Movie Review: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

My mom introduced me to the original Charlton Heston Planet of the Apes film when I was a young child. She was a big fan of the series, and I was full of wonder with the idea of apes ruling the world. After the disappointing 2001 Tim Burton remake though, I wasn’t sure if another version would be a good idea. 2011’s prequel Rise of the Planet of the Apes surprised me though, and I was excited to see what else would be in store.

Taking place 10 years after Rise, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is once again set in San Francisco. There, we find a small group of humans who survived the deadly virus that was teased at the end of the previous film. The cast of humans include Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, and Jason Clarke. The human roles in the film are a bit short, but this film belongs to the apes.

The apes have created their home in the forests outside of the city. There, they live their life led by Caesar, who treats them well after many were tested or entrapped by humans before they were set free. The apes exist in peace and have started families. They also haven’t seen humans for a few years. Of course, there wouldn’t be a film if there wasn’t a struggle. After a group of the humans wander upon some of the apes, tensions begin to grow and a struggle begins between the two species. Some of the struggle ends up being between the apes themselves, which adds an interesting aspect to the story.

What really makes these movies wonderful is Andy Serkis’ motion capture work as Caesar. I truly think Serkis has one of the coolest jobs in the world. He played Gollum/Smeagol in The Lord of the Rings series and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and will have roles in the upcoming Avengers 2: Age of Ultron and Star Wars VII. Plus he was in one of my all-time favorite chick-flicks, 13 Going on Thirty! He is certainly an expert at his craft, and what is so great about his character as lead ape Caesar are the emotions he displays that feel very human.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes displays such intensity whenever the apes gather, ride horses, and eventually discover the use of guns. The film opens with a wild hunt led by the apes that is excellently filmed and sets the mood very well. Although the film is action-filled and fierce, there are heartwarming and tender moments that make the story truly worth a viewing.