Review: Dawn of the Planet of Apes (2014)

Don of the Summer Movies

Score:8/10

I was very eagerly waiting for this movie to come out after being spell bound by the last one. I am glad to say that this is even bigger and more beautiful. 

The movie starts with a brief introduction of the last movie so that even the first timers of the series won’t have troubles over connecting the dots. This movie takes place ten years later from where the last left off. Most of the human race is wiped off in Simian Flu while the survivors have gathered in a colony, in efforts to reach out the others who are alive in any part of the world. Electricity is running out, there is very little resources left. In order to start with the power problem they go out in the dense forests with plans of restoring the long lying unused dam for hydro-electricity. This is also where the Apes have established their home, living as a family and being by each other’s side in difficulties. It is then the clash begins and certain situational misunderstandings and betrayals take it to another level of twists and thrill. The director has done a fantastic job of keeping the audience engaged by keeping the Apes enraged. The music seems very familiar and thus conventional. It’s difficult to individualise it as a signature tone for any of the characters or even the movie. The acting has been top notch, particularly Andy Serkins who is now going to be known by this film among other fantastic characters that he has played. The cinematography looked enjoyable in few scenes like the time when the war begins with the tumbling horses ridden by the Apes and one other scene where an Ape called Koba rides a tank breaking the wall that served as human shield, though it is not picture perfect everywhere. But these technical flaws can easily be overlooked with the screenplay that balances emotions, drama, and action and thrills very well. It certainly leaves you with satisfaction and thus will serve as a great choice for the weekend.

I am certainly looking forward for the third one (it has strong clues of return), to understand what new magic trick will the director now pull out of his sleeves after raising the bar so high.