Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Being a fan of Planet of the Apes (the 1969 original) I was excited to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which opened today. And so glad that I did. Excellent visuals and spellbinding story line aside, this movie does something more. Like its original, I believe it gets people thinking about our relationship with the great apes; at least it does for me.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes, although a science fiction movie, lends itself to some realism. The sad fact is that while other developed countries are banning or restricting use of chimpanzees in research, the United States stands alone in its continued use of these magnificent apes. If passed, a law like the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act of 2011 would prohibit invasive research on great apes. Organizations, like that of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, believes the money used in great ape research (hundreds of millions of dollars worth) could be better utilized by investing in current, more sophisticated research. This bill needs to pass, as chimpanzees deserve much better than they are currently getting.

If you do see this movie, I would love to know your thoughts.