Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)*

• Directed by Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist)
• Produced by Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver
• Written by Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver
• Starring James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Andy Serkis

Thoughts!

• This movie... is sooo cooool...
• This was one of my most anticipated movies of the year, oddly enough. The other was Suckerpunch. I'm not exactly sure why I was looking forward to this. Maybe I just like the idea of a bunch of apes wreaking havoc on some unsuspecting humans.
• Do know that the trailer is a little misleading because it makes it look like apes are the bad guys. But they're not! They just want freedom from the oppressive humans! Even the movie poster makes Ceasar look kinda evil. I would have been fine with evil apes, but the director's choice to make the humans evil is done very well and I think the film is better off for it.
• I really liked all the references this film makes to the old movies. Spear-throwing and whatnot.
• Duuuude... that Freida Pinto is like a model....... wait I just looked her up. Apparently she was a model.
• James Franco was the weakest part of the movie, even though he did a good job. I think I was just too aware of him as a movie star that I didn't find his acting compelling, if that makes sense.
• Rise of the Planet of the Apes is such a great movie. Not so much in an artsy fartsy way, but in that it has a nice summer blockbuster feel to it similar to it. It's something you go see with your friends and have a good time.

Watching the trailer makes me want to watch it again.

Super 8

Super 8 (2011)*

• Directed by J.J. Abrams (Star Trek, Cloverfield, LOST, Alias, Fringe)
• Produced by Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk.
• Starring Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler

Thoughts!

• The good: Not only is this movie very well done, but the characters carry so much charm that simple dialogue scenes are such a joy to watch. It's very reminiscent of movies of yesteryear... mainly E.T. It's as if J.J. Abrams directed a Steven Spielberg movie (although that's pretty much what it is), and it's hard to go wrong with that.
• The bad: One of the main reasons this movie has the same mood as earlier films is because it shares many of the same elements. But those elements are what keep it from being completely fresh - everything feels a little TOO familiar.
• The elaboration (with a few lil *SPOILERS*): The most interesting parts were the new stuff, most notably the whole aspect of the kids filming a Super 8 horror film. Sometimes I found that more interesting than the actual alien story (maybe that's just me). But it falls into too many cliche pitholes: A guy knows something's weird but nobody wants to help him! Two best friends fight over the same girl! (Which never really gets resolved.) The kid stops the alien from messing everything up... by simply talking to it! These aspects wouldn't have bothered me as much if they were presented in a new manner. But they weren't. It's as if Abrams wanted to make old stuff new again, but without adding anything new to it other than higher definition cameras.
• But regardless: of the hackneyed elements, I still really enjoyed the ride. It was entertaining throughout, it was beautifully acted and shot, and I'd recommend it to you so long as you don't mind the pop-out kind of frights that this movie has every 10 seconds.
• (lil more *SPOILERS*):I really liked the design of the alien. It has enough whattheheckisthat's to make it look scary, but the proportions of the face are very similar to that of a chimpanzee, thus creating a humanistic quality to it.

• J.J. Abrams checklist:

1. Aliens (check)
2. Mystery (check)
3. Messed up child to father relationship (check)
4. Moody violins (check)
5. Moody violins from Michael Giacchino (check)
6. Lens flares (check)

• Steven Spielberg checklist:

1. Aliens (check)
2. A bunch of kids are the main protagonists (check)
3. Boy who looks like Elliot from E.T. (check)
4. A chubby kid (check)
5. The older siblings are kinda jerks (check)
6. Takes place during the 80s (check)
7. Nazis (not checked)

• The main kid's last name is "Lam"!! Well, "Lamb", but close enough.
• That train crash near the beginning was such an amazing train crash. Just had to point that out.
• I also want to call attention to the awesome movie poster. Even if it doesn't make sense now, it evokes a feeling of mystery by simply flipping the shot sideways (it should makes sense why it's sideways once you see the movie). It also shows that it doesn't take place in a big city, and it's an ensemble cast with what looks like a camera on a tripod. Good stuff.
• 
• I had more to say but I forgot.
• Btw, not all of my entries will be this lengthy.

Now, the trailer!