The Transformers

Chinese fans of special effects eagerly await the latest in the Planet of the Apes series. Xu Fan reports.

Software-created on-screen magic has reached a new level with the sci-fi movie War for the Planet of the Apes. In clips of the new franchise movie, recently released by 20th Century Fox at a Beijing event, most viewers were amazed to see actor Andy Serkis' seamless transformation into Caesar, the story's leader of the apes.

When Serkis performs as an orangutan, he wears skin-tight clothing and his movements as well as emotions are captured with the help of sensors, making his act life-like. Though special effects have become a must-have for most big Hollywood movies, this film's behind-the-scenes footage still enthralled Chinese viewers.