'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" Review: Which Ones Are the Real Animals?

Andy Serkis is not monkeying around.

A couple of weeks ago, a friend asked if I had a copy of the "Planet of the Apes" movie starring Mark Wahlberg that she could borrow. She and her teen-age daughter wanted to watch it. When I delivered it to them over lunch on Sunday, I mentioned that the 2001 film directed by Tim Burton is in no way connected to the new release, "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes."

She had no idea.

And it really makes no difference.

If you've never seen any of the "Planet of the Apes" movies, going all the way back to Charlton Heston, or the sequels, the television shows or the most recent reboot, 2011's "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," the film's opening sequence will quickly bring you up to speed.

It's been 10 years since the outbreak of simian virus in "Rise." Apes are living peacefully in their own village in the woods outside San Francisco. Because they haven't seen a human in two years, they wonder whether any are left alive. Soon enough, they learn that there are human survivors of the man-made plague - and they have guns.

Right way, your know this is not going to go well.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Poster

Movies - First Trailer For "Dawn of The Planet of the Apes"

Keri Russell signs on for 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes'

Keri Russell will monkey around in "Apes" sequel.

Former "Felicity" star Keri Russell will play the female lead in the "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," according to an exclusive report by Dave McNary of Variety.

McNary did not have any other details about her role. Russell currently stars in the FX television series "The Americans."

Russell, 36, joins a cast that includes Gary Oldman, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jason Clarke and Andy Serkis. The movie takes place 15 years after "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." Oldman reportedly will portray the leader of the human resistance against the apes, led by the returning Serkis as Caesar.

The movie has a release date of May 23, 2014.