Rise of the Planet of the Apes

    Dear reader, before delving into my latest critique, I must state that director Rupert Wyatt has very few films to his credit. When undertaking a summer blockbuster film, you must try and set it aside from all the others. In a summer filled with wizards, robots, aliens, and and super-heroes, Director Rupert Wyatt takes Rise of the Planet of the Apes and delves deeper into the story than any other "Apes" film in history.
    This movie follows James Franco as Will Rodman in his desperate quest for a cure to Alzheimer's disease. In his rush for results, disaster strikes when his experiments go awry and wreak havoc on his life and everyone in San Francisco. Franco continues his streak of success (let's forget about Your Highness) with this foreboding tale of corporate greed and seemingly benevolent pharmaceutical researchers.
    It really isn't a stretch to believe that pharmaceutical companies would be responsible for creating a virus that obliterates man-kind. While this movie avoids such drastic results, it certainly sets the stage for pending doom. This is merely the beginning of a possible end and that is what sets Rise of the Planet of the Apes aside from all the other films in this franchise.
    Solid performances from the entire cast lead us through a series of events that herald both mankind's downfall and also leaves us with a glimmer of hope. The film does an adequate job at addressing issues like animal cruelty, family values, and the perils of gross ignorance. Once an animal becomes integrated into a family does it stop being a pet? Should intelligence play a factor in how a family pet should be treated? I love this movie because it is thought proving and emotional. The final scenes here will leave you breathless and in awe. Truly a job well done.

Rating: 4 (Maximum of 5)