Blockbuster that doesn't overdo it

Rating: Null/10 (9 August 2011)

I really enjoyed this movie, and I'm a scientist who was well pleased by the writers doing their research to come up with a plausible scientific explanation based on modern biotech ideas! Very clever, concise, even elegant. Was relieved that the story concentrated so much on the relationships between/among the people and the apes/chimpanzees and not all on action. Action served the story, period. Contrary to Roger Ebert's mild complaint that the writers didn't do more with the girlfriend scientist character or with philosophical conundrums for James Franco's character, I am rather relieved to see a movie that has the taste and restraint to describe straightforward characters who are just pleasant, intelligent good people, OMG! There is plenty of poignancy and philosophical significance to the chimpanzee Caesar's coming to self-awareness.
Only one weird thing stood out: it's set in San Francisco, but there is nary an Asian visible, not even in crowd scenes. Weird.