Monkey see, monkey do, monkey make a movie

The movies based on Pierre Boulle’s little novel, published in 1963 under the original title “La Planete des singes” (“Monkey Planet”), have been — for the most part — occasionally intriguing exercises in cinematic cheese.

The newest version, the prequel titled “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” is no different. I saw it today at AMC, during the 11:10 a.m. screening, and left the theater moderately entertained. Two things above al else intrigued me:

1. The special effects. As he did with Gollum in Peter Jackson’s trilogy adaptation of “The Lord of the Rings,” Andy Serkis plays the ape who makes a difference in Rupert Wyatt’s film. Under a bit of makeup and with a lot of digital manipulation. The EFX of the film, overall, is quite impressive.

2. The references that the film uses to ground itself in the larger series. Several sequences feature referenes that come from the 1968 original film, “The Planet of the Apes.” The various ways that Serkis’ character, the chimpanzee named Caesar, is treated by humans all mirror the ways the apes treat Charlton Heston and his fellow humans. A character even gets to refer to Heston famous line, “Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!”

Unfortunately, the rest is a story told simplistically about human arrogance and greed (kind of like the investment firms that forced the world to the edge of bankruptcy) and the results of such bad behavior. And from a simple creative point of view, it plays so fast and loose with time and space that the movies feels … well, about as farfetched as the very notion that apes could one day take over the world.

This is all a bit disappointing. So … bring on “Conan.” Unlike David Hewlett , the “Stargate Atlantis” star who has a bit part here, Jason Momoa — who played Ronon Dex on “Stargate Atlantis” — is the star of “Conan.” And if he’s anything, Momoa is a better actor than Arnold Schwarzenegger ever was.

Pardon me. I can’t ever resist making a “Stargate Atlantis” reference. Love that show.

Below : The trailer for “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.”