Two Thumbs Rising for Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Movie Review)

Anyone who knows me knows that I think that simians are the creepiest things ever. I cannot stand them! They freak me out! So, that being said, how can I explain Rise of the Planet of the Apes being the movie that I’ve dreamed of for years? Am I a monkey masochist?

Not really. I avoid the gorillas, chimps and other apes in the zoo. I can’t stand the smell and seeing them gives me nightmares, but… The old Planet of the Apes movies delighted me! Who knows why? I think I had a crush on Roddy McDowell even done up in that chimpanzee makeup.

When the Mark Wahlberg version came out, I had high hopes, but that movie left me flat. I watched it again recently and it still didn’t do it for me. It wasn’t that it was bad, but it just wasn’t great. Maybe I’ll review that movie and go into my reasons for my dislike sometime.

It seems I wasn’t the only one who had just “eh” feelings about that movie. It didn’t get stellar reviews or do booming box office business. It was just another very average sci-fi movie about creepy-ass talking monkeys. I figured my hopes for some kind of continuation or revitalization of my childhood favorite had died with that mediocre cinematic attempt.

Yay for Rise of the Planet of the Apes!!! Yay for taking it in a totally different direction than the rest of the movies while nodding to them with humor and respect. Yay for keeping the movie timely and for showcasing issues and concerns that affect people right now without being preachy, making it relevant to anyone in any theatre anywhere. Yay for bring an aspect of science and research into the movie and the science fiction element into it and introducing the intelligent apes without the need of space travel!

The script and story are wonderful. The acting, especially John Lithgow’s performance, is superb and understated. The CGi is grand and isn’t that what CGI is for?

The apes were realistic enough to make me shudder with revulsion (remember, they gross me out big!) but the acting and story was so good that I could overcome that repulsion and had to fight back tears a couple of times. The apes and the humans were humane.

Awesome movie! Two thumbs up from Serena! So worth the movie ticket and the price of the popcorn and bottled water!

Welcome!

Welcome to any and all who come to read my blog, Mind Candy! And welcome to myself, too!

I'm no stranger to the wonderful world of writing, but blogging is something that has always confounded me. I've always wondered what on Earth I could possibly have to say (that isn't fictional, my preferred writing medium) that anyone might be interested in reading. Also, while I greatly admire bloggers who can consistently write on such topics as politics, fashion, entertainment, etc. on a very regular basis, I know myself well enough to say that I would be bored in a week.

Why would I start writing, waste a perfectly good URL, just to fizzle out within a week or a month... even if no one was reading?

It came to me this morning that, perhaps, I'd been looking at this blogging thing in the wrong way. Maybe rigid consistency isn't imperative when it comes to topics. Just maybe, it's still good writing that counts and caring about the ideas.

Having this thought as my inspiration, I believe I'm finally ready to take on the challenge of a blog.  It will seem really silly that nearly everything I plan to write about are my musings on horror movies and novels, some television shows, road trips, toys that bring about feelings of nostalgia, children's books (old and new) and food. I probably won't have any deep thoughts or mind blowing revelations. No one is going to find any great insights from reading my blog.

Or maybe someone will. Maybe someone will laugh or smile. Maybe someone will share a memory with me. Maybe I'll piss someone off. Maybe I'll inspire someone. Maybe I'll teach someone. Maybe I'll learn something. I like to learn things!

Honestly, I've had a really horrible year. I need to find some fun. That's biggest reason for Mind Candy. I'm writing it to cheer myself up and entertain my brain. I hope people will join me and enjoy themselves along the way.