Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Resonant. Revolting. It's hard to guess where Rupert Wyatt is coming from, but we can only be glad that he got to possibly the most surprising hit of recent years. Nobody wanted to see the rise of this ape, the derision over such an unnecessary remake was endless... and suddenly hardly anyone has anything to say about it. James Franco surprises with his acting versatility, Tom Felton confirms his ability to play the villain, and Caesar, accompanied by Patrick Doyle's amazing music, conquers not only the highest branches of the trees but also the hearts of the audience. Despite a few surprising (but not disturbing) logical stumbling blocks, I have to admit that after he pushed ahead in this campaign at all costs, he left almost everyone eagerly supporting these enraged primates yet again. (25/10/2011)

The monkeys’ gazes gradually become more expressive and sincere than the gazes of the human actors, and the initial protagonist, a scientist played by James Franco, and his companions become nothing but a bunch of extras. In other words, it’s rather more "Rise of the Planet of WETA". It has the charm of fantasy worlds, a fast pace, a deluge of visual and screenwriting ideas, perfect action, loads of emotions, a subtle ecological message, and especially the omnipresent positive feel-good vibes without the need for darkness and violence, though the film talks about serious things. It is not possible that it took just a little over 100 minutes. For me, this was a feast, a perfect viewing experience and the most enjoyable blockbuster since the mid-1990s (Jurassic Park, Twister). And here I thought that the problem was just me being unable to go back there. (29/07/2011)

I can't help but find this movie as a whole so paradoxically human. I was mesmerized by the beautiful shots and the perfect music. Watching the apes defy the humans and fight for freedom was an incredible experience for me. That monkey power took over the whole theater. Caesar's legendary line "Caesar is home" made me want to stand up and clap... I am also happy about the casting of the beautiful Freida Pinto. Ladies and gentlemen, you couldn't have done it better. The full 5 stars. (16/08/2011)

Phenomenal gem, polished in every aspect. A film with visual effects that are used exactly in the right places and details (the ape faces and emotions), excellent and dynamic action, captivating drama, a surprising intimate touch. Those expecting big-budget action with millions of apes battling the human population will be disappointed. The new apes are going in a completely different direction, significantly more sophisticated and entertaining. It's still popcorn and a film made mainly for “entertainment”, but the inventiveness and enthusiasm of the people behind it for the material cannot be overlooked. Thumbs up, excellent work, and a film that truly entertains from beginning to end. (13/09/2011)

The film objectively has enough flaws (logical missteps, sometimes strange editing, a few unnecessarily cheesy scenes). But it deserves great respect for its childish enthusiasm and completely anachronic use of tricks. I haven't enjoyed the liveliness and soul of trick sequences this much in a long time... as if Rise of the Planet of the Apes was actually going back to the 1960s, when every trick was a little joyful miracle. Personally, this film reminded me of why I love science fiction so much (that uplifting feeling of magical escape from the everydayness) and surprised me very pleasantly by resigning on the theme of direct civilizational conflict. In short, we follow the spontaneous demise of the old community and the resulting birth of a new community, which has, much more than the features of the classic apocalyptic sci-fi elements, features of a romantic story of a lone monster and its naive creator. At the same time, the film establishes the opportunity to tell the whole series again (including a reference to the unfortunate flight of Icarus), which makes me happy after watching this intimate, emotional and outwardly pleasurable spectacle. (29/07/2011)