OK, so it doesn't have the social commentary of the 1968 classic, it doesn't have the famous shock ending and really it doesn't make much sense, but what the heck.

Tim Burton's "re-imagining" of Planet Of The Apes has more going for it than Tomb Raider, Jurassic Park III and Pearl Harbour all spliced together.

For one, the make-up was created by five-times Oscar winner

Rick Baker (remember American Werewolf in London, Nutty Professor, Men In Black?). These apes are "real" and like real apes they have personalities and recognisable characteristics.

Then there is the wonderful set design by Rick Heinrichs (Sleepy Hollow, Fisher King), which convincingly transports us to a semi-tropical jungle complete with tiered cave dwellings.

The cinematography by multi award winning Philippe Rousselot (Emerald Forest, Interview With the Vampire) is awesome and to top it all we have another heart-pounding score from regular Burton conspirator Danny Elfman.

If you haven't already read them, expect lots of reviews pulling this movie apart, mostly written by those who regard the original a sacred cow.

They seem to have missed something -- this is not supposed to be like the original, it is a reworking of the same source material and in fact is somewhat closer in many ways (especially the ending. I won't say more).

POTA 2001 delivers far more visceral rather than cerebral thrills and that is exactly why it works. POTA 2001 is aimed at a new audience of younger viewers who are either unfamiliar with the 60s version or simply find it dull.

This is a stand-alone movie for the 21st century eye-candy-generation and, perhaps, the beginning of another great franchise.

Which brings me to the real puzzle -- why is a movie, almost exclusively inhabited by talking apes, stuck with a 12 certificate?

There is nothing whatsoever in this movie that would make me think twice about letting my kids see it, nor could anyone in

my party understand why their kids couldn't see it! OK, gripe over.

To me Tim Burton is a genius; he is one of the boldest moviemakers working in (and out) of Hollywood today. So POTA is not his standard fare, but like his other movie it is magical, somewhat dark and truly inspired.

OK, it's not a classic as such but as a summer blockbuster it really rocks... and then some.

FILM: Planet Of The Apes (12)