The Shawshank of Ape movies?

There are a lot of things you could take from the new "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" movie. It touches on one of my favorite themes — lack of humility in the face of scientific discovery could lead to our ruin. This film, in providing the foundation for the world of "Planet of the Apes," certainly showcases that reality.

You could take away the way technology is impacting the movie-making process. There is some great use of digital effects in this film as the technology continues to make our visions more of a reality. Andy Serkis, who famously played Gollum in the "Lord of the Rings" films, takes a step forward with the motion capture technology as Caesar, leader of the super-smart apes.

But what I was most struck by seeing the film for a second time is that, in part, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" does for apes what "The Shawshank Redemption" did for humans with prison movies. I know you're probably laughing right now, but I'm actually kind of being serious. Kind of.

One of the most oddly compelling parts of the film is the prison sequence. The conveyance of emotion during that section is oddly compelling, and the way that Caesar related to his fellow prisoners was also oddly compelling. In a film that felt more like four or five mini-movies — each with a different target and theme — this was one of the better parts of the film.

When it was announced that the studio behind the film was making a push for Serkis to earn an Academy Award nomination for his work in the film, it was met with derision and laughter. (Serkis also sought a nomination for his work as Gollum to no avail.) I doubt the campaign will succeed this year either — and I'm not sure it should — but I would say the emotions conveyed by Caesar, and the work done (particularly in the latter sections of the film), were a cut above what we've seen from this type of technology in the past.

So when or if you go see this new entry into the legacy of Ape movies, remember to keep an eye out for the odd emotional depth of the section devoted to apes in captivity.