Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rating 5.5 out of 10

I'm not sure what I was expecting out of this movie.  Probably alot more action.  I wouldn't say this is a bad movie.  Just not a real good one either.

If you have seen the previews or know anything of the original Apes movies you have a good idea what this movie is about.  In the original Planet of the Apes movie of 1968 with movie legend Charlton Heston an astronaut lands on a strange planet that is run by Apes and humans are treated as pets.  At the end we find that strange planet is actually Earth in the future.  Sorry for the spoiler but the movie is 33 years old and a classic.  You should have seen it by now.

In this movie you learn how the Apes took over the planet.  James Franco (from last years very good 127 Hours) plays scientist Will Rodman who is working hard on a new drug that will stimulate brain cells in hopes of saving his dad (John Lithgow).  They are testing the drug on chimps when things go terribly wrong.  Because they need a babe in the movie we get the lovely Frieda Pinto (from Slumdog Millionaire) as the monkey doctor.

The movie has to establish how the apes go from A to Z and takes it's time.  The CGI is okay at times and others it is obvious it's a CGI monkey.  When the action starts it brings more questions than it answers. Where did all those monkeys come from?  It does answer the main question though.

Catch this on an early show or wait for DVD.