An intelligent ape led a primate uprising against goony humans, ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ reminiscing the blockbuster original ape’s movie in 1970s is now being screened at the Liberty Lite cinema, Colombo 3.
Directed by Rupert Wyatt, this is a reboot of the Planet of the Apes series that will act as a foundation with an original story for a new film series and its premise is similar to the fourth film in the original series, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972).
Set in present day San Francisco, the film is a reality-based cautionary tale, a science fiction/science fact blend, where man’s own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy.Will Rodman (James Franco) is a San Francisco scientist who has been trying to develop a cure for Alzheimer’s disease by testing a genetically engineered retrovirus on chimpanzees.
The virus mutates the chimpanzees, giving them a human level of intelligence. One of his test subjects, a female chimpanzee, goes on a rampage because she believes her baby, to whom she secretly gave birth, is threatened. She is killed after disrupting a board meeting. Will’s boss Steven Jacobs (David Oyelowo) orders subordinate Robert Franklin (Tyler Labine) to put all the test chimpanzees down, but he cannot bring himself to kill the chimpanzee’s baby, and instead gives him to Will, who names him Caesar (Andy Serkis) and raises him in his house. Caesar has inherited his mother’s high intelligence, and learns quickly.
Will gives a sample of his cure to his father, Charles (John Lithgow), who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. At first, his father improves but later his body’s immune system fights off the virus and his dementia returns. After a violent incident where Caesar attacks a neighbour, Caesar is forcibly sent to a San Bruno primate facility run by John Landon (Brian Cox) where apes are treated cruelly by Landon’s son Dodge (Tom Felton) who works as a guard there. Caesar is initially treated poorly by both the staff and the other apes. When Dodge brings his friends into the facility, one of them gets too close to Caesar’s cage and is grabbed by Caesar, who steals his pocket knife, later using it to escape his cell. Caesar then frees a gorilla and, with his help, gains dominance over the other apes.
Meanwhile, Will creates a more powerful form of the virus to further treat his father and new tests on chimpanzees begin. It strengthens the intelligence of the apes even further, but is fatal to humans, unbeknown to the scientists. Franklin is exposed to the new virus and begins sneezing out blood. He accidentally sneezes on Will’s neighbour, and is later found dead in his apartment. Will attempts to warn Jacobs against further testing, but when Jacobs plans to continue it, Will quits his job.
Caesar eventually escapes from the primate facility and travels to Will’s house, where he steals an airborne strain of the new virus and releases it throughout the cage area, enhancing the intelligence of his fellow apes. He beats Dodge down and, after showing his first capability of speech by shouting “No!” at him, electrocutes him by spraying him with a hose while his stun stick was turned on. The apes at the facility escape into the city, releasing the remaining apes from Will’s former place of work and from San Francisco Zoo.
‘Dhawala Kadulla’ captures dramatic era of history
By Susitha R. Fernando
‘Dhawala Kadulla’ a periodic teleplay capturing the period of the British take over of the country, made by award winning teledrama director Thusitha de Silva and telecast at 8.30 on Rupavahini every Thursday.
Based on a story and script of well-known writer Sunethra Rajakarunanayake, the teledrama is set in the early 1800s when dramatic changes took place in the history of Sri Lanka.
The story spans the period from 1800 to 1816, when social, cultural and economical transitions were taking place in Sri Lanka. ‘Dhawala Kadulla’ revolves around one of the 16 English prisoners captured by the Sinhalese. In order to prevent him escaping and reuniting with others, the British prisoner is sent to a Walawwa in a rural area as a domestic aide where he is forced to share accommodation with an uneducated Sinhala servant Angkutta played by Sriyantha Mendis.
Initially the communication becomes a big barrier to both but they somehow manage to build their own system of communication, a mix of English and Sinhala. As the Walawwa owners fear of a possible relationship with unmarried aging heir Tikirikumarihami, the British prisoner is sent to another area where he develops an affair with a twice married and widowed Suwandi. She becomes pregnant by the white prisoner but he manages to escape with Angkutta before the delivery.
Time passes and Suwandi gives birth to a ‘white boy’ and with the fall of the Sinahala Kingdom, the British take over of the country and a new rootless generation like Angkutta who betrayed the country to the Whites gains power.
“The teledrama captures an important transitional period in the history of Sri Lanka. With the take over of the country by British a new rootless generation represented by Angkutta was a coming into power and there was cultural and social shock,” said director Thusitha de Silva of his latest teledrama. “Working on this 33-episode teledrama was an interesting experience even though it was a tedious and strenuous job,” the director who was grateful to the cast and crew said.
Produced by actress Vasanthi Chathurani, the teledrama has a versatile cast including Sriyantha Mendis, Lakshman Mendis, Grace Tennekoon, Chamila Peiris, Janak Premalal, Sarath Kothalawala, Nilanthi Wijesinghe, Chandra Kaluarachchi, D. B. Gangodathenna, Malkanthi Jayasinghe, Anura Bandara Rajaguru, Giriraj Kaushalya, Chris Harris and Vasanthi Chathurani herself in the stellar cast.
The teledrama was also shot in scenic locations in and around Mahalakotuwa, a beautiful village in Riverstone in Matale in one of the borders of the Knuckles Mountain Range.
“This was the first time that a teledrma was shot in this area and scenic surroundings gave an added quality to the teledrama and the story line,” said the director. In the technical staff Upul Prajath handled the camera while Sujeewa Guneratne did the art direction, make up was by Nalin Premathilake and music by Navaratne Gamage. |
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