What Do The Critics Say?

"I was afraid to blink while watching Rise of the Planet of the Apes, for I didn’t want to miss a thing. As expected, the apes and visual effects steal the movie, but the actors playing humans also help make things seem real in this spellbinding, creative prequel. 'I want the apes to win!' my husband whispered to me during the last battle sequence, and I felt the same way. Still, I hope no humans were hurt during the filming of this exciting movie." Betty Jo Tucker REELTALK MOVIE REVIEWS "Traces the roots of the venerable franchise back to a single resident of contemporary San Francisco, a supersmart simian named Caesar. In the process, the film, which Rupert Wyatt directed from an audacious screenplay by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, rises above its dramatic deficits, boosts the collective IQ of this summer's movies and swings into flights of kinetic fantasy that blow the collective mind. (If you think you've had it with special effects, wait till you see Caesar and his ape army battling our befuddled species on the Golden Gate Bridge.) 'Apes': Something to thump chests about." Joe Morgenstern WALL STREET JOURNAL "Such is the magic of cinema and the wonders of technology that it is easy to cross the bridge of digital wizardry to connect with this extraordinary film that explores the dangers of genetic engineering and playing God. Andy Serkis, through amazing performance capture techniques, gives great character and heart to Caesar; the rest of the apes are also fabulous. The human cast does well too. Franco as Caesar's surrogate father, Freida Pinto as Will's primatologist girlfriend and Brian Cox as the facility owner. Tom Felton is easy to loathe as the cruel handler." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE

"Surprisingly fresh and entertaining. With its skillful blend of live action and motion-capture technology, it's a handsomely made prequel to familiar monkey business. The technical virtuosity behind Caesar: a fascinating hybrid of technology and human performance; is dazzling. With top-notch computer-generated images, this sci-fi action thriller revives the series and creates a palpable sense of tension." Claudia Puig USA TODAY "Serkis is unbelievably superb as he embodies Caesar from a toddler all the way through the film. The film over all is very exciting. Franco brings a genuine range of feelings to Will. "Rising of the Planet of the Apes", being the prequel, is the first live-action movie, which had been impossible up until now, to be told from the point of view of a sentient animal. The technology overseen by Joe Letteri, a four-time Oscar winner, makes this film a standout. Personally, I can't wait to see what comes next!" Jean Kaplan KAPLAN vs KAPLAN "Grabbing us from the start, Rise stimulates our emotions with a feverish sequence of chimps being chased and captured to be taken to the lab for a life of experiments. These scenes, as are all scenes in the film, are superbly shot. The technical aspects of the film are truly impressive, from the animatronics to the motion capture to the CGI, all perfectly integrated. Performances are also effective in a cross section of characters on display, from GenSys boss Steven Jacobs to Will's dad." Andrew L Urban URBAN CINEFILE

The Inside Story "Rise Of The Planet of The Apes" is the first live-action film in the history of movies to star, and be told from the point of view of, a sentient animal, a character with human-like qualities, who can strategize, organize and ultimately lead a revolution, and with whom audiences will experience a real emotional bond: an Ape, The film was impossible to make until the technology, invented for Avatar and now advanced to a new dimension, caught up to the idea behind the movie. This work is complemented by the unique and extraordinary achievements of Andy Serkis, the world’s foremost performance capture actor, who infuses Caesar with nuance, soul, wisdom and heart. Another historic accomplishment for the picture was its filming of visual effects and performance capture work on practical locations outside the controlled environment of an enclosed stage. This allowed the performance capture work to be fully integrated with the live action performances: eliminating the barrier between visual effects and live action. In addition to presenting emotionally-engaging photo-realistic apes, the film’s setting is instantly recognizable and relatable. "Rise Of The Planet of The Apes" is an origin story in the truest sense of the term. Set in present day San Francisco, the film is a reality-based cautionary tale, a science fiction/science fact blend, where man’s experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy. "This is a contemporary view of the Planet of the Apes mythology," says producer Dylan Clark (production assistant on the 2010 Ridley Scott film, "Robin Hood"). "It’s a big event movie, but is anchored by the quality of its storytelling, its emotion, and the depth of its characters. At its heart, it’s a character-driven piece." The film’s emotional core was a principal draw for the actors, including Oscar Nominee John Lithgow. "It’s very unusual to have a big science fiction film with a foundation in human emotion and conflict," says the actor. "I was amazed by the script’s emotional authenticity. This film takes audiences's expectations and turns them on their head." Much like its storied predecessor, the original "Planet of the Apes", the new film uses the science fiction genre to explore bigger worlds and ideas. Director Rupert Wyatt says this film " is about our civilization reaching a point of no return." "Events unfold through the eyes of super-intelligent chimpanzee Caesar, who at a young age sees humans as being capable of wonderful things, like art and reason. And then he begins to see humanity’s dark side: oppression, bigotry, and the ostracizing of what and who we don’t understand." Another key theme is humanity’s hubris: our arrogance in thinking that we can twist, push, cheat, or circumvent the laws of nature, without consequences. "In the original Franklin J. Schaffner "Planet of the Apes" (1968), it was man’s hubris that got the character of Colonel George Taylor (played by the late Oscar winner Charlton Heston) on that beach, facing the Statue of Liberty and the stunning reality of humanity’s destiny," writer-producer Rick Jaffa points out. "It wasn’t a quirk of fate or a mutation that that led to that upside-down world." So, too, does "Rise Of The Planet of The Apes" pit humans against nature: and against themselves; leading to a resolution that sees humans and apes on the path that will take them to a new and shocking world order. Peter Chernin believes that this film, "explores arguably one of today’s most important issues. We have these incredible scientific and medical tools at our disposal, and we’re asking the question, how far do you take them before you’re really messing with nature? What are the limitations?" Will Rodman pushes those limitations to the breaking point and beyond, to catastrophic results. But before those dire consequences unfold, we get to know Caesar as a youngster and adolescent who, like a human child, is curious about the world around him. However, as Caesar matures, his highly developed intelligence is countered by the aggressive and dangerous protective instincts typical of adult male apes. Caesar soon becomes too much for Will and Caroline to handle. Will is reluctant to part with Caesar, who has become like a son; Caroline understands Will’s inner turmoil, but she knows that it is impossible for Caesar to remain with him. "Caroline insists that every animal needs open space and that you can’t expect a large animal: even a very special one like Caesar; to flourish inside a house," Freida Pinto (who plays Caroline Aranha) explained. "Of course, she loves Will and Caesar, and understands why it’s so difficult for him to part with Caesar." Will takes Caesar to live among other apes within the confines of the San Bruno Primate Sanctuary. But unknown to Will, the 'sanctuary' is more like a shoddily run prison: a dumping ground for unwanted or abandoned apes. It is run by Landon (played by two time BAFTA Scotland Award winner Brian Cox, who also starred in director Rupert Wyatt’s debut feature, the acclaimed film, "The Escapist"), and Landon’s son, Dodge, portrayed by Tom Felton. The latter’s work in "Rise Of The Planet of The Apes" marks another inventive villainous turn following his role as the bullying Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise, for which Felton was recently awarded an MTV Movie Award® for Best Villain. Because he’s not the physically strongest ape in the facility, Caesar quickly realizes that in order to survive he must assert his intellectual dominance over the fearsome alpha-male ape Rocket, a beastly brooding angry gorilla named Buck, as well as a psychologically damaged orangutan named Maurice. Caesar soon prevails over the other apes, and establishes a new social order. At a pivotal and electric moment, Caesar stands up and retaliates against their cruel human handlers. "We built the structure of our movie around that scene, the specifics of which the filmmakers wish to keep a surprise," says Dylan Clark. "It will be powerful and emotional." "We wanted it be a 'world-stops-spinning' moment that plays into the whole idea of evolution and where that can take a species," says Rupert Wyatt. That defining instant leads to a daring escape, an epic confrontation at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, a wrenching and fateful reunion between Will and Caesar, and a revolution that will forever change the planet. In creating Caesar and the world that he inhabits, Weta Digital’s mandate, as it was on "Avatar" and the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, is to take audiences to worlds never seen before. Four time Oscar winner (2003, '04, '06, '10) and the films senior visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri, explained: "For Avatar, Jim Cameron created a complete fantasy world that no one had ever experienced before. The challenge with "Rise Of The Planet of The Apes" was a very different one, and in some ways, it was even more daunting. We applied some of the technology we developed for "Avatar" to create a real, recognizable world: modern-day San Francisco. Everything: the apes, the locations; had to feel genuine because we’re exploring a story that’s reality-based and not straight-ahead science fiction." Four Time BAFTA Film Award winner Letteri (2003, '04, '06, '10) credits Wyatt (co-founder of award winning Picture Farm) for championing the notion of a reality-based story and effects. "Rupert has instilled the overall idea in all of us that we are bringing realistic-looking chimps into the mix. So, we started at ground zero. It’s a fresh new approach to the Planet of the Apes film series. We’re presenting primates as we know them. We’re giving them an additional level of intelligence and subtle human tendencies." For Letteri ("King Kong" & "The Water Horse"), "Planet of the Apes" is in some ways the Holy Grail for visual effects artists, because the 1968 original is a cinema touchstone for both its spectacle and themes. "For me, "Planet of the Apes" is such a classic and beloved film that the idea of working on an origin story: the story about how it all came to be; was interesting, especially being able to focus on the point of view of Caesar as our main character." As Weta Digital utilized its state of the art tools to render photo-realistic apes, the world’s foremost performance capture artist, three time Visual Effects Society Award winner Andy Serkis (2003, '04 &'06), came aboard the project to infuse Caesar with nuance, emotion, soul, wisdom and heart. Serkis's contributions to the film cannot be overestimated. "Andy Serkis is our generation’s Charlie Chaplin. By that I mean he’s one of the very few actors around who has fully embraced the available visual effects technology because he completely understands the full potential of what it can achieve," says Wyatt. "I think some actors are intimidated by performance capture because they think it’s separating their performance from the actual reality of the film, when quite the opposite is true. Andy understands that every little nuance, every breath, every little muscle movement that he gives on camera is visual exposition. Film is primarily a visual medium and if you are able to have your character tell a story with a minimal amount of words, then that’s ideal." Serkis, who gave acclaimed performances as Gollum in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and as Kong in "King Kong", revealed: "Caesar is one of the most formidable roles I’ve undertaken, both physically and emotionally. It’s one thing to play a chimpanzee, but to play one from infancy to adulthood and a revolutionary leader: well, that’s quite another. But it was irresistible to me as an actor. It’s an extraordinary journey for me, as an actor." The role’s physical rigors represented a different kind of journey. Precision, training and focus were paramount in capturing the realistic ape movements. Stunt coordinator Terry Notary, a former "Cirque du Soleil" artist, was instrumental in helping the performance capture actors shape their roles. Notary, who will soon be seen with Serkis and Daniel Craig in the Steven Spielberg film, "The Adventures of Tintin", also contributes important performance capture work to some other key ape characters. As the performance capture actors broke new ground in bringing emotion and physicality to their roles, Weta Digital, too, was extending its groundbreaking work. How? For the first time ever, notes visual effects supervisor Dan Lemmon ("King Kong"), "we were able to get those performances in direct sunlight." Weta Digital’s and the entire production’s biggest challenges came during the filming of the film’s climax, which unfolds on, above, along and beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. (The production constructed the massive set outside of Vancouver.) The scene, depicting an epic battle between man and primate, features elaborate stunts, fire, explosions, helicopters, hundreds of cars and extras, and an atmospheric San Francisco fog; as well as the culmination of all the drama, emotion and character interactions. Serkis notes the film, "doesn’t feel like a visual effects-driven film. It feels like a powerful emotional story with a big backdrop. The action and spectacle work seamlessly with the drama. And that’s why I think it’s really powerful: because the 'wows' aren’t in your face." "The film taps into our most primal fear of the Alpha of our planet being usurped, literally letting another species take over the world and asks how would that play out," Wyatt notes. What's It All About?

Will Rodman is a scientist working within a large pharmaceutical corporation, Gen-Sys, conducting genetic research to develop a benign virus that restores damaged human brain tissue. He is committed to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s, a disease that afflicts his father, Charles. Will’s relentless focus has precluded personal relationships, but the connection between his research and Charles’ illness brings the two together, albeit under difficult heart-rending circumstances. Just prior to Gen-Sys’ commencement of human trials of a promising and potentially lucrative new drug, Will’s simian test subjects suddenly display bizarrely aggressive behavior. Will is now ordered to shut the programme down. Amidst the confusion of the study’s sudden termination, Will finds himself charged with an overlooked newborn infant chimpanzee: a male, the newly orphaned offspring of his most promising test subject. Will secretly raises him as his own, at home, while caring for his ailing father. Until dramatic circumstances tear them apart.

The Verdict "If you're feeling a little frazzled, I can sympathize with you. 2011 is proving to be a busy year for those who love their movies. This year has been one of the best I can remember, with a plethora of quality films to choose from. In fact, week after week there are so many good quality films released, it's a wonder some film fans heads aren't spinning wildly, like Regan MacNeil's did in the classic 1973 horror filck, "The Excorcist". So far we've been treated to some great films. Here's a few many of us have already experienced: Green Hornet, True Grit, Unknown, The Fighter, Limitless, I am Number Four, Lincoln Lawyer, Fast & Furious 5, Thor, Source Code, Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides, The Hangover Part II, Super 8, Bridesmaids, X-Men The First Class, Transformers 3: Dark Of The Moon, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Captain America: The First Avenger, and now, "Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes". It's the prequel to the 1968 Franklin J. Schaffner film, "Planet Of The Apes", which starred the late Charlton Heston. Those who can remember the original 'Apes' film, will, when they see "Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes", be truely gobsmacked. Why? Because this 'Apes' film truly showcases how far we have come, thanks to the magnificent advancements in the technology and techniques (such as motion capture) that are available to filmmakers today. Thankfully, unlike so many films in this century, "Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes", does NOT rely on 3D. That's good news for families and anyone who's sick and tired of digging deep into their wallets. In fact, many cinemagoers will question the endless stream of 3D releases after seeing this excellent 2D production. The storylines connection with Alzheimer's Disease research certainly fits our times, as does the theme of research involving the use of chimpanzees. The life-like realism of the'Apes' will absolutely amaze you. Truly Remarkable! 5 STARS." Who Is Playing Who?

James Franco Freida Pinto John Lithgow Andy Serkis Karin Konoval Terry Notary Richard Ridings Chris Gordon Devyn Dalton Jay Caputo Richard Darwin Brian Cox Tom Felton David Oyelowo Tyler Labine Jamie Harris David Hewlett Ty Olsson

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Will Rodman Caroline Charles Rodman Caesar Maurice Rocket/Bright Eyes Buck Koba Cornelia Alpha Baby Caesar Puppeteer John Landon Dodge Landon Steven Jacobs Robert Franklin Rodney Hunsiker Chief John Hamil

The Production Team Directed by Rupert Wyatt Written by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver Pierre Boulle suggested by novel "La planete des singes" Produced by Peter Chernin/Dylan Clark/Rick Jaffa/Amanda Silver Original Music by Patrick Doyle Cinematography by Andrew Lesnie Film Editing by Conrad Buff IV & Mark Goldblatt Casting by Heike Brandstatter/Coreen Mayrs/Debra Zane Production Design by Claude Paré Art Direction by Dan Hermansen & Grant Van Der Slagt Supervising Art Director Helen Jarvis Set Decoration by Elizabeth Wilcox Costume Design by Renée April Run Time 105 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2011 - Twentieth Century Fox - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2011 - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian & International Copyright, Trademark Laws & Intellectual Property Rights.