Movie Review: "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"

Seen on: August 10, 2011

The players: Director: Rupert Wyatt, Writers: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Cast: James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Andy Serkis

Fact of interest: Charlton Heston (the star of the original “Planet of the Apes”) is shown in his role as Moses in “The Ten Commandments” on a TV in the background in one of the scenes.

The plot: An origin story of the “Planet of the Apes” films, explaining mankind’s downfall.

Our thoughts: In 1968, the movie “Planet of the Apes” introduced us to a world where mankind was considered an animal next to the evolved, civilized talking ape. It further blew our minds when (spoiler alert) at the end of that film, it is revealed that the planet is, in fact, our own, sometime in the near future.

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New trailer for 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes'

Rupert Wyatt's "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" won't open until Aug. 5, 2011, but the folks at Yahoo! just debuted the brand-new feature trailer for the prequel starring James Franco, Tom Felton, Brian Cox, Andy Serkis and Freida Pinto. Check it out after the jump.

This is an origin story set in present day San Francisco, where man's own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy. The trailer focuses largely on Serkis' super chimp character Caesar.

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Casting: Freida Pinto confirmed for 'Apes'

Freida Pinto and John Lithgow have boarded 20th Century Fox's upcoming "Planet of the Apes" prequel "Rise of the Apes," which Rupert Wyatt will direct from a screenplay by Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa.

James Franco will play a scientist who is testing a drug against Alzheimer's on apes. One of the test subjects starts to evolve, and Franco's character vows to protect him from evil doctors, according to THR.

Lithgow plays Franco's father, and Pinto plays a primatologist. Pinto, one of the stars of "Slumdog Millionaire," is starring in "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger." Lithgow last starred in "Leap Year."

Daily news dose: Freida Pinto joins Allen film; New 'Scream' trilogy coming?

Here's your dose of film news for Feb. 24, 2009:

• Freida Pinto, the female lead in "Slumdog Millionaire," is the latest to join Woody Allen's upcoming untitled film. Naomi Watts, Anthony Hopkins and Josh Brolin are already on board. Details, as usual, are kept under wraps for now. This film will be Pinto's first project after "Slumdog." (Variety)

• David Faustino is set to star in James L. Bills' comedy "The Bollywood Boys," according to the Hollywood Reporter. Written by Bills, the film focuses on "a couple of struggling filmmakers who take on Mumbai mob money and a past-his-prime Indian star to try and make a Hollywood-Bollywood musical."

• Warner Bros. today announced a bunch of new release dates for upcoming movies: "Green Lantern" will open Dec. 17, 2010; "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II" is set for July 15, 2011; and Guy Ritchie's "Sherlock Holmes" opens Dec. 25, 2009. Also, Christopher Nolan's "Inception" is set for July 16, 2010. (ERC)

• We've heard all sorts of things about "Scream 4," but there is a chance we'll be seeing a whole new "Scream" trilogy in the near future. This is only a rumor at this point, but Rope Of Silicon obtained a report claiming that Kevin Williamson has reached a deal with the Weinsteins to create a brand-new trilogy.