Should I Check This Out - Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Alight guys I'm back and much has changed in film and television. There have been some new blockbuster releases, and there was the Emmy nominations that covered the spectrum well, despite a few neglecting a few good shows (Where was Hannibal!). 

One blockbuster release in particular is Dawn of the Planet of the Apes which has received high praise from critics and audience members alike. So much so that I finally got round to checking out the prequel (of a prequel), Rise of the Planet of the Apes. 

Upon its release, I heard many good things, and had enjoyed the Charlton Heston original, but having witnessed the travesty that was Tim Burton's remake, I wasn't easily sold to the James Franco version. Here, he plays a scientist experimenting on apes, searching for a cure to Alzheimer's disease. He then comes across Caesar (Andy Serkis) during his work who shows positive development and the two develop a strange relationship.

Surprisingly, Ruper Wyatt, opts for a very emotionally driven film that packs plenty of heart and action in equal measures, resulting in an engaging story, aided by fantastic special effects and Serkis' best performance. While the effects will likely age over time, Serkis is flawless, creating a character more engaging than his human counterparts. It's incredible, and the pacing works well as we witness Caesar develop and lead an uprising of sorts. 

The human cast, with the exception of Franco, are fairly one-dimensional but are well acted and contribute to the story. Franco, himself, while slightly undercut in the final act, brings a strong performance and makes for a change of pace following his recent work. His interaction with Serkis is certainly one of the stronger aspects to his performance, and was vital to the film a whole. 

While I was initially certain how the film might end (discovering that was the original version, only for it to change months prior to release), Wyatt has delivered a solid film, but one that you might not return to for repeat-viewing. Despite the final moments towards the end that would have benefited from an emotionally stronger ending, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a great film and is well worth checking out.