By a healthy margin. Give Andy Serkis an honorary Oscar, and throw one in the direction of Toby Kebbell while you're at it. Clarke is a notable upgrade over Franco, and the effects... my god, they're just on another level, even from the Oscar-winning first one.

I went in with high expectations, and I was STILL blown away. This is what blockbuster filmmaking should be.

And props to Giacchino for another outstanding and rich score. Fills those dialogue-less scenes and really makes you feel for every character.