A decade after Tim Burton’s remake of the 1968 sci-fi classic, a new reboot of Planet of the Apes is scheduled to be released, this time retelling the origin (and using digital apes instead of the previous man-in-suit versions).
I am pretty certain that 20th Century Fox is just starting over with this film and that it has absolutely nothing to do with Tim Burton’s previous remake (which I actually quite liked). It could probably also be said that the film can be labeled a loose remake of 1972’s Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, since both feature the story about how the apes came to rule the planet.
Now, on to the trailer itself. If there is any danger to the credibility of this film, it’s the fact that they cast James Franco in the lead role. I have nothing really against Franco, but it can be agreed that he is cast against type as a scientist and his dialogue at the start of the trailer is almost laughable.
As for the Apes? Well, I’ve grown used to the previous Planet of the Apes films using men in ape-suits, which give the apes a sort of hybrid look. Now, that the Apes have gone digital, they look like…well, Apes. I’ve been tempted to nickname this film Attack of the Killer Gorillas, since that’s what this film looks like. That said, WETA digital is during the effects and Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings) is playing the lead-ape Caesar, so maybe there is more here than meets the eye.
Anyways Rise of the Planet of the Apes (way too long a title) opens August 5.