Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Movie Review

"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" will make you care for its characters, humans and apes alike. And this is why we consider it a truly superior sequel. At its core, it is an emotion-filled film putting a more mature Caesar at the forefront (none of which is possible without the visual marvel we see on screen) but it is also more than that. It tackles a lot of themes that are subtle but truly hit a chord with our own humanity showing how similar both sides turn out to be in the end.

A decade has passed since the events of the first film and a deadly virus has mostly wiped out humankind. In San Francisco though, a band of human survivors are able to thrive but are in the brink of collapse in weeks as their current power source's supply is running out. Their last hope is a hydro-electric dam near the city which could provide them a stable and reliable power source. Unfortunately, they discover that the dam is also where a smart band of apes consider home. Led by their leader Caesar (Andy Serkis), the apes have shown that they are willing to risk everything to protect their territory. Although they reach a fragile peace, it proves short-lived as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species

We have to admit that "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" completely blindsided us with its quality turnout. The final product that we do get is something to cheer about and behold, but most importantly, one that gave complete validation on why we need the reboot in the first place. The film's success is mostly anchored on it being a technical juggernaut in terms of motion capture and visuals. We are not exaggerating when we say that the apes will feel eerily human. Every nuanced expression is real and authentic and these are the same elements that will ultimately make you fall for the apes. Also, the film presents a bleak world were humans destroyed themselves and the apes are trying to distance themselves from the human mindset. The overall plot turns out to smart, thought-provoking and had some surprises too. Great acting, great visuals, a deep stpry and an inkling of drama makes "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" a sequel that outclasses the first and propels the franchise to new heights. What more can you ask for?

Rating: 5 reels





Why you should watch it:
- the atmosphere and the tension throughout its running time is just unbelievable
- a film that will really make you care for each and every character - even the bad guys

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the film's pace might be slow for those expecting an action romp