There is always the improper labeling of movies as remake's when they are in fact just reboots. Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the latter. I've seen many negative reviews saying its a remake of the original and doesnt live up to the original. But its not. Its a new beginning. And what an excellent beginning for this version of the series it is.
What immediately stands out while watching are the CGI motion capture effects which give the chimps the most life like and most expressive facial qualities not easily achieved by men in suits. This same technology, which was created for Avatar and now applied to 'Apes', makes you realize this movie couldn't have been made without it.
The star of the movie was the chimp Caesar, the offspring of chimps that were tested on and altered by a drug being developed to cure Alzheimer's. The drugs function is to restore brain tissue, but goes far beyond that as to increase intelligence. The doctor heading this research is unconvincingly played by James Franco.Perhaps it is the dialogue which makes him to be more of PETA than a doctor. But you are immediately sympathetic to his passion for his research as we learn Franco's father, played by John Lithgow, has Alzheimer's.
The development of Caesar's character from the smart baby chimp to the mature and determined leader of a revolution is where the movie shines. Its a remarkable transformation. Its the emotion invoked during this time that is truly surprising. The initial joy you feel seeing a baby grow and learn. The sadness and sympathy when seeing others reactions to and abuse. When he is put in a helpless situation you feel sorry for him, and at some point in the movie you're just gonna think "wow we really are assholes to animals". But it is this feeling that makes the second half of the movie that much more satisfying.
With his ever increasing intelligence he is able to empower and liberate himself and other apes, also exposing them to the drugs that made him so smart. This leads to a Caesar's revolution. And boy were they organized. There are some great scenes on Golden Gate Bridge as the apes easily outsmart and dispose of the police forces out to kill them.
In the end Caesar's revolution wasn't about killing humans or revenge, it was just about freedom and respect for his animal kind. He ultimately showed mercy on almost all those that tried to kill him and the other apes. He wouldn't even allow the other apes to kill humans. There were some understandable exceptions. But the ending had many surprises as you will see. Most importantly a plot point which gets greatly underplayed and underdeveloped, is how it becomes a "planet" of the apes. So stay a little after the credits start rolling to see that little scene and pay attention to the background graphics when credits are rolling.
Overall it was a great movie and origin story. A-
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