Rarely does a film that tries to impose human traits on to and animal succeed. Usually it becomes too cartoony, or silly, or just over the top bad. "Apes" does this does this seamlessly. With an even hand in direction you see both the primal animalistic instincts and behaviors gradually turn into higher thinking calculated moves. Apes is cleaver, and brilliantly done.
The CGI is the best part of the film. There are a few parts that do seem less than real but very few. Form the most part you feel like you are looking at real life chimps and other apes. Once the intelligence kicks in you literally see the emotions the actor is portraying come through the CGI almost perfectly. You truly do forget the CGI exists.
The on screen actors for the most part stay out of the way which is good. I can't stand James Franco in anything he has done. His dead behind the eyes, bland acting leaves his character one of the weakest parts of the movie. Adrian Brody would have been good for Franco's role. John Lythgoe on the other hand plays a wonderful character who has Alzheimer's. Most of the other characters are bit roles and stereotypical with now real consequence. The main focus is and should be the Chimps, especially Caesar.
Not really related to the film from several years ago and not really similar to the original...this film will appeal to new audiences. There are references to the original films, like clothes worn and a female chimp. There is even the ubiquitous "damn dirty ape" line that seems to find it's way into every "Apes" film.
There are a few WTF moments in the movie. Somehow a few dozen Apes turns into 100+. They all also seem to all have super intelligence even though they were not "exposed". I also didn't get why Franco's character didn't tell the Animal control guy about Caesars intelligence and how he's different.
The end of this film leaves a lot of questions, like how will the humans survive? How will the Apes take over? They did a great job at setting up for a sequel without overtly doing it.
The film is not just a loud nonstop action sequence. There is a story and heart here. I found myself really engaged in the movie and feeling for the chimps. The action does rise and climaxes well. The best thing they did was not go over the top too much.
May not be for the whole family but over 12 should be fine. I enjoyed it.
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