Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Adriel L

  
  Intelligent as good science-fiction films go, but leaves nothing that hasn't been seen, nothing new here.

• Directors C

  
  [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] The latest installment in the long running apes series is really something, it turned out to be a film much more groundbreaking and triumphant than I first expected and is the most decent entry to the… More
  [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] The latest installment in the long running apes series is really something, it turned out to be a film much more groundbreaking and triumphant than I first expected and is the most decent entry to the franchise in a very long time. The performance of Andy Serkis as lead ape Caesar, who also performed for King Kong is quite breathtaking and deserving of a best actor nomination. It's highly remarkable how the film expresses each of the apes feelings, giving them unique traits and personalities that then enhances them as solid and interesting characters despite having no capability to speak. It's very much admirable and even more so that the gripping and incredibly filmed action sequences just look like a brilliant bonus. This is a character drama as much as a sci-fi film, except without the cute, witty quirkiness of the original Planet of the Apes. However, Rise taking itself seriously isn't a bad thing, it worked just as well and is just as entertaining as the original and undoubtedly one of the best reimagining's ever made as far as reboots are concerned.

• Dean !

  
  A very good film which acts as a prequel to the original films. Good cgi and SFX overall, plenty of action but also with plenty of depth to the characters and story. It has some nice touches that link it with the other films to. Better than I expected.

• MisterYoda ?

  
  three stars

• Albert K

  
  A very entertaining B-movie about a wimp ape that goes gangster. Entertaining with great looking CGI.

• Alexander D

  
  With the exception of the unintentional humor the apes bring, the entertainment level for RISE is just fine. It's the low fidelity this heeds to its original from 43 years before that makes it such a confusing movie. Yes, believe it or not, it has been that many years, and this… More
  With the exception of the unintentional humor the apes bring, the entertainment level for RISE is just fine. It's the low fidelity this heeds to its original from 43 years before that makes it such a confusing movie. Yes, believe it or not, it has been that many years, and this is an attempt to provide a backstory to the original from that long ago. With the strictly urban setting, the overflow of action sequences and special effects, and the overwhelming sense of futurism, RISE is 110% 2011, and it bears not the slightest bit of possibility that it could have been made similarly just shortly after the original film. Okay, maybe the film's decency rose when HARRY POTTER's Tom Felton delivered possibly the most memorable line in all animal movie history, that has been featured in just about every APES movie since the very first. Had that line not been delivered and the title not included the series' name, it'd be very hard to tell that this had any relation to the classic it precedes. (Where is Charlton Heston when we need him???) Note: The title is RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. Why not just add another "of the" statement and make yourselves sound completely unprofessional?

• Sergio G

  
  I love it! Makes sense. We're far from it and it's not that I think this could be possible, but as a science fiction lover it fullfill my expectations. Andy Serkis still the favorite monkey of Hollywood. But his acting is superb. Cesar. The start of everything. While James… More
  I love it! Makes sense. We're far from it and it's not that I think this could be possible, but as a science fiction lover it fullfill my expectations. Andy Serkis still the favorite monkey of Hollywood. But his acting is superb. Cesar. The start of everything. While James Franco is looking to regenerate neurons to cure Alzheimer, the experiments with apes goes beyond his expectations. Amazing FX a very good story and directing.

• Chris W

  
  What could have been just a shallow, shameless, and cheap attempt to cash in by using a name brand is instead a rather smart, thoughtful, and really impressive piece of work. This film is a prequel to the classic Planet of the Apes, but also borrows bits from other films in the… More
  What could have been just a shallow, shameless, and cheap attempt to cash in by using a name brand is instead a rather smart, thoughtful, and really impressive piece of work. This film is a prequel to the classic Planet of the Apes, but also borrows bits from other films in the series, and manages ultimately to also be its own thing. Will Rodman is a researcher working towards a cure for Alzheimer's disease. While it does help human test subjects, the effect it has on primates is utterly remarkable, leading to some really unexpected developments. When circumstances get out of hand, Will finds himself the adopted father of a baby chimp called Caesar who, thanks to exposure to the experimental drug, begins to evolve at an accelerated rate and develop a vast sense of intelligence. After a misunderstanding, Caesar is taken away and imprisoned in a primate sanctuary run by some ruthless and cruel humans who display no regard for the well being of the animals. Thanks to his intelligence, Caesar begins to form a rebellion which, given the film's title, though not surprising, is really exciting and well done. Given the reputation of the three sequels to the original, and how people feel about the Tim Burton remake, I was a little iffy on this one at first. As I started to hear more about it, and see some footage, I started to change my mind, but decided to remain open-minded and wait until finally seeing it before giving a full judgment call. Now that I have seen it, I must say, I am quite impressed. Storywise, this isn't groundbreaking, but it is really well done and pretty compelling at times. I was surprised by how much I found myself emotionally involved and connected to the characters, mostly the non-human ones. With the visuals and effects though, this is where the film is really brilliant. The motion capture effects and the way the CG is used is quite cutting edge, and the results are remarkably realistic and mind blowing. Thanks to the superb performance by the unseen Andy Serkis, Caesar is really brought to life and is a real character instead of just a visual effect. That I got emotionall stirred by a special effect the way I did really says something. Hell, the humans are the least identifiable and hardest to care for (for the most part) characters. I love Franco, but I don't know if he was right for this. He's okay though, but not really that great. The characters played by Brian Cox but especially Tom Felton didn't surprise me in terms of where they fit into things, but they both do fine. Lithgow is good, but the weakest link here is Pinto, who isn't given anything interesting to do, and doesn't bring much to the table. The drama is compelling, and, as I said, this is a pretty smart and thoughtful affair. There's tons of references and Easter eggs, most of which are fine, but there are two big thigns that really bug me, and that's what's really keeping me from giving this the extra half star it deserves. The first is the use of a line, rather THE line, the most famous quote from the original film. First off, why? Was it just for recognition purposes, or did they feel they couldn't make the film without it? Whatever the case, I could have done without it, mostly because I felt it was forced in. Not only that, but right after it comes a major payoff, and probably the most important moment in the film, a moment that is lessened because of how the line is used and the fact that it kind of made me groan whe nit was said. The other big issue was the end. Not how the story ended, but the fact that a really important scene plays a bit after the end credits started rolling. I think they should have just had that scene right before the credits instead. Also, the pacing felt rather uneven overall. There's some great build up and development, but then the final act feels really rushed, and this problem could have been fixed by either increasing the film's running time, or not charging to the conclusion, leaving a bit more for a sequel or something. All of that aside, this was a fantastic film. It looks incredible, the effects are top notch, the action is great, and this was overall a hell of a lot better than I think anyone could have anticipated, and that's definitely a great thing. Definitely give this one a watch, because it's awesome.

• Samuel R

  
  When I heard that there was a prequel to 'Planet of the Apes', I thought of poor version by Tim Burton. However, this is a prequel to the classic 1968 film, and let me tell you, its the best prequel to a film since...ever. For those who are fans of the original film,… More
  When I heard that there was a prequel to 'Planet of the Apes', I thought of poor version by Tim Burton. However, this is a prequel to the classic 1968 film, and let me tell you, its the best prequel to a film since...ever. For those who are fans of the original film, there will several references to the original film,which most will recognise. However, those who haven't watch the original, and thought that this was good, I recommend going home and watching it. I personally thought that the visual effects for this film were stunning, espescially the motion capture from Andy Serkis, who is known for his roles of Gollum in 'Lord of the Rings' and Kong in 'King Kong'. With great links to the original, visual effects and story, 'Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes' was close to an essential in 2011.

• Anthony L

  
  To be honest, the old PG Tips adverts with the Chimps drinking tea on a loop for 2 hours would have been a better inclusion to the franchise than Tim Burtons effort, so Rise of the Planet of the Apes had a bit of slack to work with but, to it's credit, it was pretty good.… More
  To be honest, the old PG Tips adverts with the Chimps drinking tea on a loop for 2 hours would have been a better inclusion to the franchise than Tim Burtons effort, so Rise of the Planet of the Apes had a bit of slack to work with but, to it's credit, it was pretty good. It's not as good as the original and I don't think it was as good as the third film which, I love, but has been ignored - it being the only part of the story it decided to side-step away from, Ceaser is the son of Cornelius, not sure why they went to the effort of having the news coverage of the Mars spaceflight in the background to link with the first film if they didn't continue the whole story but that said, if they do another and avoid the Beneath the Planet of the apes storyline, we'll call it quits. It is essentially a blockbuster, everything is a little bit rushed to fit into the 2 hours but it's good fun, is exciting and is a little bit more intelligent than your average summer blockbuster. It fits into the franchise quite well and although the CGI wasn't always great, I hope they make more.

• Daniel P

  
  Brain: off. O.K., on with the movie. Every line of dialogue was clichéd and, as always, the cartoonishly evil nature of the apes is hard to buy into, but the film is nevertheless a plausible origin story. The Planet of the Apes franchise, at its core, was most important not for what… More
  Brain: off. O.K., on with the movie. Every line of dialogue was clichéd and, as always, the cartoonishly evil nature of the apes is hard to buy into, but the film is nevertheless a plausible origin story. The Planet of the Apes franchise, at its core, was most important not for what it said about apes so much as what it purported to say about humans. And though the rise of the apes is a result of over-ambitious human technological development, the shock value has long ago worn off, and the effect just isn't there anymore. Hey, wait a minute, I thought I was turning my brain off! Lots of action, somewhat fun, a little suspenseful: just go with it, it's better than Just Go With It.

• Sophie B

  
  A great follow up on the previous films which fully takes the story and expands it in a believable world. Great performances by all involved (although it took a while to shake the memory of Lithgow as a Dexter villain) and it gives a clear view of the reasons why each character is… More
  A great follow up on the previous films which fully takes the story and expands it in a believable world. Great performances by all involved (although it took a while to shake the memory of Lithgow as a Dexter villain) and it gives a clear view of the reasons why each character is doing what they are. Brilliantly done by Serkis once again and Felton's accent was actually believable. I especially loved the little ending snippet suggesting the spread of the disease.

• paul o

  
  Surprisingly good! Franco is as dull as he always is on screen but the story and CGI make up for that. Its a story that makes you go through the motion and directing that follows through.

• Tim S

  
  If there's one thing that the Planet of the Apes series has it's a lot of history, and going into Rise of the Planet of the Apes you can certainly feel that history and power on-screen. What could have been a disaster and just another summer movie AND another lousy POTA film… More
  If there's one thing that the Planet of the Apes series has it's a lot of history, and going into Rise of the Planet of the Apes you can certainly feel that history and power on-screen. What could have been a disaster and just another summer movie AND another lousy POTA film turns out to be much better than it has any right to be. First of all, the casting of James Franco is a no-no in my book. I like the guy a lot, but his stoned-face stare doesn't really enhance his lack of acting abilities. He's better-suited to comedies and rom-coms than leading roles in films like this. That's my opinion, anyway. He's ok, but it stands out to me and I kept wondering why he was in the movie. Second, and what I found interesting, is that we spend the film relating to the apes rather than the humans. Most of the humans in this movie are bad or just don't care - even the small part with Brian Cox in it. He does absolutely nothing in his part, but he acts as a sort of foe in a way (albeit indirectly). Third, the effects work and acting with the apes is second to none. It's shocking how accustomed you grow to the CGI apes. They're very well designed and animated to the point that when the drama at the end of film begins, you forget about the CGI. It's excellent work on the design and animation team's parts. The film isn't groundbreaking or incredible, but it's entertaining and not really insulting (despite the presence of Tom Felton :D). It's a fun and dramatic movie that works pretty well.

• Mark W

  
  In 2008 director Rupert Wyatt made his debut with British film "The Escapist". It was a tense and excellently constructed prison drama that was seen by few. Thankfully, someone from across the pond took notice though and gave him a chance on a larger scale. He delivers… More
  In 2008 director Rupert Wyatt made his debut with British film "The Escapist". It was a tense and excellently constructed prison drama that was seen by few. Thankfully, someone from across the pond took notice though and gave him a chance on a larger scale. He delivers big-time. Will Rodman (James Franco) researching a cure for Alzheimer's takes home a baby chimpanzee after its mother - supposedly a failed experiment - is destroyed. Caesar (Andy Serkis), the chimp, exhibits near-human intelligence, and comes to question his kind's place on a human planet. After attacking a neighbour, Caesar is impounded and it's here that he meets other apes and foments rebellion. This is old school entertainment, in classic B-movie style. It has the hero with a heart and the stereotypical corporate villain. I don't normally go in for big laden special effects films of this kind but it's hard to resist when they're this much fun. Andy Serkis seems to be the actor in the forefront of motion capture these days. His credentials including, "The Lord of the Rings", "King Kong", "The Adventures of Tintin" and the forthcoming "The Hobbit". This, being no less effective. In fact, it may well be his finest yet. He delivers a subtle and soulful performance. As mentioned, the near flawless special effects play a big part in this and are, quick frankly, outstanding. The biggest disappointment though, is the ending. It's an obvious set-up for a sequel which leaves an unsatisfying conclusion and the feeling that you've just been teased. As pure unadulterated entertainment this is second to none. One of the most fun-filled films of the year and my personal favourite from the apes franchise.

• Martin S

  
  This was pretty good. It's not disrespectful to the original like Burton's film. It was interesting and you feel bad for the little ape...he's not the badguy....you did this to him....I will watch the next one...when ever that comes out

• Thomas J

  
  As a long-time fan of The Planet of the Apes movies, I feel I would have liked this movie no matter what. But this is a good movie even for new fans. I only hate having that ONE character to point your finger at and for me the neighbor needed to be dealt with to resolve my hatred… More
  As a long-time fan of The Planet of the Apes movies, I feel I would have liked this movie no matter what. But this is a good movie even for new fans. I only hate having that ONE character to point your finger at and for me the neighbor needed to be dealt with to resolve my hatred for him!! lol

• Jameson W

  
  Okay, so the 2001 version wasn't good, but I'm SO glad the series was rebooted a second time with this new addition; it's that good! Everything about it absolutely fantastic: the pacing, tone, emotion, characters, action. I honestly couldn't have been more pleased.… More
  Okay, so the 2001 version wasn't good, but I'm SO glad the series was rebooted a second time with this new addition; it's that good! Everything about it absolutely fantastic: the pacing, tone, emotion, characters, action. I honestly couldn't have been more pleased. Hands down the absolute best quality about the film is the performance by Andy Serkis. He has revolutionized the way we look motion capture performances. Not only has he done it in LOtR and King Kong, he proved he could do it a 5th time delivering an astounding performance. Hopefully he can get the Oscar nomination he deserves! What a film, and what a performance from Andy Serkis!

• Reid V

  
  A visual feast with little else going for it. For starters, the structure of the film flawed. This film initially rushes you through 5 years of the main Ape Caesar's growth. 5 years of trust and development that I feel are so vital to the story, given merely a cursory glance. Not… More
  A visual feast with little else going for it. For starters, the structure of the film flawed. This film initially rushes you through 5 years of the main Ape Caesar's growth. 5 years of trust and development that I feel are so vital to the story, given merely a cursory glance. Not only with the ape, but with Franco's relationship with his lady as well. For example, We are supposed to believe that Franco has been with this girl, but the topic of Caesar's mother had never been breached? Also, another thing that makes it really hard to get invested in, is the acting. Sure there are monkeys that are capable of the same compassion and brutality as human beings. There are modern corporations dabbling in super science. But the hardest thing to swallow in the film, is that James Franco has the mental faculty to be a scientist. However not all is lost. Lithgow is good as Franco's father. Even though he looks like an Alzheimer's plagued mad-scientist and mysteriously disappears half way through the film. The main reason for seeing this is the special effects. What they have done is completely unreal. These apes look incredible. The bridge scene is tremendously executed and alone worth the redbox rental. Sadly, this film was way too overhyped and I am not looking forward to the sequels.

• Dan S

  
  An over-rated sequel to a decorated franchise, this one concerning the start of the revolution of the apes, led by the intelligent Caesar (Andy Serkis), who feels abandonment from the doctor (James Franco) who raised him, only to give him away to an abusive primate facility. From a… More
  An over-rated sequel to a decorated franchise, this one concerning the start of the revolution of the apes, led by the intelligent Caesar (Andy Serkis), who feels abandonment from the doctor (James Franco) who raised him, only to give him away to an abusive primate facility. From a pure aesthetic, cinematography standpoint, this picture could not be any better. However, from a story-telling and character development one, it leaves a lot to be desired. This could have been a spectacular summer smash, but instead it follows a cut-and-paste, predictable, cliche-ridden plot formula that you can call from a mile away. Franco's boring turn is not totally his fault, given his character is given next to no background except for the fact that he loves his Alzheimer's affected father (John Lithgow) and Caesar. Oh, and that he dates a cute vet (the gorgeous Freida Pinto) who happens to love apes too. If the story would have given a care in the world to detailing the characters, and not result to giving us stereotypical ones who spout tired dialogue, this film could have been pretty great. The cast, the makeup of the movie, and the ending that should have been glorious all deserve better than a sexy-looking summer blockbuster with no substance - sadly that's all we get here.

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