Rise of the Planet of the Apes

[TheOnes]

I was there at Sheperds Bush this morning, I was very early too! Had my big cricket bag with me and wearing my cricket trousers because I had to shoot off to my cricket match straight after the fim. The ticket attendants didnt even flinch at my wheelie bag and my very white appearance...which surprised me as I thought I easily looked like someone who just escaped from an asylum. But anyway, with a cappucino and hot dog in my hand which cost £8 (look I was hungry sorry, I-I had no choice ) , I wheeled me bag to the front row of the middle stalls which was perfect to lay my bag down and I reckon best spot to watch the movie. I even used my cricket bag as a foot rest!

I only knew of Valda going to this screening so I kept an eye out for her to invite her to sit next to me and sure enough (albeit at 10:20am) she walked right past me with some very serious focussing on vacant seats (which by now looked to be quite full), so I hulla'd at her so loud everyone turned their heads, and then she saw me and joined me. Was good to see you Val

Anyway, onto the movie. I had by this morning sobered up a little from my giddiness at watching Super 8 yesterday. Little did I expect that I was going to be floored once again and this time knocked out of the park in the next 1hour and 45mins.

I want to find a word to describe this movie that no one else has used because this films deserves a new adjective. What shall it be? I know BRILLIFICENT! Yes that's it, Brillificent. No it deserves better than that but it will do. Who ever played Ceasar has a very promising career ahead of him, that ape can bloody act. He makes Charlton Heston look like a school play actor in comparison. His emotional nuances and truly awesome badass moments are just unforgettable...I'll just look up who this ape is in IMDB...WHAT? The ape aint real?...what the...CGI? no way! He's real, he must be real...OK I'll have to accept it, he was CGI...my god have they finally come a long way. And ok Andy Serkis once again deserves credit for his brilliant miming skills but so do the CGI aimation team at Weta.

I did notice that the CGI character who looked like James Franco was not as realistic but sometime he looked convi....wait...that was a real HUMAN?!? It WAS James Franco?!?.....oh.

Ok enough with CGI talk as it almost does the film injustice. After all, good CGI is meant to be unnoticed. The fact is, the apes were believable and so real. Well, apart from the odd moments of abnormal physics such as when an ape was put on a stretcher as if it was as light as a feather. But Ceasar was the star, he carried this movie. And not just carried it, I think he will be iconic...at least certainly more memorable than Roddy McDowell's Caesar in the original Apes movies.

Talking of which, the nods to original Planet of the Apes absolutely tickled me and incredibly, it actually ties in very neatly with the classic. But I wont go into details as that will be going into spoilers. I will say this definitely ignores the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Apes movies. But that's fine. This is a superior alternative by a LONG way.

The human story was also a moving one with John Lithgow tugging the heartstring most. But so was James Franco :) I know I had a poke at him earlier but it was an irresistable joke. I always like him since the Spiderman movies, I think he has movie star quality and though his range is limited, he is engaging. I emoted with him on his pursuit of a cure for his father. His girlfriend was a little stiff in her dialogue though and kind of threw me off slightly. But even though the human story was engaging, it was Caesar's journey that drew me in like a 100 ton magnet.

Oh and the sweeping camera work and cinematography was absolutely breathtaking. God, I want to see this movie again so badly.

I am so grateful to the makers of this movie for truly burying my memories of Burton's diabolical remake. Here is a film that will not only make Ape fans absolutely elated but a film that holds its own, standing head and shoulders above the best movies of the year so far. I want to see this film nominated for Best Picture, it is that bloody great. Hell, I want to see it even win.

What a summer of blockbusters...Thor, Xmen, HP, Super 8 all made me feel giddy. But after seeing Rise of the Planet of the Awesome Apes...I feel drunk, very drunk.

Rating: 9.5/10.

Dude, no need to be so harsh towards the film

Also, i must be deaf since i didnt even hear anyone raise an octave before the film started, let alone that call you apparently gave. Is your throat just a dog whistle?

[prettyxcool]

Did you "hulla'd" MrG, as I was sitting two rows behind you! I saw everyone coming in, as I was waiting for my friend to wave at her so she can see where we were sitting, but I did not see valda come in or hear you! Everyone coming in tried to sit in the seats I was saving for theOnes and my friend, then finally I even let theOnes seat go, as I finally saw his text that he was in already!

[valda]

Did you "hulla'd" MrG, as I was sitting two rows behind you! I saw everyone coming in, as I was waiting for my friend to wave at her so she can see where we were sitting, but I did not see valda come in or hear you! Everyone coming in tried to sit in the seats I was saving for theOnes and my friend, then finally I even let theOnes seat go, as I finally saw his text that he was in already!

Luckily I heard him as I would have been wandering around like a lost soul. I was sitting next to another Oriental couple, must be he ones that Theones accosted

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Did you "hulla'd" MrG, as I was sitting two rows behind you! I saw everyone coming in, as I was waiting for my friend to wave at her so she can see where we were sitting, but I did not see valda come in or hear you! Everyone coming in tried to sit in the seats I was saving for theOnes and my friend, then finally I even let theOnes seat go, as I finally saw his text that he was in already!

Dude, no need to be so harsh towards the film

Also, i must be deaf since i didnt even hear anyone raise an octave before the film started, let alone that call you apparently gave. Is your throat just a dog whistle?

You guys were there too!?! Yeah I actually called out to Val 3 times, the first 2 times, she wasnt hearing me, so on my third attempt I hulla'd (sorry my parent's creol english somtimes creep in) and a few heads around me, turned But finally, so did Val's :)

I dont know what you look like TheOnes but PXC, I cant believe I missed you, I was watching everyone walking in, perhaps because I didnt expect you to be there (thought your pref was normally O2)!

[prettyxcool]

I dont know what you look like TheOnes but PXC, I cant believe I missed you, I was watching everyone walking in, perhaps because I didnt expect you to be there (thought your pref was normally O2)!

Not on a weekend morning. West London is nearer! LOL

[TheOnes]

You guys were there too!?! Yeah I actually called out to Val 3 times, the first 2 times, she wasnt hearing me, so on my third attempt I hulla'd (sorry my parent's creol english somtimes creep in) and a few heads around me, turned But finally, so did Val's :)

I dont know what you look like TheOnes but PXC, I cant believe I missed you, I was watching everyone walking in, perhaps because I didnt expect you to be there (thought your pref was normally O2)!

Well im in my Display picture over there <---. just for future reference incase anyone wants to spontaneously shoulder tap me next time.

But 3 times you called out? Really? Christ that must've been a testament to how badly i slept last night as it seemed incredibly quiet and tranquil for the full 30 minutes

[prettyxcool]

I thought that too!

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Dude, no need to be so harsh towards the film

Oh well, when a film hits the spot, I feel drunk! You might notice I ramble like one, often irrationally? This film aint winning no Best picture but in my drunken world, it does

Tom Felton was pretty good btw, so typecasted, lol.

Well im in my Display picture over there <---. just for future reference incase anyone wants to spontaneously shoulder tap me next time.

Ah, then I shall be sure to look out for a very large dude with enourmous sharp teeth, next time

[rawsalsa]

You've said it all. I loved this film & will definitely see it again.
Andy Serkis needs a special award for his services to cgi+++
Definite 9/10 for me.

[tilly]

Waiting for film to start at a packed Wimbledon screening. Just seen women with a baby here and this film is 2 hours long!!