Taking place approximately ten years after its predecessor, Matt Reeves' Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a unique and touching tale that is filled with as much social commentary as it is action. And though the film offers up a sluggish first ten minutes, it ultimately sets the stage for one of the smartest and most inspiring summer blockbusters of the year.
While the visuals are sure to get your attention, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is truly much more. A sci-fi adventure at the onset, the film proves to be a character driven work of art that transforms into a full blown thriller by story's end. And though it takes some time to get there, Reeves ultimately shows that, no matter the species, power (and control) is contagious.
Production was amped up with this second installment, especially in regard to special effects. The team tackled more apes, more explosions, and some killer angles that helped keep the audience engaged during the otherwise mundane, slightly dragging moments that are eventually proven required in order to make the film's overall point.
Gone are James Franco and Freida Pinto -- they were ground zero. Now, Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, Gary Oldman and Kodi Smit-McPhee are in charge, leading a group of survivors who must work to strike a truce with the genetically evolved apes in hopes for access to the damn that lies in their forrest. That truce is fragile and short lived, ultimately bringing both sides to the brink of war, one that will determine which species stands Earth supreme.
The new cast members, forced to come in and make an impression, don't disappoint. Each crafts their character with careful intimacy, challenging that of Andy Serkis' Ceasar as they give viewers a human to root for. It isn't perfect, and that is okay. The detail that is present allows a connection that takes us into the story and onto the frontline as our species fights for survival.
Though you might think that things were a bit silly when recounting the events that lead to the battle, you can't deny that director Matt Reeves knows how to pack a punch when necessary. His scenes of masses of apes swinging through treetops and swarming the survivors' home in San Francisco are nothing short or brilliant. Not to mention his ability to transition between the substance and filler -- keeping his viewers' eye on the prize while refusing to show all of his cards at once.
A splendid film that features a stellar cast and an intriguing story, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is worth your time, money and attention, there is really no other way about it.
