Rise of the Planet of the Apes
3 1/2 stars out of 5
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is easily the best blockbuster that Hollywood has to offer this year (not counting Harry Potter, of course). You don’t need half a brain to enjoy it but your intelligence won’t be insulted if you would bother. Miss all the comic book action flicks.
The Good: Fantastic ensemble cast! Topnotch CGI! What really distinguishes ROPOA is the use of technology in the film. Yes, they made the apes like the way they made Gollum in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. But only in a bigger scale. Like Gollum times 100. Indeed, no apes were used in this film, but the apes felt larger than life. Not only do they look real, but they behave uncannily and creepily like the real thing to becoming something like humans. It’s seeing evolution in two hours time. It’s almost disturbing to witness, knowing that this film is a prequel to the Planet of the Apes. It also helps that the pacing and writing on this film is as sharp as a tack.
The Bad: James Franco isn’t exactly in tip-top shape in this film, but he won’t exactly disappoint.
