this is how you do a summer blockbuster.

it's got a decent number of action movie cliches, but goddamnit who cares when your effects are this beautiful, when your characters are this well-defined and likeable, when your set pieces are this well staged, and when you have scene after scene of memorable, iconic moments.

such a great job of world-building and rock-solid, locked-in direction. whereas most 2+ hour movies feel about 45 minutes too long, I can't really think of any fat to cut in this one. it starts with a bad-ass action scene and barrels forward relentlessly until the end. and to the film's credit, I wasn't the least bit fatigued...I could've watched another two hours.

this has been basically a perfect series reboot so far. if the third movie is in the same league as the first two, "Apes" could pretty easily enter the conversation of best trilogy ever.