Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Review
What was surprising about director Rupert Wyatt's Rise of the Planet of the Apes was not that it was extremely successful, rather that it was excellent. A smart, thrilling and fast-paced action movie, utilising incredible motion capture technology to create jaw-dropping ape effects. The main surprise in Matt Reeves' sequel is that it improves on it's predecessor in every way...
Dawn follows a growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors (led by Jason Clarke's Malcom and Gary Oldman's Dreyfus) of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but 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. Unlike Rise, and what ultimately gives Dawn the upper hand, there is no clear cut villain. There are flawed individuals on both sides but all with understandable motivations behind there inevitable actions. War is treated as an inevitability, a horrifying end to the means of this story.
The performance capture work has vastly improved, almost to the point of photorealism. Andy Serkis leads the apes as Caesar, an Ocar-nomination worthy performance of surpressed rage and wisdom. Toby Kebbel is truly threatening as bad-egg-ape (?) Koba, whose scars present themselves both physically and emotionally. Jason Clarke and Gary Oldman both provide strong support, but this is ultimately the apes' story.
The Planet of the Apes franchise has always prided itself on social commentary, often focusing on racism, religion, the legal system and the environment. For Dawn, however, writers Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, make a brave, inevitably controversial plea for gun control. Almost all of the conflict in the movie are, directly or otherwise, caused by the excessive use and trust of guns in modern America. It's a strange move, sure, but one that instantly sets the film apart from all other blockbusters, especially the military recruitment video that was Transformers 4. There is even some Holocaust imagery towards the final act, a terrifying reference to the power all-consuming hate can have over people.
Along with the ground breaking performance capture work, Reeves has curated stunning technical aspects. From Michael Giacchino's primal, thrilling score to Michael Seresin's starkly beautiful cinematography, every aspect works to create a larger, greater whole. Special mention must also go to James Chinlund's fantastic production design, whose blend of modern technology and organic structures is a sight to behold.
If there is a fault, it is inherent in the material. We all know how this ends, so there is a sense of predictability that occasionally robs the film of its full potential. An over reliance on coincidence and convenience is often noticeable, especially in one of the worst character decisions this year. A few human characters are given short shrift, especially Malcom's wife and son (with decent work from Keri Russell and Kodi Smit-McPhee).
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, despite undeniable flaws, is an intelligent, complex and incredibly satisfying blockbuster and one of the best films of the year. With the inevitable third chapter already in development, this franchise is one of few I'm happy will stick around. Just as long as it doesn't revolt...
Five-Word Verdict: Far better than the title
Score: 4/5
