Fox has released the first trailer for Rupert Wyatt's Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  I'm a bit disappointed by the take I'm seeing it but I'll admit that an Apes movie is an incredibly tough sell.  The movie looks far more action-oriented and I was hoping for a moral story involving James Franco's character and the main ape Caesar (played by Andy Serkis using motion capture)  that seems only hinted at in this teaser.  Finally, I don't think people really care where their special effects come from and while I know that WETA is a fine effects company, people didn't walk away from Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes remake thinking "Wow!  ILM really did a bang-up job with those effects!"  I know people respond to action, but having an ape towering over your bed and watching you sleep just looks silly.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer and poster.  The film also stars, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, and Tom Felton.  Rise of the Planet of the Apes opens August 5th.

Click over to Apple to see the trailer in HD.

Here's the official synopsis for Rise of the Planet of the Apes:

Release Date: August 5, 2011

Genre: Science-Fiction / Action

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Description:

A single act of both compassion and arrogance leads to a war unlike any other -- and to the RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. The Oscar-winning visual effects team that brought to life the worlds of Avatar and Lord of the Rings is breaking new ground, creating a CGI ape that delivers a dramatic performance of unprecedented emotion and intelligence, and epic battles on which rest the upended destinies of man and primate.

Starring: James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, and Andy Serkis

Directed By: Rupert Wyatt

Written By: Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver

Produced By: Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver

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