The franchise which seemed to have been left for dead by Tim Burton’s attempt to reboot it in 2001 looks to try and make another go at it again ten years later. Tim Burton will not be anywhere near this reboot and instead will be in the hands of British newcomer Rupert Wyatt.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (originally called Rise of the Apes which I actually prefer) looks to reboot the franchise by taking the origjnal Conquest of the Planet of the Apes ffrom 1972 and using that as the foundation for this reboot’s plot. It will star his Highness himself, James Franco, with Peter Jackson-regular Andy Serkis playing the role of ape leader, Caesar.
This film seems to have the full backing of Jackson’s WETA Digital to create all the apes in the film digitally. There won’t be any prosthetics and make-up work with this film unlike the previous ones. While some may think this is a bad idea I actually think WETA Digital’s work in creating total CG-characters in the past pretty much heads above other FX-shops (and I include Industrial Light & Magic). From the trailer the apes look quite realistic and even Caesar himself look very real.
Time and the film’s release will tell if this reboot will have a better reception than Tim Burton’s film. I, myself, am looking forward to it since of all the Apes film of the past it was always Conquest that remained my favorite of all of them.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is set for an August 5, 2011 release.
Through the Shattered Lens 
“With one exception.” I loved the way James Franco delivered that line. If he’s had that haircut in Your Highness, I probably wouldn’t have had such an overwhelming hatred for the film.
That reminds me — I need to sit down and review all of the original Planet of the Apes film at some point. Speaking as someone who was introduced to the series by Tim Burton’s crapathon (sorry, but Tim Burton is certainly comfortable working within the Hollywood system for a supposed rebel), I was surprised to discover how good the original series was. At the very least, each film built logically on the other and respected the audience in a way that modern films rarely do. Plus, Beneath the Planet of the Apes has got one of my favorite endings of all time with that abrupt little voice over. 🙂
LikeLike
Sorry to Burtonite everywhere but he hasn’t made a good film in a decade. The last one I really enjoyed was “Sleepy Hollow” because of the classic Hammer Films vibe it gave off. Plus, that film had Christopher Walken as the Headless Horseman and no film could ever be bad with him in it.
LikeLike
I enjoyed Sweeny Todd but that was more despite Tim Burton than because of him. To be honest, the only good thing that Burton regularly brings to his films is Johnny Depp.
LikeLike
I would agree with you on the Depp angle, but his role as Willy Wonka was really….off.
LikeLike
Yes, I know. As I watched that film, I thought to myself, “I never thought there would be a film that would make me feel absolutely zero sexual attraction to Johnny Depp but mission accomplished, Willy Wonka.”
LikeLike
I am a big fan of the first two “Planet Of The Apes” films – science fiction classics. Say what you want about Charlton Heston, but he made some cool films, especially sci-fi. “Beneath” was one of the relatively few sequels that were as good as the original. And both films had profound, memorable endings. I saw them back-to-back as a double-feature at the theater when I was a kid; they really made an impression. Even though the special effects limitations of the late-60’s/early 70’s are apparent in these films, they create a sort of gritty feel that slick CGI fests do not have.
I never bothered to see Burton’s remake – I heard mixed reviews. I was going to ask what you all thought of it, but you have made that pretty clear. Maybe the forthcoming film will be more successful.
Franco is OK, but he is no Johnny Depp. Johnny is a beautiful man. I’m just saying.
LikeLike
That looks like it has potential, maybe. I can’t say how it would be compared to the original, but it should be leagues better than the Burton one at least.
LikeLike