Obviously, from the reviews, a number of people enjoyed this film.  At the showing I attended, there were even some people clapping at the end... but I wasn't one of them.
Nothing makes a good movie seem like a bad movie like claiming it's a great movie.  Over-hype as been a bane for me more than once, and I specifically avoided advertising and promotion for this film because I WANTED to like it, even if it wasn't particularly great.  Unfortunately, it didn't help because I didn't think the film was even particularly good.
Worst out of a bad lot is the in-your-face over-acting that Burton seems to have enforced on the ape actors.  Apparently, the director decided that over-acting is what makes for a convincing ape, and so you end up with the most appalling and painful performances I have seen in a long time.  The cast includes some truly excellent actors, but their talent is lost under all the "aping" they're forced to do.  Tim Roth's character, especially, becomes impossible to watch almost immediately.  The over-acting of the ape actors also serves to wash out the actors playing the human characters.  Although their performances are not bad, none of them are strong enough to avoid be over-shadowed by all the over-acting.  They come across looking wooden by comparison, and you end up with the worst of both worlds.
As for the story and script, it is all too obviously a product of the modern Hollywood `blipvert' mentality.  There's no development and depth to speak of, just straight off to the races with explosions, crashes, and special effects.  Sometimes this works - `Con Air,' for example - but `Planet of the Apes' needs and deserves more.  It's short attention span theatre at its worst.  And because of this, you end up with the special effects feeling like they're being rammed down your throat at every opportunity.  This is most demonstrated by the constant need of the film to remind you that these are apes you are looking at.  It's not enough for one of the ape characters to just jump onto a horse.  Instead they need to bounce of eight walls, four ceilings, do a spin, a triple back-flip, and THEN land on their horse.  This is fine for the fight scenes where it can at least be considered appropriate, but it is done continuously to the point of distracting you from the story.  But then, given the lack of story, maybe that's the point.  Also, if you are prone to motion-sickness, beware of the early scenes where the humans are first captured.  The camera keeps panning up, down, and from side to side non-stop as the captives are taken through the city.  Not only does this prevent you from actually being able to get a look at the ape city, but it also leaves you feeling nauseous.
I really wanted to like this film, but I just couldn't find it in me.  From a rushed beginning ("gotta start BIG!!") to a totally obvious ending (which seems so weak when compared to the original film), there is almost nothing here.  I chuckled once at the first nod (by quote) the film makes to the original, but when they try it the second time with Heston and Roth's scene, it is genuinely painful.  Maybe there's just something wrong with me.  Ooh, help me, Dr. Zaius!
Obviously, from the reviews, a number of people enjoyed this film. At the showing I attended, there were even some people clapping at the end... but I wasn't one of them. Nothing makes a good movie seem like a bad movie like claiming it's a great movie. Over-hype as been a bane for me more than once, and I specifically avoided advertising and promotion for this film because I WANTED to like it, even if it wasn't particularly great. Unfortunately, it didn't help because I didn't think the film was even particularly good. Worst out of a bad lot is the in-your-face over-acting that Burton seems to have enforced on the ape actors. Apparently, the director decided that over-acting is what makes for a convincing ape, and so you end up with the most appalling and painful performances I have seen in a long time. The cast includes some truly excellent actors, but their talent is lost under all the "aping" they're forced to do. Tim Roth's character, especially, becomes impossible to watch almost immediately. The over-acting of the ape actors also serves to wash out the actors playing the human characters. Although their performances are not bad, none of them are strong enough to avoid be over-shadowed by all the over-acting. They come across looking wooden by comparison, and you end up with the worst of both worlds. As for the story and script, it is all too obviously a product of the modern Hollywood `blipvert' mentality. There's no development and depth to speak of, just straight off to the races with explosions, crashes, and special effects. Sometimes this works - `Con Air,' for example - but `Planet of the Apes' needs and deserves more. It's short attention span theatre at its worst. And because of this, you end up with the special effects feeling like they're being rammed down your throat at every opportunity. This is most demonstrated by the constant need of the film to remind you that these are apes you are looking at. It's not enough for one of the ape characters to just jump onto a horse. Instead they need to bounce of eight walls, four ceilings, do a spin, a triple back-flip, and THEN land on their horse. This is fine for the fight scenes where it can at least be considered appropriate, but it is done continuously to the point of distracting you from the story. But then, given the lack of story, maybe that's the point. Also, if you are prone to motion-sickness, beware of the early scenes where the humans are first captured. The camera keeps panning up, down, and from side to side non-stop as the captives are taken through the city. Not only does this prevent you from actually being able to get a look at the ape city, but it also leaves you feeling nauseous. I really wanted to like this film, but I just couldn't find it in me. From a rushed beginning ("gotta start BIG!! ") to a totally obvious ending (which seems so weak when compared to the original film), there is almost nothing here. I chuckled once at the first nod (by quote) the film makes to the original, but when they try it the second time with Heston and Roth's scene, it is genuinely painful. Maybe there's just something wrong with me. Ooh, help me, Dr. Zaius!