Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Critics going Bananas over this Flick.

[Spiff]

I'm seeing alot of lukewarm reviews for it on Metacritic. Mostly favorable, but not extremely so. As with many other movies of this type, where CGI is combined with live action, the human performances are lacking. But it looks like everything else (the apes) is worth seeing.

When I heard the release for this was this summer instead of later toward the end of the year, I knew it likely was not going to be Oscar material. Summer movies typically go for blockbuster dollars over the latter months' Oscar buzz. Example, the LOTR movies probably would have made even more money if they were released for the Summer. But since they knew they were Oscar worthy, they were released late in the year.

 

[TheOscar]

It seems to be getting great reviews, I mean it got an 85% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
I'm a bit skeptical; the movie doesn't seem amazing, but I can't judge it solely on trailers. I'll need to see it.

 

[Spensed]

On the good side, the direction is really impressive. It keeps things moving along, which is why I guess most people, who've seen it, give it a plus.

James Franco and the cast are good, but their roles aren't very demanding. Franco has a couple of different looks in it and, as usual, photographs really well in all of them.

On the bad side, the story is simple minded and boring, with too many loose ends or implausible aspects. I know the whole premise is implausible, but, if things don't make any sense, you just tend to disengage from what's happening. For example, you're supposed to believe that no one anticipates that keeping the adult ape in the house for seven years or so is not going to cause any problems.

The special effects were more about impressive effort than achievement. The apes may be much more lifelike than before, but they're still stiff in facial features and movements. I guess the programming still can't quite factor in the moment to moment variances of reality. Also the number of apes, despite a token zoo rescue, keeps increasing absurdly, I guess so that they can look like ominous swarms in the long shots, but it doesn't make any sense.

The direction (and James Franco) stop it from being a complete waste of time. But I don't understand the high critical reviews. Odd because I usually find myself agreeing with them. But, despite all the hype, this film had too many negatives for me to enjoy it.

 

[Spiff]

But I don't understand the high critical reviews.

Individually, the reviews are not really that high if you read many of them. They average about 3 outa 4 stars. It's hard to gauge by RottenTomatoes, because it gives no measure of how much a movie is liked on average. Whereas Metacritic, it does show how much on average. Currently the Metacritic score is 69, which is the equivalent of just under 3 stars. RottenTomatoes score 80% fresh just means that 80% of the reviewers found the movie favorable. Unlike Metacritic's measure, it does not mean the average rating is 8/10. RottenTomatoes' fresh rating is just like a thumbs up/down rating from each reviewer. So it's 80% thumbs up.

 

[MisterMajestic]

"Rise of the Apes" was very Good. The Director did a great job @ telling the story....Ceasar ROCKS...His Facial expressions and the way he Stands is too Awesome.... When the Movie ends don't get up until you see the extra Clip that foretells the Fate of Humanity...This could be a Successful Franchise Reboot if the Studio doesn't Fuck it up...

"All Hail Ceasar!!!".......

 

[Aratron]

When the Movie ends don't get up until you see the extra Clip that foretells the Fate of Humanity...

Lol, I know, a lot of people were already leaving, including myself.

And yeah, Caesar rocks

 

[DigitalFudge]

I refuse to see it

It seems more depressing than Star Wars.

Prequels just drive me crazy, I become anxious and stressed out.

The CGI looks flawless; I don't know what to do with myself.

Then again I have an issue with monkeys and the idea of them overpowering me irks me. The idea of them overthrowing the whole God damn system?

That's fucked.

 

[januaryguy]

I cheered for Ceasar and would join him if there really comes a war between man and ape...

 

[joesman]

I refuse to see it

It seems more depressing than Star Wars.

Prequels just drive me crazy, I become anxious and stressed out.

The CGI looks flawless; I don't know what to do with myself.

Then again I have an issue with monkeys and the idea of them overpowering me irks me. The idea of them overthrowing the whole God damn system?

That's fucked.

Well they are smarter than the crazed asswipes we have in office right now. All of them.

This movie is just great. It was thrilling, well told and mesmerizing.

 

[MisterMajestic]

Rise Of The Apes Dominates At The Box Office


August 07, 2011

| by Amsterdam Vallon |



Audiences went bananas for Apes this weekend as RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES comfortably topped the box office with an estimated $54 million. Though the debut was far lower than the $68.5 million taken in by Tim Burton’s putrid PLANET OF THE APES remake in 2001, something tells me this one will end up grossing more than Burton’s film. Elsewhere on the chart, the weekend’s other new release, the body-switching comedy THE CHANGE-UP, crashed and burned, ending the reign of this season’s successful R-rated comedies.



Opening on more than 5,400 screens nationwide, RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, director Rupert Wyatt’s science fiction reboot of the PLANET OF THE APES franchise (which began back in 1968 with the Charlton Heston-led PLANET OF THE APES) started its weekend domination with a very strong $19.7 million on Friday and dropped by a measly 300,000 on Saturday for a $19.4 million cum (indicated word-of-mouth is very good). Parent studio Fox is estimating Sunday’s numbers to drop to $14.9 million but I’m expecting the film to hold up better than they expect it to. With a terrific marketing campaign that has positioned the film as a smart-science fiction drama than an action film, fantastic reviews from critics (most of whom praise actor Andy Serkis and the visual effects), and an amazing “A-” average grade from Cinemascore, look for APES to ride the momentum it will undoubtedly receive from strong word-of-mouth over the rest of the month.



Here’s the full box office top ten for the weekend (total domestic gross in parentheses):

1. RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES - $54 Million

2. THE SMURFS - $21 Million ($76.2 Million)

3. COWBOYS & ALIENS - $15.7 Million ($67.3 Million)

4. THE CHANGE-UP - $13.5 Million

5. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER - $14 Million ($143.1 Million)..(I plan to see this flick this weekend. Havent heard much about it....)

6. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 - $12.1 Million ($342.8 Million)

7. CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE - $12.1 Million ($42.1 Million)

8. FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS - $4.7 Million ($48.5 Million)

9. HORRIBLE BOSSES - $4.6 Million ($105.1 Million)

10. TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON - $3 Million ($344.1 Million)

 

[strangepoetry]

After seeing this movie I hope Hollywood takes the hint and realizes Tim Burton is shitty at remakes and forbids him from ruining any others as he did with Planet of the Apes and Willy Wonka.

Movie was fun. Although it took great effort to suspend disbelief enough to buy Franco as a scientist. Sounds and acts like a goofy stoner to me.

 

[HoodedRat]

I watched it online last night.

It was a right rollicking romp, and good fun; even though, judging by the perspective in many scenes, I'm guessing it was supposed to be in 3d.

However, it was slightly alarming to see that the CGI apes were far better actors than the humans.

They created enough plot-links for there to be a long running franchise of sequels spinning off in all directions.

 

[Cynical]

The one thing I hated about the planet of the apes movies is the fact that apes can talk, it's impossible!

 

[Cynical]

I think it's time I watched all of the movies, I've only seen the 2001 and the 2011 movies.

 

[crowboy]

I've always been a fan of the POTA films and was eagerly anticipating this one.

Saw it last week and loved it. Best film of the year for me.

 

[Just_Believe18]

I enjoyed the movie a lot too. I am definitely looking to the sequel after such a pleasant surprise of a film. The original was good, but the sequels terrible. Here's to a hopeful prequel series.

 

[Jeffrules]

Great Movie,The Apes are Back.

 

[bendted]

Saw it. I was really disappointed. It was not imaginative at all. If you like the original, this will be a huge let-down. Even the special effects weren't that great. Maybe it's just me, but when the apes did something absurd like jumping or climbing great distances, their movements looked unnatural and slow.