Reviewed by Johnny McNair

20th Century Fox – 105 minutes – 2011 – Rated PG-13 – 1080p Widescreen 2.35:1 – DTS 5.1 Audio Mix – Digital Copy

The original 1968 Planet of the Apes movie, is without question one of the greatest cinematic achievements of the last fifty years, and opened the doors of imagination to the science fiction genre. It even paved the way for 20th Century Fox to consider future blockbusters such as Star Wars and Alien. In 2001 director Tim Burton attempted to remake the movie, but failed, stalling any interest in he subject for another ten years. Finally the Hollywood machine realized this was a film that audiences would reject if it attempted to remake it, so they decided to re-imagine it as a prequel. The result is Rise of the Planet of the Apes, a movie that is actually well thought out and provides a unique vision for the “Ape” movies without stepping on the toes of the original.

THE MOVIE

The key element that makes Rise of the Planet of the Apes work is that it doesn’t attempt to insult you. It stays in the real world so that anyone can relate to either the characters or the situation. Coming of his recent Academy Award nomination for 127 Hours, James Franco plays Will Rodman, a scientist who is obsessed with finding a cure for Alzheimer’s in hopes of helping his father Charles Rodman (played by John Lithgow) who is suffering form the disease.

A wonder drug called ALZ-112, which is being experimented on chimpanzees, may be the solution, but when the program is terminated, all the animals are put to death, except for the one hidden baby chimp whose mother was a prime test subject. Fearing that this newborn will be terminated as well, Will brings the chimp home and raises it in his home, calling him Caesar.

Caesar becomes a member of the family, staying in his own hidden environment for years. The drug has made him smarter than other chimps, and his thoughts and actions match those of a human. His curiosity and human-like aggression gets him in trouble and Will is forced to send him to a shelter for apes, where he is caged a treated badly by the human guardian. He is forced to adapt to the environment and uses his human intelligence to form an alliance. Getting possession of more ALZ-112, Caesar exposes the drug to the other apes and they unite to escape the grip of the humans.

Note to all filmmakers, this movies greatest accomplishment is that from frame one you care about the hero, Caesar, and you want him to win. Many bigger films out there with an A-list actor in the lead can’t draw among most of the emotions that are displayed by Caser. The man behind his performance is Andy Serkis, who was also responsible for the Golem character in the Lord of the Rings films and the lead in King Kong. His motion capture skills will one day be the subject of motion picture history, because he has made it an art.

Much credit should also go to director Rupert Wyatt and screenwriters Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, who have opened up the world of the Planet of the Apes to a whole new generation, who have either never seen the original films, or saw the hacked-up versions on TV. Most re-makes or re-imagined movie series are not worth the effort that went into them, but there are a few that were well executed such as the new James Bond and Star Trek. Rise of the Planet of the Apes should definitely be added to this list, and will hopefully be the inspiration to how to do it correctly.

VIDEO

This Blu-ray delivers a beautiful 1080p image in a 2:25:1 aspect ratio that will keep your eyes locked to your TV screen. Details are crisp, especially aspects such as the Caesar and the other apes, that will convince you that you’re not even watching an effect, but an actual animal. Colors are vibrant and darks are balanced nicely. Overall, this is a great transfer that is worth it.

AUDIO

The audio compliments the video offering a 5.1 DTS-HD digital track that makes the experience that much better. Whether it is the sounds of a busy lab, the clam of a neighborhood street, the apes speaking in their own language, or a battle on the Golden Gate Bridge, the audio was well mastered. Patrick Doyle’s music score is the glue that seals it all in place, so if you have a home theater system, it is the only way to experience the movie.

EXTRAS

There are a decent amount of extras included on this blu-ray that includes a second DVD version of the movie and a Digital Copy.

There are two audio commentary tracks, one form director Rupert Wyatt and another from screenwriters Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. They are both very informative and display that this trio was very passionate about the project.

Mythology of the Apes is a brief look at the original movies and how they broke ground for this re-imagined vision.

There are twelve deleted scenes, most of which have no finished effects, so you can see Andy Serkis in action doing the motion capture.

The Genius of Andy Serkis is exactly how it sounds. If you don’t know anything about him, you’ll appreciate it even more.

Composing the Score is an inside look at Patrick Doyle’s music set piece for Caesar’s adventure.

The Great Apes is a look at the different species of apes in the movie.

BOTTOM LINE

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is not only a well-executed re-boot but also a technological achievement in cinema. You will remember Caesar long after the credits roll and will want to know what happens for him next. This blu-ray offers excellent picture and sound quality and a fair amount of bonus features to keep you satisfied. Even if you’re not a fan of the original movies, Rise of the Planet of the Apes will win you over and should be added to your Blu-ray collection.

SCORES (Out of 5):

The Movie: 4.5

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 4.0