Tim Burton must be slapping his forehead right about now. A decade ago he brought us a remake of the 1968 classic Planet of the Apes and the result was pretty much universally panned. However, 10 years on director Rupert Wyatt (known for his interesting prison escape drama The Escapist) has taken the franchise and reinvigorated it for a 21st century audience (read: bigger and better action) but at the same time not losing an ounce of smarts. This is how you do it, Mr. Burton.
The film is an origin story of how the apes would eventually rise, specifically following scientist Will Rodman (James Franco) who develops a way to increase intelligence in apes in his attempt to cure Alzheimer's and other brain disorders. You don’t really need to know more than that to know what you’re getting yourself in for. We all know basically the state things are going to end up in (the title alone gives that away) but it’s the “how” and “why” rather than the “what” which makes this fascinating viewing.
It’s quite a unique blockbuster in that it doesn’t throw sense and logic completely out of the window (although you of course have to suspend your disbelief somewhat). Arguably the very definition of a “fun summer blockbuster” these days is where you leave your brain at the door and just enjoy some mindless action for a couple of hours. Not the case with Rise of the Planet of the Apes (try saying that title 10 times fast). Similar to Christopher Nolan’s Inception, although nowhere near as complicated, this just as smart as it is action-packed, and most importantly it takes its time to establish and develop its characters before you get to the inevitable big action sequence.
Even though Franco receives top billing here as the lead, it is the performance of Andy Serkis as the main ape, Caesar, which truly makes the film. Motion-capture or not, this is flat-out brilliant performance, even improving on what he did with Peter Jackson’s King Kong. It’s not quite the human-like performance he gave as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy (simply because that character readily spoke) but he perfectly captures the movements of a real ape, so much so that you actually forget you’re watching a CGI representation. There’s already talk of Serkis being the first actor to get an Oscar nomination for a motion-capture performance come next year and I'm happy to say that sort of talk is completely justified.
Article comments
1 - Jason
I was just watching the original "The Outer Limits" Season 1 episode 5 "The Sixth Finger" where an ape is given human intelligence. I wonder if this story might have been the inspiration for "Planet of the Apes"
2 - Ross Miller
@Jason,
I have't seen that episode of The Outer Limits but it's a very influential show so I wouldn't be surprised if it influenced this franchise. Have you seen the new 'Apes' film, if so what did you make of it?
3 - El Bicho
Considering they came out the same year (1963), and I don't think Outer Limits was airing in France then, I doubt it.