Review - Rise of the Planet of the Apes

In a departure from the futuristic settings for a Planet of the Apes film, Rise plants itself firmly in the realm of realism, which results in a fantastic film. I never thought I'd write the forthcoming statement but Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes is a fully formed, emotional and well planned film.
The quick plot nutshell -
A substance, designed to help the brain repair itself, gives rise to a super-intelligent chimp who leads an ape uprising...James Franco plays Will Rodman, the scientist of the verge of a massive break through, a drug that can repair damaged brain cells, having huge implications for this Dementia sufferers, which Will's Dad (John Lithgow) is slowing succumbing too. When the drug causes major behavioural issues Will ends up with of the subjects baby's - a chimp he names Caesar (Andy Serkis).
The actual rising up of the Apes takes almost the entire film but it is in this set up that the payoff of the Ape's rise is all the more powerful and makes total sense.
All the actors both CGI'd suited players and their 'human' counterparts do good jobs, I normally wouldn't by Franco as a scientist but he convinces in the role. The real star is Serkis of course. Caesar looks as real as you'd like and emotes and conveys all of what he is feeling, which is the essence of the film. 

You'll host the Oscars one day...

I was a little letdown by the films conclusion as I was expecting a massive conflict (or a bigger one than there was) or perhaps a massive build up to an ending that was on the edge of the conflict. However I did like the introduction of the virus, that would obviously thin out the worlds population, thus laying the platform for the Apes to take over.
A thoughtful and well directed film - Rupert Wyatt does an excellent job - Rise of the Planet of the Apes is one of the few recent Sci-Fi films to really make a statement.