So, after much indecision, I finally went with my friend to the movies over the weekend to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much going in. Well, that's not exactly true. I was expecting a bad story, some bad acting, and plenty of cheesy bad special effects.
It turns out I was wrong. Quite wrong.
Once I got over my initial suspension of belief watching James Franco portray a brilliant genetic bioengineer, the movie drew me in. Totally, completely, thoroughly, wholly and entirely. The story seemed more than plausible - if you forgive a plot hole or two. And the apes - CGI but based on the yogic movements of Andy Serkis (he who gave life to the recent computerized creations known as Gollum and Kong) - were without doubt totally, thoroughly, and entirely believable. They display an otherworldly quality - not quite CGI, but not quite from-our-world, either.
In fact, the lead monkey, Caesar, was incredibly fascinating. What an emotional palette Serkis and the computer wizards working on the film were able to draw out. Fear, uncertainty, indignation, homesickness, love - and anger - all on display in the fine movements of his eyes or the lines around his mouth. An intelligent monkey is indeed a dangerous thing.
As most brilliant genetic bioengineers do in Hollywood movies, Franco is researching a cure for Alzheimer's (cf. Deep Blue Sea) by experimenting with his special drug on animals. His beloved father is living lost as a victim of this terrible disease, and through a couple of not-completely-ethical decisions Franco is able to resuscitate him - and save a young chimp also on the drug. A few years pass as young simian Caesar grows up and into trouble.
Legal repercussions ensue and Caesar is sent to a monkey sanctuary. Initially intimidated, he quickly discovers his intelligence can give him the edge and before long he's top monkey in the cage. This happens and that happens, some more of this and some more of that, and before you know it, monkeys are singing Revolution Number Nine.
The hundred-five minutes will speed by, especially as you're on the edge of your seat for a good deal of it.
I was also highly appreciative that the producers decided to forgo the gore. There were a couple of scenes where they could have gone in this direction (hello! we do spend a lot of time in a biological engineering laboratory), and other, lesser filmmakers would have, but they chose not to, and the movie does not suffer. Come to think of it, there's more ape-on-ape violence than man-monkey, but nothing that's too violent for the squeamish.
If you rent it (which I recommend once it's out), be sure to watch past the ending credits, where you'll find out exactly how the Planet of the Apes rises.
Also, there are two clues for the discerning viewer where the sequel will be coming from. See if you can pick them out; they flash by pretty quickly on the screen.
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