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- Review count4
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- First reviewJuly 18, 2009
- Last reviewAugust 12, 2011
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- Average rating4.8
AlbusSeverus's Reviews
Overall rating
4
/
5
An Excellent Summer Movie
PostedAugust 12, 2011
AlbusSeverus
from Oldsmar,FL
I went into Rise of the Planet of the Apes with no expectations other than I hoped I would enjoy it and wouldn't regret the $10 ticket cost. I left the theater wondering why I ever had any doubts.
I have never been a huge fan of the older movies. The camp factor was always there, of course, but the silly talking ape thing never really did it for me. I found the previews for this version intriguing. I love "origins" type movies, and thought this one may be worth a viewing. The movie opens with an intense hunting scene, probably all too realistic and accurate to how these incredible creatures are rounded up and treated for profit. While the preservation of nature is definitely a theme in this movie, it never reaches a level of preachiness or a "holier-than-thou" Hollywood sense of entitlement.
The movie centers around Will Rodman(James Franco), a geneticist working for a large firm with aspirations towards high profits, which clashes with his desire to create a medical breakthrough that will benefit mankind. Under pressure from his superiors, he presents a new drug therapy "ALZ 212" to the board, but it ends in disaster when his star test subject, an ape, goes on a violent rampage through the lab in a very exciting chase sequenced demonstrating the awesome strength these primates possess, as well as their ultimate mortality. Will discovers her rampage was sparked by her desire to protect her baby, which she carried unbeknownst to her human caretakers.
Will takes the infant ape home to protect it from being Euthanized along with the other apes in the lab and we discover that he has an ulterior motive in creating the ALZ 212 drug when we meet his father, beautifully portrayed by John Lithgow, who is at an advanced stage of Alzheimers. While experimenting at the lab Will discovered that the drug had an impact on the intelligence level of his primate subjects, and that this intelligence had been passed on to the baby ape now living in his home. His father responds well to having the new addition, and they name the baby "Caesar" as his father quotes from "Julius Caesar" upon first seeing the adorable infant. His father getting worse, Will experiments with the drug, which had never been human tested.
The movie moves on to show Caesar's incredible growth and development, the remarkable improvement of Will's father, and the introduction of a love interest into Will's life, a Veterinarian played by the beautiful Freida Pinto(Latika in Slumdog Millionaire).
The star of this movie, however, has to be Andy Serkis, the motion cap actor who portrays Caesar. Serkis played my other favorite mo-cap character, Gollum, in the Lord of the Rings Series, and I wondered how he would do with a mostly non-verbal role. His expressions and body language make this movie work. His facial expressions run the gamut from tear-jerking sadness to furious anger to playful silliness and gut-wrenching loneliness and confusion. He never lets the character become too human, always maintaining that sense of power and reminding us that these are creatures meant to be in the wild, not in captivity.
As Caesar grows, the movie spans over years as he begins to mature and show signs of desiring to discover what he really is. Will tries to expose him to the wide world, taking him to the Redwoods to swing from trees, but underestimates the toll living like a "pet" would take on a creature with the intelligence that Caesar has. His father's condition returns with a vengeance, and it all comes to a head when Caesar is ordered into a primate shelter after an incident in which he tries to defend the elder Rodman from their hapless, unfortunate neighbor.
The shelter is run by the always delightfully nasty Brian Cox as John Landon with the assistance of his son Dodge, played by Harry Potter's Draco Malfoy himself, Tom Felton. Felton does a passable job as the abusive caretaker, you almost expect him to spew out a "You filthy, Mudblood!" or two as he is increasingly nasty to the primates in his care, reserving a particular dislike for Caesar, who is clearly more intelligent than Dodge or his dim-witted partner. Caesar begins to see the reality of his situation as he is integrated into the primate population, becoming a target for the current "Alpha" male Rocket.
These are the scenes where Serkis really shines. You can see Caesar lose his innocence as he realizes that the world can be a very scary place. Between the way the humans in his life are treating him and being an outcast from the other apes, you can see the point when his spirit breaks, and when his resolve and determination set in. Caesar uses his intelligence to outsmart Rocket and take over the role of Alpha, becoming almost imperial, yet benevolent, in his hold over the apes in the shelter. He is able to obtain a dose of the latest strain of Rodman's miracle drug, which he unleashes on his fellow captives, building an army of super-intelligent primates.
The mayhem which ensues is a lot of fun to watch, and don't be surprised if you find yourself cheering on the Apes as they rampage through the streets of SanFrancisco. The movie makers did an amazing job of preserving the nature of the Apes, again never allowing them to become too human as past versions of the Planet of the Apes movie have been. They grunt, swing, climb, and beat their chests through the humans amassed against them.
Some may find the ending a little disappointing, but I found it just right for the storyline. It definitely leaves the door open for a sequel, and as its the number one movie in the country I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't one already in the works. Be sure to stick around through the credits. There is a snippet, again featuring Rodman's oft-tormented neighbor, capping off a side-story that may explain how the dominant human population will eventually fall to the apes.
This movie surprised me quite a bit. Its definitely worth watching, and I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up in a lot of collector's Blu-Ray and DVD collections.
Will takes the infant ape home to protect it from being Euthanized along with the other apes in the lab and we discover that he has an ulterior motive in creating the ALZ 212 drug when we meet his father, beautifully portrayed by John Lithgow, who is at an advanced stage of Alzheimers. While experimenting at the lab Will discovered that the drug had an impact on the intelligence level of his primate subjects, and that this intelligence had been passed on to the baby ape now living in his home. His father responds well to having the new addition, and they name the baby "Caesar" as his father quotes from "Julius Caesar" upon first seeing the adorable infant. His father getting worse, Will experiments with the drug, which had never been human tested.
The movie moves on to show Caesar's incredible growth and development, the remarkable improvement of Will's father, and the introduction of a love interest into Will's life, a Veterinarian played by the beautiful Freida Pinto(Latika in Slumdog Millionaire).
The star of this movie, however, has to be Andy Serkis, the motion cap actor who portrays Caesar. Serkis played my other favorite mo-cap character, Gollum, in the Lord of the Rings Series, and I wondered how he would do with a mostly non-verbal role. His expressions and body language make this movie work. His facial expressions run the gamut from tear-jerking sadness to furious anger to playful silliness and gut-wrenching loneliness and confusion. He never lets the character become too human, always maintaining that sense of power and reminding us that these are creatures meant to be in the wild, not in captivity.
As Caesar grows, the movie spans over years as he begins to mature and show signs of desiring to discover what he really is. Will tries to expose him to the wide world, taking him to the Redwoods to swing from trees, but underestimates the toll living like a "pet" would take on a creature with the intelligence that Caesar has. His father's condition returns with a vengeance, and it all comes to a head when Caesar is ordered into a primate shelter after an incident in which he tries to defend the elder Rodman from their hapless, unfortunate neighbor.
The shelter is run by the always delightfully nasty Brian Cox as John Landon with the assistance of his son Dodge, played by Harry Potter's Draco Malfoy himself, Tom Felton. Felton does a passable job as the abusive caretaker, you almost expect him to spew out a "You filthy, Mudblood!" or two as he is increasingly nasty to the primates in his care, reserving a particular dislike for Caesar, who is clearly more intelligent than Dodge or his dim-witted partner. Caesar begins to see the reality of his situation as he is integrated into the primate population, becoming a target for the current "Alpha" male Rocket.
These are the scenes where Serkis really shines. You can see Caesar lose his innocence as he realizes that the world can be a very scary place. Between the way the humans in his life are treating him and being an outcast from the other apes, you can see the point when his spirit breaks, and when his resolve and determination set in. Caesar uses his intelligence to outsmart Rocket and take over the role of Alpha, becoming almost imperial, yet benevolent, in his hold over the apes in the shelter. He is able to obtain a dose of the latest strain of Rodman's miracle drug, which he unleashes on his fellow captives, building an army of super-intelligent primates.
The mayhem which ensues is a lot of fun to watch, and don't be surprised if you find yourself cheering on the Apes as they rampage through the streets of SanFrancisco. The movie makers did an amazing job of preserving the nature of the Apes, again never allowing them to become too human as past versions of the Planet of the Apes movie have been. They grunt, swing, climb, and beat their chests through the humans amassed against them.
Some may find the ending a little disappointing, but I found it just right for the storyline. It definitely leaves the door open for a sequel, and as its the number one movie in the country I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't one already in the works. Be sure to stick around through the credits. There is a snippet, again featuring Rodman's oft-tormented neighbor, capping off a side-story that may explain how the dominant human population will eventually fall to the apes.
This movie surprised me quite a bit. Its definitely worth watching, and I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up in a lot of collector's Blu-Ray and DVD collections.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
A Satisfying, Bittersweet End
PostedJuly 15, 2011
AlbusSeverus
from Oldsmar,FL
The premiere of HP and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 has been an event that I, like all fans of the series, have been both clamoring for and dreading all at once. I have read and re-read each book in the series, and have long been impressed with JK Rowling's amazing achievement in creating this incredible world. Its a story of love, of good vs evil, and of the power of friendship and belief.
As an avid fan of the books, I have been extremely pleased with the handling of the books as they were transitioned onto the big screen. The first two movies, directed by Christopher Columbus, were bright and cheery, as movies about childhood should be. They reflected Harry's world, his innocence, his curiosity about the new found world he finds himself thrust into. The best thing the series ever could have done was to allow different directors to take over, putting their own style and personality into the later movies. Alfonso Cuaron's genius in changing the look of Hogwarts and the visual style of the movie, Mike Newell coming in and encouraging the kids to find their own personalities, and David Yates taking over for the last half of the Series, mixing the appropriate darkness with the humor and budding romance that drove the later books. And now we come to the end.
The Deathly Hallows was one of the most epic reads in literary history. The story had so many emotional twists and turns that I was relieved when I heard the final movie was going to be split in two. I immediately re-read the story, asking myself where I would end a first part and transition into the end. My though process led to only one place... Shell Cottage.
The movie truly begins there, after a brief look at the way Harry's world has changed since the Dark Lord's regime took over. It starts with a whisper as the trio begins its plans to break into Gringott's Bank in search of another Horcrux, beginning a roller coaster ride that doesn't stop until the final credits roll. The scenes deep under the ground in the Gringott's vaults are intense and emotional, and it was almost as if it was scripted from the way I visualized in my head as I read it. As usual the special effects are superb, never overpowering the performances of the actors and truly supporting the emotion and action of the story.
After the thrilling escape, Harry, Ron, and Hermione find themselves faced with the task of re-entering Hogwarts, now under the strict rule of new Headmaster Severus Snape. Seeing our three heroes re-enter the castle and reunited with all the characters we have grown to know and love just feels right, and the chemistry shows. The ensuing battle for Hogwarts was beyond my wildest expectations. Seeing the beloved institution ripped apart was almost as terrifying as seeing so many favorite characters fall.
The theater was filled with the quiet weeping of fans as they witnessed the deaths of many familiar and beloved characters. The silence in the previously raucous theater really impressed upon me the strength of the emotion and sadness that emanated throughout the room.
The most powerful scenes, however, revolved around the enigmatic Severus Snape, masterfully played by the brilliant Alan Rickman. Long held to merely making belittling statements and generally frightening the children of Hogwarts, Harry in particular, Rickman really gets his moment to shine as Snape's backstory plays out in a series of Pensieve-driven flashbacks. The intensity and passion Rickman displays is inspirational, and the brutal violence of his death scene is shocking. I've always loved the choice of Rickman for this role, and his performance forever cemented him in my mind as the real Severus Snape.
The movie is, thankfully, very faithful to the text. All of the scenes I was hoping to see came to life, and in brilliant fashion. Their was an audible gasp throughout the theater as Molly Weasley prepared for her duel with the fantastically wicked Bellatrix Lestrange (the perfectly cast Helena Bonham Carter), and Neville Longbottom's hero turn prompted several cheers from the exuberant crowd. Ralph Fiennes, who embodies the vile nature of Voldemort perfectly, is again delightfully evil playing the Dark Lord, who becomes more and more dangerous and mentally unstable throughout the film. Even the epilogue, which was probably one of the most controversial topics among fans of the series, was handled with grace. A scene that could have become overly cheesy instead was touching and a fitting end to the series.
I think the most devisive portion of the film may be the final battle between Harry and Voldemort. Their final duel is amazing, though its conclusion may be a source of consternation amongst fans of the book. I found the ending quite satisfying, though I can see where others may have an issue.
Finally, I have to praise Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. Grint's Ron Weasley is both comic relief and dashingly heroic. Emma Watson's Hermione Granger is fearless and courageous, while still relaying her sensitivity and compassion. Daniel Radcliffe's Harry is the hero this story deserves. His growth as an actor really shines through in this final installment.
I thank JK Rowling for producing and sharing with us such a beautiful, engaging world, and all the incredible film makers who have helped bring it to life over the past 10 years.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is an incredible, beautifully constructed, and highly satisfying end to this beloved series. Five Stars.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
A Perfect Setup to the Finale
PostedDecember 6, 2010
AlbusSeverus
from Oldsmar,FL
I am an avid reader of the series and huge fan of the movies, and I felt this movie paid due tribute to the excellence of JK Rowling's vision. The movie's beginning sets the mood, showing the prelude to the dark times the trio are in and about to face. Hermione's departure from her parents is amazing shot and was extremely emotional. The movie does an excellent job of moving between action and more serene segments, never letting either drag on too long. The trio have come a long way as actors, and their chemistry has never been more clearly illustrated than in the powerful scenes they share throughout. They have gotten to a point where they can convey emotions or communicate to both each other and the audience through expressions or gestures. The supporting cast is, as always, excellent. Ralph Fiennes finally gets some face time in this movie, the first real chance since GoF to show his purely evil take on the Dark Lord. Rickman's Snape only shows up for a short time, but I am hoping he will be featured more in the second part as he was in the book. One of my favorite and unexpected treats was the chance to really see the silly side of the Weasley twins, who have always been a comic backdrop but really shine in their scenes here. I absolutely loved how they showed the story of the Three Brothers from Beadle the Bard, a brilliantly animated clip that fit perfectly with the ambience of the movie. One piece of advice to casual fans of the movies who haven't read the books... READ THE BOOKS, or at least get with someone who has. You will be very confused at certain points which aren't explained. Listen very carefully, as some bits of information crucial to the story are dropped in the background through radio reports or side conversations. I was also very happy with the choice of where to cut this movie and lead into the finale. When I read the book again after hearing the last movie would come in two parts (an excellent decision, as Rowling packed so much into the last year that there is NO way one movie could ever cover it), I tried to discern, if I were the producer or director, where I would chop it. To my pleasant surprise, the movie ends exactly where I thought it would, leading into the second half of the tale, which is almost a separate story in itself. As a dedicated fan, I was thrilled with this installment, and the only disappointment I faced was leaving the theater realizing I now have to wait until July to see the finale!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Very Well Done!
PostedJuly 18, 2009
AlbusSeverus
from Tampa,FL
I truly enjoyed this sixth installment in the series. I am an avid reader
of the books. While the movie deviates from the book in many ways, the
basic storyline is well in place and sets the series up nicely for what
is sure to be a fantastic final pair of movies. This movie really
highlights the acting talents of Rupert Grint and Tom Felton. Both the Ron and Draco characters have a starring role in
this film; Ron showing angst over his girl problems and quidditch
skills and Draco showing the inner turmoil he is faced with in taking
on the task given to him by the Dark Lord. The beginning is a little
clunky, but picks up steam with a lot of humor, intense action scenes,
and an emotional farewell to a favorite character.
of the books. While the movie deviates from the book in many ways, the
basic storyline is well in place and sets the series up nicely for what
is sure to be a fantastic final pair of movies. This movie really
highlights the acting talents of Rupert Grint and Tom Felton. Both the Ron and Draco characters have a starring role in
this film; Ron showing angst over his girl problems and quidditch
skills and Draco showing the inner turmoil he is faced with in taking
on the task given to him by the Dark Lord. The beginning is a little
clunky, but picks up steam with a lot of humor, intense action scenes,
and an emotional farewell to a favorite character.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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