Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes

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Review by David Woodward

The Planet of the Apes (POA) was originally a media concept that was fully exploited in five theatrically released movies, a live-action TV series and an animated TV series between 1968 and 1975.

And if The Rise of the Planet of the Apes is anything to go by, we may be seeing quite a bit more of those damned-dirty-apes, because ROTPOTA may very well prove to be one of the most successful and impressive re-boots of a 20th Century Fox franchise we've seen yet.

My favourite element of the old franchise was the theatrical movies. The first three films genuinely maintained my interest as the saga of the discovery of an Earth populated by intelligent apes unfolded using some intriguing time travel along the way. 

While the remaining two movies retained some interest, the impact of declining budgets soon brought an end to the POA’s theatrical life.

The short lived live-action and animated TV series were fun to watch but seemed to skirt around the central concepts of Man Vs Apes raised in the movies.

Of course, Tim Burton made an interesting attempt at re-imaging the original POA concept in his 2001 theatrical movie. While the Burton version had the benefit of improved makeup and blue screen technology, it failed to capture the imagination of modern audiences.

The Rise of the Planet of the Apes, however, goes a step further with CGI technology being used for the ape characters. It also creates a different start-up point in the POA storyline about how the human race on Earth is overthrown by apes, led by a genetically-altered ape named Caesar.

Although it is an original story, there is a striking similarity to the fourth of the original films, Conquest of the Planet Of The Apes. This is not a bad thing as it retains a viable continuity with the original POA concept.

There are also other homages to the original movies which fans of POA will enjoy :

• The naming of the Caesar ape character (who was the first ape to speak and lead the apes in the fourth and fifth films)

• Caesar’s mother is named Bright Eyes which is what Charlton Heston’s character is referred to in the original film

• The use of iconic lines from the first film (who can forget Heston’s “It’s a mad-house!” and “Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!").

I must admit that the CGI imaging of the apes is a little distracting at times but, in retrospect, the same could have been said about the prosthetic makeup used in the 1960s/70s.

The human actors fare pretty well too, although the nominal star of the film James Franco progressively takes a back seat as the story unfolds and the attention turns to the apes.

John Lithgow gives a surprisingly touching performance as Franco’s father.

The story is unashamedly sympathetic towards the apes with their mistreatment being a plausible explanation for their uprising against the humans.

If you go to see The Rise of the Planet of the Apes, make sure you hang around until after the credits roll as there is a brief additional scene that hints of things to come in any future instalment of the POA franchise!

4 out of 5

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
Australian release: 28th July, 2010
Official Site: Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
Cast: James Franco, Andy Serkis and Freida Pinto
Director: Rupert Wyatt