Falls just short of greatness

Rating: Null/10 (23 August 2011)

Synopsis: A scientist invents a cure for Alzheimer's disease that happens to turn the lab apes into super-geniuses. These super-genius apes then go on a rampage across the Golden Gate bridge.
I have no problem with this basic premise, but if these apes are so smart why did they not stop to pick up some real artillery by raiding a gun shop? An ape with a machine gun going ballistic really appeals to my sense of mindless entertainment.
So instead of guns, the apes go with spears, a suitable replacement for the purposes of our entertainment I suppose. The only problem with this is that an ape would have a difficult time throwing a spear due to their lacking an opposable thumb. Maybe this explains their inaccuracy.
All in all the movie is pretty good as far as summer blockbusters go. The story is half decent, the acting is pretty good, the 3D apes are fantastic, it's all really well done, a pro job from top to bottom.
But does it all add up to greatness?? No, because rather than being a movie that stands completely on it's own it feels like a setup for a sequel.
By the time the end of the movie rolled around it was just starting to deliver on the promise of high action and screaming ape violence.
Hopefully the sequel will bear out the promises this movie made for unrestrained ape carnage.