How did the Planet of the Apes prequels wind up being so fucking good? Through a combination of properly used special effects (Andy Serkis’s Caesar is maybe the most well-rounded character to be featured in a modern blockbuster franchise) and the application of solid storytelling. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has a proper sense of scope and peril, focusing on ape-human diplomacy and the willingness of a few bad apples to fuck everything up for the rest of us. Even though the apes are the stars, it’s the most human blockbuster you’ll see this summer. (See Movie Times: thestranger.com/film)