Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - Review

The original 1968 Planet of the Apes is a film, that I personally consider, not just one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time, but one of cinema's greatest films period. It took a clever premise, added some interesting characters, thought provoking social commentary, decent action, and one hell of a ending. Even though the once groundbreaking makeup effects seem a bit dated by today's standards, there's no doubt that they're still pretty damn impressive. I won't say the film is quite perfect, but it's status as a classic is most definitely well deserved. It was followed by four sequels (two of which were actually prequels) which average out fairly well but certainly don't hold up to the original. In 2001, Planet of the Apes got the remake treatment, with a film of the same name directed by Tim Burton. The remake was... pretty awful actually. Despite some impressive makeup effects, the film was a convoluted mess and a low point in Burton's career. It wouldn't be until 10 years later when Planet of the Apes made a worthy return to the big screen with director Rupert Wyatt's Rise of the Planet of the Apes, a reboot/prequel/remake/spin-off (actually I'm not quite sure how the new films fit into the timeline... feel free to chime in on that if you have some insight). While not perfect, the movie was far better than many expected, with top notch effects, killer action, a clever story, and surprisingly effective performances. Now we have the sequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Awkward titles aside, does this new entry live up, not only too Rise but also to the long legacy of a classic series?

The film opens 10 years after the events of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Humanity has been almost entirely eradicated from the ALZ-113 virus, a disease created from the formula that gave apes super intelligence. The band of apes, led by Caesar (Andy Serkis) have become the dominant species and attempt to live their lives in the harsh woods. Things change, however, when a small band of human survivors encounter the apes, and immense tensions follow. Most of the apes fear and revile the humans, namely one name Koba (Toby Kebbell) whose prejudice stems from being subjected to vicious animal experimentation. A small band of the human survivors reach out to Caesar and negotiate terms to operate a nearby abandoned dam, as the human colony is in desperate need of power. Caesar, being one of the few who does not completely distrust humans, reluctantly agrees, but tensions between the two groups could not be more severe, with war only one slip-up away. Can the two colonies band together and reach a mutual peace... or is war inevitable?

Coming off the heels of it's imperfect but still very impressive predecessor couldn't have been easy. I mean, let's be reasonable, it really is a testament to the skills of a filmmaker who can take a premise as goofy as a bunch of super smart monkeys conquering the world and make the audience care or take the premise seriously (even more impressive is the fact that the original is seen as a sci-fi classic... a title it deserves don't get me wrong). I was initially disappointed when I heard that Rupert Wyatt had stepped down as director, but Matt Reeves proved to be a worthy replacement. Not only does he keep to the same tone and serious dedication to the subject matter, but he adds his own stylish flair plus a genuine sense of pacing and excitement. In the hands of a lesser director, this kind of premise could easily fall into the realm of self parody and become a joke unto itself. That's not the case here, as Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a thrilling, engaging, and often smart sci-fi/action film and worthy entry in this long-running series.

Let me re-iterate that last part I mentioned, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is smart. Not brilliant, mind you, I doubt anyone's life or philosophies will be changed by anything in this film. Still, the fact that a summer blockbuster actually manages to throw in some poignant social themes all supported by compelling (and generally well-developed) characters is commendable. The fact that it works, for the most part anyways, is almost even a miracle when you compare it to the generally mindless summer blockbusters that hit theaters every summer. It ultimately succeeds because there are no generic heroes and villains. Everyone, both human and ape, are capable of both great evil and good, and the tension between the two groups stems from a prejudice rooted in understandable reasons. For instance, the closest thing the film has to a full-fledged villain is an ape with a great dislike of humans after being the victim of vicious animal testing for years. If nothing else, the setups are brilliant, leading to some genuinely suspenseful and thrilling scenes that are all but guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Let me ask you... is there anything more awesome than monkeys riding to battle on horses with machine guns??? Well... maybe, but that's still up there. Not joking though, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has some of the best action scenes of the year. When it's not attempting to thrill you, however, it also has a few moving and touching scenes that break up the tension. I won't say it's perfect, there are a few subplots that could have gotten a bit more development and at times it drags a bit... but for the most part, it's well-paced, thrilling, touching, and even a bit insightful. That's more than enough for me.

Cast-wise, it's a little bit of a mixed bag, but the actors generally do their jobs. Jason Clarke plays Malcolm, a representative of the human survivors who first attempts to negotiate a peace with the apes. While someone with a tab bit more range could have probably made the character truly special, I can't fault Clarke too much. He generally does a decent job, which is all the more impressive considering that for a good portion of the film, he was interacting with cgi characters (I'm sure there was a human stand-in, but still). The same could be said for Keri Russell as Ellie, Malcolm's wife. She's not perfect by any means but she has her moments and sells her role adequately. The standout among the human characters is easily Gary Oldman (that's hardly a shock though), who brings a quiet intensity to the role and really sells some genuine drama in some of the heavier scenes. Andy Serkis once again totally nails the role of Caesar the ape, accomplished by his genuine acting ability and a team of ridiculously talented cgi and effects artists. The same could be said for Toby Kebbell as Koba, the troubled ape and ally of Caesar. Once again, I have to re-iterate how good the effects are in this film. Despite a small handful of some dodgy shots, the effects have improved from great in the last film to full-on amazing this time around! Right now, this film is hands down the top contender to take home the Oscar for Visual Effects, and it's setting the bar pretty damn high. Whether it comes down to good actors or good special effects... it all comes together.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is probably not going to change anyone's life, but for a thrilling summer blockbuster to come around with so much heart, passion, and even some intelligence is a rarity these days. It's been in theaters for a while now, so it may or may not be playing in you area. If it is, however, this is definitely one you'll want to catch before it leaves. If you missed it... that's a shame, but it'll still make for good home viewing. Check it out!

My Score: 4 out of 5!