charles tries to take a car for a drive, only problem is that the car is the neighbours, Caesar jumps to protect Charles and ends up in a chimp prison run by the cruel John Landon (Brian Cox) and his son Dodge (Tom Felton). With Caesar the smartest chimp in prison he has to set out to become the legend he will become in the chimp planet of the apes history, but how will Caesar become this?

Verdict Having the idea that humans will experiment on animals to find their cures for diseases but this time its not so much how it goes wrong it more how we can try things too much. The relationship between Caesar, Will and Charles is made to look like a real family and you can see how much they all care for each other. Andy Serkis as Caesar using his motion capture reputation shines again giving Caesar all the emotions you would expect from a human in a chimp. The build up to the final sequences is one of the best because golden gate bridge has been used so often they still manage to find an original sequences on there. This is a must watch for any action drama fan one of the best summer Blockbusters this year.

Best quote Dodge ‘Get your hands off me you damn dirty ape’

Favourite Character Caesar he has the growing up from a baby to leader of the Apes acted perfectly by Andy Serkis, having a range of emotions and a heart that a lot of people could learn from.

Stand out performance Andy Serkis he is the master of the motion capture role

Best moment Caesar coming to protect Charles from the neighbour

Worst Moment It sort of ruins the twist ending of the original Planet of the apes movies

My Rating 92%

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