You need to know this is not a remake, reboot, reimagination or any other absurd movie mogul term for "cashing in". It is actually a prequel to the original Planet of the Apes. A really clever prequel. Also forget the Tim Burton and Mark Wahlberg movie altogether, they have absolutely nothing in common. This is a great movie that has been made at the right time in two ways. 1 - A time when visual effects have developed to a level where an actor can play an animal convincingly so you don't have any of those real animal problems or annoying CGI talking animals. No, the chimps do not talk like humans like in the previous films. 2 - A time when experimental drug therapies are growing in number, making the film very relevant in its message.
The movie is set in current times, when a scientist (James Franco) discovers a virus which can encourage the brain to regenerate its cells, creating a possible cure for Altzheimer's disease. Testing on chimpanzees has been very encouraging, until the side effects make themselves known. Closing down the program, the scientist discovers a baby chimp and is forced to take him in or put him down. Will quickly discovers that the drug can also increase intelligence, and "Caesar" is no ordinary chimp. He breaks all ethics to raise Caesar like his own child, while also doing unauthorised human trials of the drug on his Dad. Five years on and Will is forced to put Caesar into a facility for apes after an incident occurs at his home. Caesar's humanity is a real liability in this environment. Meanwhile, Will's results are revealed to his boss and the company begins testing a more aggressive version of the drug therapy on chimpanzees. Will starts to realise the dangers of what he has started, but is it too late?
The best thing going for this film are Franco and Andy Serkis. I will unashamedly admit to being a massive Franco fan already, but he again proves in this film what a great talent he is. Effectively playing a villain, you wouldn't know it, as Will is very sympathetic and every motivation feels very real. Andy Serkis has proven himself to be the undisputed king of "motion capture" with Gollum and King Kong, and he is great as Caesar. Although not speaking like in the earlier movies, you can read his thoughts in his eyes, facial expressions and body language. In many scenes you can forget he's CGI and not a real animal.
The other strong point is the script and the themes. The ethics of animal testing, the focus of big pharmaceutical companies on profit over people, whether we should be trying to extend life through artificial therapies. These are all explored very gently in the background of the main story about Will and Caesar's relationship, but they are the things that make the film resonate strongly. It is so not a blockbuster action movie although the eventual rise of the apes is fairly spectacular.
If you haven't seen the original films, you will still be able to enjoy this movie as an intelligent drama with strong performances and something to say. If you are a fan of the original movie series, I think you would still like this movie. It ties up its plot neatly while also linking to the original in some very clever ways (some subtle and some in your face) and answers a certain question I had in my mind from the original. Smart and compelling with really good effects. I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5.
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