Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Very Tense Prequel to The Planet of the Apes franchise

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the story of how the planet of the apes came to be.  James Franco stars as Will Rodman, a scientist who is working on a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.  His dad (John Lithgow) has the disease.  Will and his team are experimenting on apes.

Caesar and Will

When it is discovered that Bright Eyes had a baby and died trying to protect him, Will brings the baby home and raises it like a father would raise his son.  Will steals his experimental drug  so that he can use it on his father. At first, this works, but then his father’s disease spreads rapidly and kills him.

Because of an altercation with a neighbor, Caesar (Andy Serkis) is sent to a sanctuary for apes. At first, Caesar is picked on for being different (he wears clothes and is smarter than everyone else).  At the sanctuary, the apes are abused by one of the sanctuary’s caretakers (Tom Felton of the Harry Potter films).  Eventually, the apes escape and save the apes from the lab where Will works, as well as the apes from the zoo.

Apes on the Golden Gate Bridge

There is a big battle on the Golden Gate Bridge in which apes and humans die.  Will knows where the apes are going—when he gets there, he tells Caesar he’s taking him home. Caesar says he is home. Caesar has bonded with the other apes.

Caesar

This movie was pretty good. It starts out as a love story between a man and an ape and then progresses into a story about apes being mistreated, which leads us to an ape revolt. The love story is not well developed. Will doesn’t shed one tear when he has to give Caesar up. The love story between Will and the vet (Freida Pinto) is also not well developed because we do not know if they are married or boyfriend and girlfriend; all we know is that they are living together.

This movie is very tense.  There is a lot of action in it.  Some scenes are scary. The acting is okay.  The special effects were good.

I would recommend this movie to fans of action movies, and fans of The Planet of the Apes films.  I would give this film a B because it is good, not great.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1: Part 1 of the Exciting Conclusion to the Harry Potter Film Franchise

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

As a fan of the books by J.K. Rowling, I was really excited to see the conclusion to the Harry Potter series. Even though Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is one book, it has been divided into two movies.  When we last left Harry and the gang, Professor Dumbledore, Hogwart’s headmaster, was brutally murdered by Professor Snape. Professor Snape ran away.  Professor Dumbledore has left Harry in charge of finding the rest of Lord Voldemort’s Horcruxes and destroying them. Unfotunately, Harry has no idea where they are and what they are.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Unlike in the previous books and movies, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are not at Hogwarts. They are instead moving from place to place trying not to get caught. This film was darker than the previous ones, but so was the book. Many characters died in it. Despite the seriousness, there was still plenty of humor and romance.  The actors have grown up and matured in their roles. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are convincingly moody.

In the book, Ron leaves Harry and Hermione and stays with his brother and sister-in-law for Christmas. He stays away for awhile. It is at his brother’s place that Ron learns about the secret radio station. In the movie, however, Ron leaves and is back in one time. The secret radio station is listened to throughout the movie.

Scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

The film ends with Dobby’s death after Dobby rescues Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Mr. Ollivander, and a goblin.  Dobby was stabbed at Malfoy Manor.   Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 will be composed of a big battle and a return to Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione will find the remaining Horcruxes and destroy them. Most importantly, Harry will finally defeat the evil Lord Voldemort once and for all.

I would highly recommend Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 for anyone who is a fan of the books or movies. If you haven’t read the books, you might be a little confused with what’s going on. I would give Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 the grade of A+. It isn’t perfect, but it is pretty faithful to the book.  With a book like Harry Potter, you can’t include everything in it unless you want to make an extremely long movie. You have to take certain liberties with it. In other words, you have to make some changes.