Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Although prequels often run the risk of disappointing the fans of the original, director Rupert Wyatt's "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" proved to be a success with its touching and believable origin story. James Franco plays idealistic scientist Will Rodman, who seeks to cure Alzheimer's with a drug he designed and is testing on chimps to improve cognition and mental acuity. With the drug in his system, Caesar, Rodman's beloved primate companion brought to life by Andy Serkis and motion-capture technology, grows smarter and smarter, which leads us to the events that cause the "Planet of the Apes." The film is filled with terrific performances, cinematic sequences that cleverly reference those past films and breathtaking moments so powerful they may leave you in tears.