Pardon the cynical thought process but I imagine “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” is only the first in what Hollywood will soon turn in to a series of three, maybe four films. Which is a shame, because ideally I wish “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” would be a single entry prequel in a classic science fiction film series. I say that not because it’s a bad film but because the writing wraps the entire film in to one clever self-contained little cinematic entry that it’s just too good to see ruined with a follow-up. While “Rise” is essentially about the emergence of a primitive ruler in a cruel world, there are so many Easter eggs included within the narrative that includes foreshadowing, winks to the audience, and a pretty great nod to the original “Planet of the Apes,” all of which are so subtle only the most eagle eyed genre geek will catch on to what the film is leading in to.
“Rise of the Planet of the Apes” is a very thoughtful and often times such a subtle bit of genre fare that it’s hard to believe this was manufactured by a studio whose intent was garnering a hit first and foremost. The writing provides us with a slew of interesting and complex characters and ape Caesar’s seizing of the throne from lowly ape to intelligent being is compelling. “Rise” implies what many of the original films did. We created Caesar, in every way imaginable. While the chemicals used on him from main character Will Rodman transforms the animal in to something of a sentient primate seeking to acquire freedom on a claustrophobic world, the added cruelty and cold hearted torture he endures makes him a cynical and brutally xenophobic being who seeks to liberate his fellow primates for the sake of avoiding the continued pain mankind will inflict on them if they are to remain trapped in their artificial cells fighting for scraps of food. Taking on the character of Caesar is brilliant actor Andy Serkis who portrays Caesar with an infinite series of emotions and quirks that make him a character we grow to love and fear.
While he has a certain amount of tolerance for mankind, he learns gradually through his journey that they amount to very little but destruction and ignorance, especially for his family and friends. Caesar’s journey in to royalty makes up most of “Rise” as his own attempts to adjust to a world around him results in him being trapped in a enclosed animal sanctuary where he’s forced to battle for survival from other animals of his ilk that have lost the will to survive and seek only instant gratification. His battle to acquire alpha male status in this reserve provides some rather interesting drama, especially when he learns how to topple the walls of this prison from the inside out with the help of a wise Orangutan named Maurice. Along the way James Franco is very good as Will who looks to change a crushing disease and accidentally creates Caesar all while contending with a potential plague on mankind that is just beginning to make its rounds in the country.
Tom Felton plays the heel well as caretaker Dodge who forms an intense hatred for Caesar. “Rise” is surprisingly void of typical blockbuster set pieces and is much concerned with telling a story that will lead in to what is a planet of the apes and surprises at all corners with characters we can care about who transcend the illusion of CGI most of the time. Caesar makes for a tragic anti-hero and his quest as the ruler of this small brood of primates is one that really needs no further elaboration since the film hints at disastrous events that will help the evolution of the Planet of the Apes in ways we can only imagine. I hope 20th Century FOX know when to quit while they’re ahead. It’s a film that deserves to stand alone as a single film, that happens to be a prequel alluding to future storylines and hinting at events to come that are just nearing perfection. One of the rare prequels made that induces the joy of the original film series it stems from, this is a very entertaining and often compelling take on the rise of Caesar and inevitably the apes.