“Arriving in theaters, summer 2014!” The summer months have always been the time Hollywood releases its big budget, big action movies in hopes of bringing in the big money. Summer 2014 is no exception. With titles like Captain America, Spider-Man, and Transformers hitting theaters this summer there is serious potential to pull down some big box office numbers. Movie making is a high risk industry with the potential of high reward. Hundreds of millions of dollars are invested in hopes of a return of hundreds of million and even billions. Only time will tell if a movie will perform to expectations or flop.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes


            In 1968 the original Planet of the Apes movie was released starring Charlton Heston. It was a commercial success and spawned a series of 5 films from 1968-1973; Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Escape from Planet of the Apes, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes and Battle for the Planet of the Apes. Two short lived TV shows were also made. The live action, Planet of the Apes, premiered in 1974; followed by an animated TV show, Return to the Planet of the Apes in 1975. After 5 movies in 5 years, there was nothing from the universe of the Planet of the Apes for nearly 3 decades. Then in 2001 Tim Burton rebooted the franchise starring Mark Wahlburg. This adaptation did well at the box office but received mixed reviews from critics and fans. No sequel to this reboot was ever made.
           After another 10 year break from the cinema, The Planet of the Apes found its way back on the big screen. In 2011 Rupert Wyatt directed Rise of the Planet of the Apes, starring James Franco as Dr. Will Rodman, a scientist trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. When testing a drug on Chimps, he finds out too late the drug causes the Apes to become intelligent and is deadly to humans. The Ape leading the charge, Caesar, finds more of the drug and gives it to as many primates as he can find. Free and now highly intelligent the Apes begin a battle for their survival.
            Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, set to release July 11, 2014, takes place 10 years after the events of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. After humanity in nearly wiped out by the virus that gave the apes their intelligence, and war with the apes themselves, an uneasy truce is reached. The peace is short-lived and both sides are brought to the brink of war. 
            2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes was a financial success and was received well by critics as well as average moviegoers; raking in nearly $500,000,000 at the world wide box office. The studio hopes the sequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, will follow suit and continue the success of this now 46 year old franchise.


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