Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) - 10 stars out of 10

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) - 10 stars out of 10

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" may be the best prequel that I have ever seen.  It would take the perfect story to properly connect it to the 1968 classic and this film hit the nail on the head.  I am so thankful that they did not make this into an action film.  The action sequences have their place and they are absolutely stunning, but it is the character development that makes this into the perfect prequel.  Above all, Andy Serkis (known for his portrayal of Gollum and King Kong) deserves high praise for bringing the character of Caesar to life.  His mannerisms and facial expressions will make you empathize with him more than any animal that you have ever seen in cinema.  And this is absolutely vital to the story as we aren't supposed to hate Caesar as a killer, but to understand why he is seeking justice.  The animators also did an amazing job bringing him to life and these graphics will not disappoint.  James Franco has come a long way from Spiderman to again prove himself as one of the most dynamic actors of our generation.  Just like Caesar, he must be liked by the audience for them to understand the selflessness of his actions.  He makes a logical scapegoat but performs so well that you will feel sorry for him, even through the final scene.  I have to mention Brian Cox because he is my favorite character actor (along with William H. Macy, of course).  Finally, John Lithgow is stunning.  He is one of the most underrated actors out there and delivers some Oscar-worthy scenes in this film.  The subtlety of his facial expressions are incredibly effective.  Acting aside, this film has a great script that seamlessly ties this story to the 1968 film.  I really hope that they do not create a sequel to this film or else it will negate the awesome connections created by this film and steal that wonderful moment where everybody in the audience's imagination fills in the blanks between the two films... but realistically the produces won't be able to help themselves when they see dollar signs in front of their eyes.  I love the use of time to create a realism with this virus - by allowing for  the circumstances of the virus to develop over 13 years (5 before the film starts, 8 as the film progresses), this story goes from fiction to possibility.  The writers assemble a puzzle of several different factors that believably lead to these otherwise far-fetched results.  I love how this film sets the wheels in motion for the 1968 film through the shuttle launch, showing the significance of spraying someone with water, and moving the virus to New York.  The expected references to the original film (like the Statue of Liberty puzzle and Charleton Heston on tv) are subtle so that fans will smile but they don't interrupt the flow of the story.  I was skeptical about this film, particularly after the 2001 remake, but it will be awhile before another film can freeze me in my seat as this one did!