A few words about...™ Rise of the Planet of the Apes

I'm not lucky enough to have been around to see the original Planet of the Apes in 1968, but that film and it's sequels were a big part of my filmic education when I was growing up. Despite my connection to them I thought this was an excellent addition to the series, and one of the best of the summer season. As well as watching the film I'd also recommend listening to the audio commentaries - it's good to hear intelligent people spealing eloquently about how the film developed and how it could have been different.

As to whether I think the series should be wrapped up - I think I'd be ready to see what this team could come up with as a sequel.

 

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

 

As I said in the summer when I saw the film, I enjoyed it a lot, and am glad to see the series have a bit of life in it (which, let's face it, it hasn't in 40 years, depending on which of the sequels you think wasn't up to par). Not sure how I feel about a sequel to Rise, but one is almost certainly coming. So let's cross our fingers that the creative team that did this one can keep things interesting.

lol!

"Wrap it up" and end it with "Rise"?  To quote Caesar: "Noooooo!"

 

I really liked "Rise" and look forward to a sequel.  I think it'd be a mistake to stop the series here, especially since "Rise" ends with such a sequel teaser.

 

I understand the idea that it'd be good to end the series on a high note, but who says the sequel won't be equally good?

 

Besides, this is the restart of a franchise, not the continuation of a series.  RAH calls it a sequel, but it's not.  A sequel would continue a prior narrative - this one reworks/reboots/restarts it.  "Rise" connects to the original series but isn't part of it...

 

That's "damned, dirty ape", thank you!

I have said this elsewhere....

 

Damn good APES film.  Based on past remake attempts

it could have been a disaster.  However, this film was

smartly made with just the right of human element added

into it.

 

Deserving of being one of the best films of the Summer.

Did well at the box office too, making a sequel likely....From Box office mojo


Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Domestic Total as of Dec. 14, 2011: $176,708,214
Distributor: Fox Release Date: August 5, 2011
Genre: Sci-Fi Action Runtime: 1 hrs. 50 min.
MPAA Rating: PG-13 Production Budget: $93 million

Domestic: $176,708,214 36.7%
+ Foreign: $304,522,617 63.3%
= Worldwide: $481,230,831

I still remember "Planet of the Apes Week" on TV growing up. This was a special presentation of THE 4:30 MOVIE, which was a staple of Channel 7's (New York's local ABC affiliate) afternoon lineup in the 70's and early 80's. TV Guide promised that you would "Go Ape!" for a week. But because the original film was shown in 2 parts, you couldn't cram all 5 Apes movies into one week. Lame!

I saw this on a crappy black-and-white TV with terrible reception. Viewing these same films on Blu-Ray on my big TV was nothing short of astonishing to me.

Amen. I was also a fan of Apes Week on NY's ABC. I often laugh at folks who say they don't see much of a difference from DVD to blu-ray, and remind them of the days of TVs with fuzzy receptions.

Aaah, the ABC 4:30 movie.  Most of the classics I know

today came from that afternoon staple.

 

(I am guessing only New Yorkers remember this)

 

WKBD channel 50 Detroit. Don't know if we had an "Ape Week" but they sure played the original, and "Beneath" enough times in the 70's to leave an impression.

Love the original film more than words, and I watched "Rise" over the summer. Oddly enough all the summer fare I was eager to see disappointed me (Captain America, Green Lantern) and the one film I thought would be horrible...I liked.
Picking it up tonight.

KVOS TV-12, Bellingham (that's just north of Seattle) was a CBS affiliate, and in the 1960s it used to have, every afternoon, The Big Show, which would start at I think 430, go for an hour, then break for Walter Kronkite ("and in An Loc today, US forces conducted a sweep of suspected ......" etc etc) for a half hour, then back to the show. The staple of the the show was of course, all the movies of the 1940s and 50s, not all classics, but a fantastic snapshot of the studio production of that era. Coming from the UK as a teen, and then hooking up with all these shows was like striking gold. A different era.

In this day of the infomercial, and pablem like Judge Judy and Oprah, it's too bad that the modern youth won't know the astonishment and wonder
of the 4:30 movies.

Channel 7 in Detroit used to have "Ape Week" in the afternoons when I was growing up. Five Ape movies in five days -- what kid could ask for anything more?

I had planned on just renting this reboot/remake, but you folks may be talking me into a blind buy.

"Damn you, you dirty stinkin' HTF members!"

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/16/opinion/michio-kaku-life-2100/?iref=obnetwork

In the 'Intelligent Machines' section, Michio Kaku posits the notion that robots may one day clap us 'superior beings' behind the bars of zoos and watch us dance for peanuts! Damn right, too!

Serkis's participation in this makes it a no-brainer for me. Extraordinary actor, whether hidden behind a costume or as himself. Good for Jackson for allowing us see both 'sides' of him in Kong.

I absolutely agree that this film should garner a view. It's not really a sequel, prequel, or remake, but it is more of a re-imagination, if you will.
The plot suggests a new storyline which departs from the original series. I watched the movie on Blu-ray and the production is exquisite.

I hesitate to go into more detail at the risk of spoiling it for those of you who have not seen this film, yet.

That being said, it will definitely elicit some emotion from you. I do confess that I have a favorite scene. It's very poignant and nearly a tear-jerker if
you possess any degree of sentimentality.

Even though, I am a devout fan of the original literature, subsequent films and one remake, I would still recommend this film.

Please let me know your own thoughts.

Happy holidays!

And speaking of the original novel, let's raise a glass for Pierre Boulle, author not just of Monkey Planet, but as well of Bridge on the River Kwai. Santé Pierre, wherever you may be watching from. So many excellent writers out there, and once their era is passed, and the magnifying glass of fame moves on, they fall into obscurity.

I have no objection to the continuation of the series if they are not allowed to sink to the level of the first series of sequels. I don't think I could handle that. The only problem I see is that Rise doesn't mesh with the remake of Planet, terribly well.

Maybe we'll get another live-action TV series and maybe a Saturday morning cartoon, or an issue of CRACKED mazagine...

Amazon has this title on sale right now for $14.99.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a legitimate reboot of the franchise. Like the original films, it holds up a mirror to our human monkey shines. I credit the success of Planet of the Apes (1968) largely to Rod Serling more than Pierre Boulle. Serling's screenplay was far removed from the novel. They don't have much in common. Serling basically dumped the book and turned the idea into the ultimate episode of The Twilight Zone. Under Serling's editorial and creative leadership, that series set the standard. It still boasts some of the finest writing and most innovative storytelling ever devised for television. I think Serling would like Rise of the Planet of the Apes. That's the highest compliment I can pay this film. So long as the film makers have something to say and something to show us that hasn't been done before, I'd like to see where they go with the reboot. Let's hope the thinking is as good as in Rise Of the Planet of the Apes.