Do I need to see Rise of the Planets of the apes before the new one?

I would say yes if you have time. But watch it later if not.

If you'd rather i'll give ya the story line. (read only if you dont care)

James Franco plays a scientist who helps develop drugs that help increase brain activity. They have been testing them on a number of monkeys. When one of them gets out of control, breaks out and kills a number of people in the building, the monkeys are killed.

However one is left behind, a baby he names Ceaser. Ceaser has reacted very good to the drugs and Franco takes him home since he would be killed at the lab.

Ceaser learns fast and shows amazing intelligence, but soon realizes he doesnt belong locked up in a house-cage.

When he attacks a agressive neighbor he is sent to a pet facility where he must become a wild monkey again. But when its owners treat him bad, he realizes that this is their chance to break out. He breaks into Franco's supply of drugs and uses it on all of the monkeys at the facility.

The apes break out and fight their way to safety in the forest.

The drug works good on apes but we find out it kills humans who come in contact with it, and the movie ends with a pilot who had been accidently exposed, boarding a flight and the way the virus will soon spread world wide.

Sequel takes off from there, years later.

I didn't see the first one, but I still enjoyed it without any questions.