Caesar In Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
We don't see an ape on the big screen for some time and then two come along at once - and that is exactly what has happed this week as The Rise of the Planet of the Apes & Project Nim hit the big screen.
So to celebrate the release of the movie we take a look at some of the most famous apes that have enjoyed movie stardom over the years.
- King Kong: King Kong
Let's face it King Kong is the greatest movie ape of all time - he's big, he's mean and he has been on the big screen since the 1930's.
He made his movie debut in 1933 in the ground breaking film that used pioneering special effects of stop motion models and animatronics.
Kong has since made two further appearances on the silver screen when the original film was remade in 1976 and then again in 2005 directed by Peter Jackson.
- Caesar: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
The 'Apes' movies have been popular since Charlton Heston found himself on a strange planet way back in the sixties.
This week there is a new addition to the franchise as British filmmaker Rupert Wyatt brings an original tale set in San Francisco.
Caesar has been created using motion capture and there is only once actor to call on when a role like this surfaces... of course I'm talking about Andy Serkis.
Serkis is becoming somewhat of a master at this, having played Gollum and King Kong for Peter Jackson.
- King Lowie - Jungle Book
'Now, I'm the king of the swingers oh, the jungle VIP' King Louie swung into cinemas in 1968 in the Disney classic The Jungle Book singing 'I wanna be like you' that won the hearts of millions of children.
The musical maestro of the jungle he was also a master of the finger trumpet and even excelled at being a monkey beatbox producing one of Disney's most memorable and much loved musical numbers.
- Nim: Project Nim
Nim Chimpsky shot to fame in the seventies when he was involved in an animal language study in which he developed a form of sign language.
Oscar winner James Marsh brings that story to the big screen this week with documentary movie Project Nim.
Combining the testimony of all the key participants, newly discovered archival film, and dramatic imagery, Project Nim tells the picturesque story of one chimpanzee's extraordinary journey through human society and the enduring impact he makes on the people he meets along the way.
I defy you to not cry like a baby whilst watching this movie!!
- Clive - Every Which Way But Loose
Despite the film starring Dirty Harry, Spaghetti Western star Clint Eastwood it was his orangutan buddy that stole the show.
Eastwood was the fast talkin’, fist-fightin’ trucker with Clyde his hairy companion, and together, they were the finest man/monkey double act cinema has ever seen.
Despite failing with the critics the film was an enormous success and a sequel, Any Which Way You Can, followed in 1980.
The Rise of the Planet of the Apes & Project Nim are released 12th August.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Planet of the Apes