Change Your Image
free_spirit2009
Reviews
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes Does Not Disappoint
Ever since I heard that there was going to be another Planet of the Apes movie in 2009 I was thrilled. I saw the original 1968 Planet of the Apes around the age of ten and fell in love with it. I went and saw this film and somewhat expected it to be like Tim Burton's film and leave me somewhat disappointed, but I was happily mistaken! As most people have stated already the true star of the film was Andy Serkis as Caesar the super intelligent ape. The Academy needs to change their rules and allow Serkis to get the credit he truly deserves! I was engrossed in the plot from the very beginning and didn't want the movie to end! I eagerly looked for connections and tributes to the original and was not disappointed! These homages to the 1968 version were not always blatant or obvious but provided enough for die-hard fans. If you enjoyed the original movie with Charlton Heston then you will fall in love with Rise of the Planet of the Apes!
The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Good but bad at the same time!
Being a history fanatic focused on the Tudor dynasty I have read all of Phillippa Gregory's books based on this time period. The Other Boleyn Girl is my favorite of the series and I was ecstatic to find out that movie was going to be made! My father(who is also a history-buff) and I went and saw the movie soon after it came out. The movie is both and good and bad.
The good parts of this movie includes casting Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn. I have always thought her to be a wonderful actress and was excited to hear that she would be in it. The costumes are wonderful as well, enough to make me want to get one myself! The sets are also great and transport the viewer back in time. The movie is good, but it does have its problems.
The bad parts of this movie are mainly dealing with the facts. The only reference to the period of time passing is the birth of children. The Anne Boleyn Henry VIII affair lasted a total of 13 years, but a viewer would guess maybe a total of 5 years. The one scene that drove me crazy was the rape scene. In the theater I said aloud "What the Hell?" Anne was not raped by Henry for their first sexual encounter, and this did not result in Elizabeth's birth. Other screw-ups include the absence of Mary's daughter Catherine by Henry and the death of her first husband William Carey, Elizabeth being raised by her aunt, or the fact that Anne was sent to France as punishment. In reality Anne was sent to France at the age of 4 and grew up there. She was sent to Hever after the affair with Henry Percy.
All in all the movie is okay. My suggestion is that if you want to see this movie and enjoy it, see it before you read the book. The movie is good by itself, but when compared to the book it is a failure. I like the movie as a movie standing alone, but not as an adaptation of the Gregory novel.