Rise of the Planet of the Apes is able to stop much of the decline of quality that was had between the first and second movies in their original iteration due to the strength of the actors here. James Franco, John Lithgow, and Andy Serkis all unite here to make a film that both stays relatively true to the original film while expanding upon the mythos and storyline of the Apes storyline.
Fox has added a number of features to this set, ensuring that viewers will have this release in their players for months to come. There are 11 deletes scenes coupled with a documentary into exactly how much work Andy Serkis has to go through to come off as a convincing ape. The gallery that provides insights into what the artists thought the apes should look like really gives viewers perspective into the transition between thought and reality. I personally found myself to be the biggest fan of the Mythology of the Apes, a featurette that provides some integral information for fully understanding the motives and desires of the simians found in the flick. For those that are fans of music in movies, the Composing the Score featurette lets viewers understand how Patrick Doyle composed each of the tracks that listeners find during Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
While it may only be a few days until Christmas (and other holidays have passed or will pass soon enough), I cannot recommend the combination pack for Rise of the Planet of the Apes enough. The quality of the movie, coupled with the sheer amount of additions that Fox has placed here, provide ample value. Check it out today.
Rating: 7.6/10
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Blu-Ray / DVD Combo Pack) / 2011 Fox / 105 Minutes / http://www.fox.com