Well-thought out

Rating: 9/10 (5 August 2011)

One would not ordinarily have "Planet of the Apes" and "plausible" in the same sentence, but this is as close to plausible as I could have imagined. So often a movie in this genre requires a considerable willingness to suspend disbelief, but this movie doesn't leave you scratching your head.
It hits wonderful notes of emotional connection with the lead characters of all species. Nothing says that a film is working more than the gut feeling you get where you have intense hopes and fears for the outcome. It's well-acted; the leads deliver balanced performances that aren't overplayed (except for one malevolent character that would have been improved had there been even a hint of subtlety in the portrayal).
As many reviews have indicated, the nods to the original movie are all over the place - smartly inserted so that they trigger your memories without making them seem contrived. They aren't played for humor, so even if you never saw the originals you won't be left in the dark. Rather, these references seem to have been inserted as signs of respect, letting the audience know that the filmmakers realize they are messing with something classic - and their effort is a worthy reboot.