I'M NOT GIVING ANYTHING AWAY HERE...

Man, I guess I have to see this new "Apes" movie. While I was in the middle of some exacting work two days ago I received a text message from an old friend saying that he has not been 'this' excited about seeing a movie in a while -- he was referring to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

I was going to end the last sentence above by suffixing with "of course" for no other reason than the fine reviews this new take on the Planet of the Apes franchise has been receiving. (I'd barely understood two days ago that there was a new version.)

Peter Howell, one of the better Toronto film critics, has this to say...

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is this summer’s best, brainiest blockbuster: review
Let’s not monkey around: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the best and brainiest blockbuster of the summer, the kind of movie you hope for when you pay your money and buy your popcorn.
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2014/07/10/dawn_of_the_planet_of_the_apes_is_this_summers_best_brainiest_blockbuster_review.html


What caught my attention, enough to warrant a new blog posting here, was the second last paragraph of the review...

"If there’s any weakness in this otherwise impeccable film, it’s the rather ponderous score by Michael Giacchino, which occasionally recalls but doesn’t come close to matching Jerry Goldsmith’s memorable creation for the original Planet of the Apes in ’68."


Well, there's a simple answer to Mr. Howell's (!) concern: There are no Jerry Goldsmith's today; and Michael Giacchino is a lightweight. A double whammy! Okay, a triple whammy!... the extraordinarily talented and versatile Mr. Goldsmith produced one of his own "personal bests" when he scored director Franklin Shaffner's original Planet of the Apes.

So... I guess my point is I may try Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.