Weta Digital and Andy Serkis steal the show here. The plot is simple but effective. There is a slow build through the first and second acts that leads to a satisfying third act of non-stop action with some pleasant surprises thrown in. The motion capture performances breathe real emotion into the computer generated models. You know it's CGI the whole time, but it has a human element so it's fun to watch, unlike the stiff boring CGI usually done by hand. Nothing compares to the nuances of a real human face emoting.

3.5 Stars (out of 5)