Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Composite Score: 83.1
Starring: Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Andy Serkis, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jason Clarke, Toby Kebbell, Kirk Acevedo, and Nick Thurston
Director: Matt Reeves
Writers: Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver
Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief strong language
Box Office: $710.64 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the second film in the prequel trilogy in the Planet of the Apes saga, taking place ten years after the events of Rise of the Planet of the Apes when the world’s human population has been ravaged by the Simian Flu and the apes have begun to establish a more organized community in the forests of the world. The film focuses on the interactions between Caesar’s tribe of apes and a colony of human survivors who have take refuge in San Francisco and are seeking to utilize a dam in the apes’ territory to maintain power in their colony. It is a thrilling action film that engages with themes of xenophobia, warmongering, and the struggle to survive on its way to becoming an instant classic.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
I’m not fully sold on Gary Oldman’s third act pivot from sad, wary leader of the humans to self-destructive C4 using cult leader, but perhaps that was the point the film wanted to make about the corruptive nature of conflict and xenophobia. For me, the shift felt more reactionary (and also not overly impactful to the overall story) than well-developed. The film already had a strong antagonist, it didn’t really feel like it needed a secondary one, and if they did really want one, Gary Oldman’s character doesn’t feel like the most obvious or even the best choice out of the options that they had to go with. It’s a fairly minor quibble, but I feel that the film could have been even better if they had just stuck with the Koba vs. Caesar conflict without having to throw extras into it.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
Firstly, the visuals in Dawn hold up really well even eight years later. The motion capture work done by Andy Serkis as Caesar and Toby Kebbell as Koba is phenomenal in establishing the two apes as primary characters in this film. Textures still look realistic, and there’s not really any place where I felt more like I was watching video game cutscenes than a film – a testament to the work that went into making this film happen.
I think the film’s story also has helped it remain among the greats. It doesn’t settle for just being a fun action movie about apes fighting humans or apes fighting apes; it makes sure to include relevant discussion of issues like xenophobia and warmongering and use of resources in order to make an impact even as it retains the status of blockbuster. The apes’ fear of the humans and the humans’ fear of the apes leads them to conflict and mutual destruction, showcasing the damage that can be done when we choose to fear each other rather than understand each other. The compounding of xenophobia by warmongering leaders (Koba in this film) serves as a societal reminder and an important critique of the ways that we so often let misinformation and manipulation by those in power drive us to drastic measures, especially when they say things that we agree with/we want to hear/fit our view of the world. There is an important reminder to check those in power and engage everything we hear with facts and critical thinking at the heart of Dawn that has become perhaps even more important now than it was in 2014.
Excellent visuals that continue to hold up and themes that remain increasingly relevant for modern audiences have helped to make Dawn of the Planet of the Apes into one of the Greatest Films of All Time. A questionable choice in character development in the third act is not enough to knock this film down in my book and certainly doesn’t detract much from its rewatchability if that’s something you’re worried about. This film is currently available to rent on most streaming platforms if you are looking to watch it again or check it out for the first time.
