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Year Of Release
Synopsis:
Ten years after Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, Caesar and his group of Apes have laid the foundation of a home in the Muir Woods, just outside San Francisco.
They haven’t seen sight of a Human for many a year, and Caesar often ponders what happened to them.
When a small group of Men appear on the borders of the Apes’ home and kill one of the Apes, Caesar and the others are shocked and confused… even more so though, the Humans are taken aback by how intelligent and organised the Apes are, and the fact they can also talk…
… and a shaky and incredibly fragile peace treaty is eventually agreed upon between the two factions, as there is something near to the Apes’ home that the Humans need…
Review:
Oh. My. God.
I loved Rise. Rated it 100%. Shock and awe filled me with the first movie, and I was knocked backwards, sideways and every other way when I watched it.
Dawn… is no different.
An incredibly tight and twisting script and sequence of events, disparate character writing and very clever exposition threw me at almost every turn.
I had no idea what to expect from the film as it was playing out.
We’re treated this time round to a rounded character base within the Ape Group. Caesar and his family and the hierarchy and ranking within the entire Ape group, which is thrown into disarray and confusion with the arrival of the Humans.
The Human side of it all when they discover these intelligent Apes and the trials and tribulations of Human politics back at the Humans’ home.
Then there’s the mistrust between the two groups… each one not knowing what the other will do or what they’re planning.
All the while, Caesar and Malcolm (Clarke) are making a connection. A connection that is seemingly frowned upon by Humans and Apes alike.
You’re never really sure of a number of characters’ (both Human and Ape) alliances either. The exposition gives slight hints, but nothing that ever gives away what is actually going to happen. It’s very cleverly pieced together.
The good thing with this film too is that we meet the Apes first and we get to see and know their society. There’s no mixing it up and confusing the viewer.
And it’s fantastically nostalgic to see armies of Apes smothered in war paint, riding on horseback and carrying weapons and at one point rounding up Humans into cages.
I loved tons of scenes throughout this film.
Like with the first film, there are many undertones of almost “racial” tension. Good and bad Apes, good and bad Humans… all with understandable reasons for their mindsets.
One thing though… ignore the trailers. The film resembles them very little and is similar to the first by using story to back up the action and set pieces. The trailers give totally the wrong idea of an all-out action fest with little substance.
Many of the characters are misrepresented in the trailers as well.
The use of a MacGuffin is also a bit cliché but it works and is utilised well without taking up too much of the storyline.
The acting is ramped up too for this one too.
Andy Serkis seems comfortable in the role of Caesar, though he was perfect in the first film, and he seems to have been given a much freer role too so he can add his own humour and emotion to the character. Serkis absolutely rocks this movie… and all from behind a blanket of CGI.
Jason Clarke as Malcolm, our leading Human, is also on top form. He’s streetwise, intelligent and full of charisma and makes the viewer feel calm when he’s around. Clarke is a brilliant leading man.
Gary Oldman is on top form too. He’s a guy who is a kind of Mayor for the Humans, who has little trust in Apes and is highly dubious as to what they’re up to.
He’s kind of a half-antagonist and has a heart, a man who has been placed in a position of power and the viewer can see and understand why he is the way he is. I loved Oldman in this role.
Tobi Kebbell is the new actor who plays Koba. Koba was seen in Rise but this time round he’s more of a General within the Apes’ forces (fighting, hunting etc) and is a stalwart but questionable friend of Caesar. Koba’s role within the story is also one of surprise.
Backup comes from Keri Russell and Kodi Smit-McPhee as Clarke’s missus and son respectfully… and from John Eyez, Enrique Murciano and Kirk Acevedo as Humans who work with Clarke’s character. Acevedo in particular has a small but pivotal role in the distrust between the Humans and Apes.
Again though, there are too-many-to-count mime artists and motion capture wizards to name but they’re all magnificently charismatic throughout. We do see more of Cornelia in this film though, which is a good thing.
The effects and action though… wow.
Ramped up in the CG stakes, the Apes and computer generated sets are awesome to look at, but nothing that goes OTT or Hollywood stupid.
We’re talking about physically athletic Apes using spears, horses and occasionally guns, and Humans using guns and occasionally tanks… and it’s all held together with a realistic tone and some lovely choreography.
The photography is also some of the best I’ve seen. There are a number of scenes that keep the heart racing, and the mind running to catch up and brings a sharp focus on who is involved within the fighting and lets the viewer get involved in the emotions of the action.
Review #232, Movie #303
Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes
Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes
Year Of Release
2014
Director/s
Matt Reeves
Producer/s
Director/s
Matt Reeves
Producer/s
Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver
Writer/s
Writer/s
Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Pierre Boulle
Cast
Cast
Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Kodi Smit-McPhee, John Eyez, Enrique Murciano, Kirk Acevedo
And Tobi Kebbell, Nick Thurston, Karin Konoval, Terry Notary, Doc Shaw and Andy Serkis
Notes And Trivia
Notes And Trivia
Rupert Wyatt, director of Rise, was attached to this film for a while until he felt bogged down with a release date that he deemed as too close. He subsequently left the project and then Matt Reeves, the man behind Cloverfield, was hired as a replacement director.
In taking on the project, Reeves hired Mark Bomback to do a rewrite of the script that was written by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (who were responsible for the script for Rise).
Bomback is responsible for crapfests like Race To Witch Mountain, Die Hard 4 and the 2012 remake of Total Recall. Yet for all his failures, Bomback delivered an absolutely bosting script for Dawn.
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Ten years after Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, Caesar and his group of Apes have laid the foundation of a home in the Muir Woods, just outside San Francisco.
They haven’t seen sight of a Human for many a year, and Caesar often ponders what happened to them.
When a small group of Men appear on the borders of the Apes’ home and kill one of the Apes, Caesar and the others are shocked and confused… even more so though, the Humans are taken aback by how intelligent and organised the Apes are, and the fact they can also talk…
… and a shaky and incredibly fragile peace treaty is eventually agreed upon between the two factions, as there is something near to the Apes’ home that the Humans need…
Review:
Oh. My. God.
I loved Rise. Rated it 100%. Shock and awe filled me with the first movie, and I was knocked backwards, sideways and every other way when I watched it.
Dawn… is no different.
An incredibly tight and twisting script and sequence of events, disparate character writing and very clever exposition threw me at almost every turn.
I had no idea what to expect from the film as it was playing out.
We’re treated this time round to a rounded character base within the Ape Group. Caesar and his family and the hierarchy and ranking within the entire Ape group, which is thrown into disarray and confusion with the arrival of the Humans.
The Human side of it all when they discover these intelligent Apes and the trials and tribulations of Human politics back at the Humans’ home.
Then there’s the mistrust between the two groups… each one not knowing what the other will do or what they’re planning.
All the while, Caesar and Malcolm (Clarke) are making a connection. A connection that is seemingly frowned upon by Humans and Apes alike.
You’re never really sure of a number of characters’ (both Human and Ape) alliances either. The exposition gives slight hints, but nothing that ever gives away what is actually going to happen. It’s very cleverly pieced together.
The good thing with this film too is that we meet the Apes first and we get to see and know their society. There’s no mixing it up and confusing the viewer.
And it’s fantastically nostalgic to see armies of Apes smothered in war paint, riding on horseback and carrying weapons and at one point rounding up Humans into cages.
I loved tons of scenes throughout this film.
Like with the first film, there are many undertones of almost “racial” tension. Good and bad Apes, good and bad Humans… all with understandable reasons for their mindsets.
One thing though… ignore the trailers. The film resembles them very little and is similar to the first by using story to back up the action and set pieces. The trailers give totally the wrong idea of an all-out action fest with little substance.
Many of the characters are misrepresented in the trailers as well.
The use of a MacGuffin is also a bit cliché but it works and is utilised well without taking up too much of the storyline.
The acting is ramped up too for this one too.
Andy Serkis seems comfortable in the role of Caesar, though he was perfect in the first film, and he seems to have been given a much freer role too so he can add his own humour and emotion to the character. Serkis absolutely rocks this movie… and all from behind a blanket of CGI.
Jason Clarke as Malcolm, our leading Human, is also on top form. He’s streetwise, intelligent and full of charisma and makes the viewer feel calm when he’s around. Clarke is a brilliant leading man.
Gary Oldman is on top form too. He’s a guy who is a kind of Mayor for the Humans, who has little trust in Apes and is highly dubious as to what they’re up to.
He’s kind of a half-antagonist and has a heart, a man who has been placed in a position of power and the viewer can see and understand why he is the way he is. I loved Oldman in this role.
Tobi Kebbell is the new actor who plays Koba. Koba was seen in Rise but this time round he’s more of a General within the Apes’ forces (fighting, hunting etc) and is a stalwart but questionable friend of Caesar. Koba’s role within the story is also one of surprise.
Backup comes from Keri Russell and Kodi Smit-McPhee as Clarke’s missus and son respectfully… and from John Eyez, Enrique Murciano and Kirk Acevedo as Humans who work with Clarke’s character. Acevedo in particular has a small but pivotal role in the distrust between the Humans and Apes.
Again though, there are too-many-to-count mime artists and motion capture wizards to name but they’re all magnificently charismatic throughout. We do see more of Cornelia in this film though, which is a good thing.
The effects and action though… wow.
Ramped up in the CG stakes, the Apes and computer generated sets are awesome to look at, but nothing that goes OTT or Hollywood stupid.
We’re talking about physically athletic Apes using spears, horses and occasionally guns, and Humans using guns and occasionally tanks… and it’s all held together with a realistic tone and some lovely choreography.
The photography is also some of the best I’ve seen. There are a number of scenes that keep the heart racing, and the mind running to catch up and brings a sharp focus on who is involved within the fighting and lets the viewer get involved in the emotions of the action.
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All in all, a rare example of a sequel bettering the lead up. Even though the lead up was fantastic.
Dawn gives all the fantasy thrills and spills a fan would want, and has a damned good story, screenplay and script to back it up.
Rise got 100% from me, and though Dawn is better, it’s not quite good enough for the magical 101% rating. It’s very, very close though.
My Rating: 100%
All in all, a rare example of a sequel bettering the lead up. Even though the lead up was fantastic.
Dawn gives all the fantasy thrills and spills a fan would want, and has a damned good story, screenplay and script to back it up.
Rise got 100% from me, and though Dawn is better, it’s not quite good enough for the magical 101% rating. It’s very, very close though.
My Rating: 100%
