topics
tools
editor's choice

State and private schools in Spain

Festivals in Spain 2011

Should our kids go native too?

Childcare in Spain

Moving to Barcelona with children

Expatica countries
Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2119.44 0.28
DAX 6339.94 0.38
IBEX 30 6543 0.13
CAC 40 3047.94 0.32
FTSE 100 5351.53 0.03
AEX 292.76 0.23
DJIA 12454.83 -0.60
Nasdaq 2837.53 -0.07
FTSE MIB 13154.8 0.36
TSX Composite 11576.47 0.09
ASX 4120.2 0.96
Hang seng 18799.48 0.46
Straits Times 2793.98 0.77
ISEQ 20 500.94 1.55
You are here: Home Leisure Cinema review Cinema review: Shock the monkey

Cinema review

archive
Enlarge font Decrease font Text size


11/08/2011Cinema review: Shock the monkey

Cinema review: Shock the monkey Picturenose's James Drew is pleasantly surprised at the latest ‘remake' of a classic and addition to a not-so classic movie franchise.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Here's a film that, it's fair to say, was dreaded rather than awaited. Firstly, because it bears the signature of one of the most legendary sci-fi sagas, which began with a masterpiece in 1968, Franklin J. Schaffner's Planet of the Apes and was followed by four movies of varying quality, a TV series, cartoon and, most recently, Tim Burton's disastrous 2001 remake.

Add to this a promotional campaign that has placed near-total emphasis on the film's special effects and has by-and-large concealed the identity of the director and actors, and you would be forgiven for thinking that you had the perfect recipe for a USD 90 million disaster.

Planet of the apes

But no... director Rupert Wyatt (whose previous work The Escapist (2008) only received a quiet DVD release), also takes his inspiration from Pierre Boule's original novel Monkey Planet, but it is initially somewhat difficult to place his masterly film in the time-frame of the original franchise. It comes across as a variation on J. Lee Thompson's Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) but by and large disregards all the other films, except the first. Thus, it is set in the present day, and provides enough to lay the foundations for an explanation of the final sequence of Schaffner's original:

George Taylor: Oh my God. I'm back. I'm home. All the time, it was...we finally really did it. [screaming] You maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!

Planet of the apes


In telling the story of Caesar, the first ape to gain human-like intelligence thanks to man's genetic meddling, Rise of the Planet of the Apes in fact benefits from a classical narrative structure, and, in its CGI depiction of the apes themselves, the medium appears finally to have found its finest hour since Spielberg's Jurassic Park (1993). And the rest, as they say, is history.


105 mins.
James Drew


Please check local listings before travelling. For more reviews, check out  www.picturenose.com. Expatica's weekly cinema-review section is brought to you incollaboration with Picturenose.com. About our reviewers: Putting you in the picture. 


Check out the latest on our What's on calendar and even add your own event.
BE What's on calendar...
NL What's on calendar...

 


2 reactions to this article

all done posted: 2011-08-12 16:52:49

Daggers drawn. "whose previous work only received a quiet DVD release" why is this important? One thing is for sure. this review is not a promotion it is more of a 'other way around'

James Drew posted: 2011-08-22 09:28:59

All done,

"Important": I wasn't saying it was important, it was just FYI, and would you mind putting that last sentence into English, so I could understand what on earth you are trying to say? Many thanks. :-)

Add a comment

General rating: Not rated yet

Rate article:    Add my rating



2 reactions to this article

all done posted: 2011-08-12 16:52:49

Daggers drawn. "whose previous work only received a quiet DVD release" why is this important? One thing is for sure. this review is not a promotion it is more of a 'other way around'

James Drew posted: 2011-08-22 09:28:59

All done,

"Important": I wasn't saying it was important, it was just FYI, and would you mind putting that last sentence into English, so I could understand what on earth you are trying to say? Many thanks. :-)

Add a comment
Leisure essentials
Leisure expert Q&A
ask your question
Leisure A-Z listings
find the business you need
Discussion Forums

Technology in Spain

Sat phones/internet links

English in Spain

What is the best travel insurance cover to Spain?

American in Spain

U.S. citizens, plan to vote in 2012? Did you know...

Relocation to Spain

thinking of moving to madrid

Jobs in Spain

Job Agencies or how to find work.

participate in the forums

Inside Expatica
Editor's Guide: Getting Started in Spain

Editor's Guide: Getting Started in Spain

Expatica's Getting Started section will provide practical information on how you can open a bank account, exchange your driving licence, improve your Spanish, and more.

Groups and Clubs in Madrid

Groups and Clubs in Madrid

Here's a guide to an extensive list of groups and clubs in Madrid for expats, from sports groups to social and family gatherings.

Groups and Clubs around Spain

Groups and Clubs around Spain

A brief introduction to our Tax section for Spain, from help with inheritance tax to accounting advice.

Groups and Clubs in Barcelona

Groups and Clubs in Barcelona

Here's a short introduction to our Banking section for those living in Spain, from what to ask the experts to opening a Spanish bank account.