Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Review: Shakespeare of the Apes

Apes with attitude in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

A

A review by Frederick Cholowski

See summer blockbusters can have souls as well. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the second film in the freshly rebooted Planet of the Apes saga proves that summer blockbusters don’t have to be a ton of flash with little to no substance. It’s a film of characters, emotional devastation, and sci-fi allegory first and action film second. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a success on nearly every level and after a dud of a film dominating multiplexes for the last two weeks, a welcome rejuvenation.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes picks up an unspecified time after Rise, with the virus introduced at the end of the previous film having wiped out almost all of human society. The apes led by their compassionate leader Ceasar (Andy Serkis) are doing just fine in these primitive conditions having created a peaceful society in a forest after the events of the first films. All seems to be going ok until a society of humans led by Malcolm (Jason Clarke) and Dreyfus (Gary Oldman) run into the apes and the two societies clash. Both seem to see the worst in each other and seem to want nothing to do with one another. But when the human colony requires the use of a dam to try and extend their power, the apes and humans have to try to work together which disturbs certain members of each society especially the warring ape Koba (Toby Kebbell) who despises humans and even considers an uprising agains Cesar to rid of all association with them.

The plot of Dawn plays out in the style of a Shakespeare tragedy. All the characters presented in the film, especially the apes, are all set up as fascinating and complex figures from the film’s opening frame providing a great backdrop for the action to unfold. The film also takes its time to set up all the different conflicts before the inevitable clash, letting the characters and the world take centre stage in order to make all the events at the end of the film cary extraordinary weight. 

That being said it’s not as if the film is devoid of action. Cloverfield director Matt Reves really stretches his chops throughout the course of this one providing one beautifully framed sequence to another. Reves uses long sweeping takes to accentuate the action and create a beautiful almost detached look to the film. While the film features many chaotic action sequences the direction decides to keep the camera movement big and calm allowing for a coherent and beautiful experience.

The CGI in this film also adds to this gorgeous experience. The apes in this film look amazing and almost humanlike throughout the film. The biggest compliment that I can give is that the facials and eyes of the apes managed to bring me into the experience even more. I believed that these apes could exist and emote in these ways. It never looked silly and never pulled me out of the experience and it allowed me to actually relate to these apes almost as if they were humans.

Not enough can be said about the amazing work of Andy Serkis. Sure he is represented by a CGI figure but that doesn’t make the performance any less extraordinary. Serkis really makes Ceasar as close to human as an ape character could possibly be as well as a great tragic figure. None of the other performances are nearly as extraordinary but they all serve their purposes very well and don’t necessarily have to be, Oldman is there to deliver big time speeches and dramatic moments, Clarke is there to be a relatable human character, and the CGIed up Kebbell provides the perfect villain. All the performances really centre around Serkis’ work though and the film is better for it.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the perhaps the best that 2014’s blockbuster crop has provided so far. The film puts characters and world building first and allows its elements to sizzle before anything boils. The film is also just an example of good science fiction filmmaking, great direction, a well put together allegory that can make you think and some great action. It’s a near great film and a reminder that despite a few duds the summer of 2014 has been memorable in good ways.