#55 Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Directed by: Rupert Wyatt
Starring: Andy Serkis, Karin Konoval, James Franco

The original planet of the apes is one of my all time favourite films. Even some of the sequels weren't too bad, with beneath the planet of the apes actually being really enjoyable.

I was, however, sceptical about this reboot. The Mark Whalberg version was dreadful and I feared this would go the same way.

The performances here are decent without being outstanding. Franco suits his role well without ever really excelling. This goes for most of the main cast. It does look incredible though, with the apes being the standout feature. 

It's a strange film that makes the audience root for human extinction but this does exactly that. I found myself cheering on Caesar in his quest for freedom, even though I knew exactly what it would lead too.

In summary, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the reboot I always wanted. It looks great, has a well written script and a nicely paced story. It also, importantly, pays homage to and respects the original. Highly recommended.