'Rise of the Planet of the Apes': Film Review James Franco and John Lithgow star in director Rupert Wyatt's prequel.. The Planet of the Apes started life as a 1963 novel by the French author Pierre Boulle called La Planete des Singes. This was later adapted into the incredibly successful 1968 film The Planet of the Apes, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner starring Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowell. The success was such that it spawned…
Discover reviews, ratings, and trailers for Rise of the Planet of the Apes on Rotten Tomatoes. Stay updated with critic and audience scores today!. While Rise of the Planet of the Apes borrows what seems to be tidbits and stray ideas from Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, the fourth film in that respective series, it discards nearly everything that franchise was about: aimless, long-takes that served little purpose other than a pedestrian showcase of atmosphere, vapid character dialog.