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The virtual apes far outshine the human actors, but Rise of the Planet of the Apes was pretty much exactly what I was hoping for - a really fun Summer B movie. I wish the screenplay didn't hew so closely to the Syd Field template (I wish that about a LOT of movies!) Every story beat here is telegraphed like crazy, and the various turnarounds and come-uppances arrive with set-your-watch punctuality. But, on the bottom line, the ape action is gangbusters, and Caesar is a true star, commanding the screen and my sympathies far better than the Peter Jackson King Kong did. (Andy Serkis played both, but this story better suits the mo-cap technique.) Both a series reboot and a remake of the fourth entry in the original run, it's loaded with nods to its predecessors, but these are mostly very nicely integrated. I only rolled my eyes once or twice. So much better than the Tim Burton misfire, and set up for any number of sequels. I'll be there on opening day for all of 'em.
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