This Dawn of the Planet of the Apes review is special moment for me. The film is the sequel to 2011’s Rise of the Planet Apes which happens to be the first movie I ever reviewed. And I really liked it. So how does the next installment in the monkey vs human saga stack up? I’m happy to report that director Matt Reeves knocks it out of the park.
We pick up the story ten years after Rise in a world where the human population has greatly diminished due to a virus known as ‘Simian Flu’. Meanwhile leader of the ape uprising Caesar has carved out a nice living along with his monkey pals in the forests outside San Francisco. Life is good for the primate tribe until a chance meeting with a group of humans sends them on a collision course with us hairless losers.
The best aspect of Rise was the strong characterisation of Caesar who went from cute, anthropomorphic, intelligent chimp to proud, aggressive, independent leader of the ape uprising. The writers of Dawn realise he was what made the film so successful so focus on how the slightly older Caesar lives the idyllic dream of monkey-kind hanging out peacefully. The apes’ home in the forest is beautifully designed, it’s peaceful and tribal and just feels right. The children are taught by a big friendly orangutan called Maurice while Caesar leads hunting parties with his right-hand ape Koba. I actually wanted to move in right away.
Instead I would be stuck with the humans in a derelict, overgrown San Francisco which takes it’s visual cues from the excellent PS3 game The Last of Us. Power is running low there and desperation is starting to set in. The only hope is a dam which could provide electricity but its in ape territory. Can man and monkey put aside their differences and co-exist peacefully or will human nature take its course and end in war?
Luckily for us its the second outcome. Which is great if, like me, the sight of a chimpanzee riding a horse into battle makes you immediately punch the air with excitement. This is primarily an action flick and the action that comes is beautifully choreographed. I’ve written before about my fear of monkeys so seeing a full battalion of the banana munching primates go apeshit and attack with deadly force is both horrifying and exhilarating.
Despite all of the frenetic violence its the characters that kept me hooked. No, not the humans, they’re fine with a likeable performance from Jason Clarke as the hero of our species. No its the apes that grab you emotionally. Caesar is once again captured perfectly by Andy Serkis (when is this man going to get an acting award?) while Koba (Toby Kebbell) is an absolutely terrifying bonobo with a grudge (never thought I would write a sentence like that!). You’ll be hooked as misunderstandings and mistakes lead to aggression on a grand scale.
There is a message in the film but its a pretty grim one about the nature of states and how war can come from the smallest disagreements and how trust is a fragile part of any peaceful society. Its effectively conveyed by the director, writers, and actors coupled with a kickass score from Michael Giacchino. There won’t be many surprises but then that may just be a comment on the inevitability of conflict. And if you don’t care about all that socio-polotical shoegazing then I’ll point you again to the important bit – damn dirty apes riding horses while firing machineguns. In the immortal words of Gwen Stefani “this shit is bananas”.
8/10
Screenkicker Quality Index (SQI)
BEST
Screenkicker! 
Excellent review man. Heard a lot of really positive things about this. Hopefully going to see it tomorrow, can’t wait!
Adam.
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I think you’ll really like it, i thought it was great
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You know, I totally forgot to mention the score in my review. It was really excellent, like Giacchino always is. The xylophones were perfect.
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Yeah, the xylophones really took me back to the old films. I love all of that kind of cool shit!
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I’m going to see it again and bring my own xylophone to play along.
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No – ape not kill music
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Could you get a bigger disparity in quality between your SQI Best and Worst today Mikey?? lol!
THis was such an excellent adventure man, I LOVED it! Caesar is rising quickly to the top of my favorite characters — ever. He is truly stunning, and that line he says towards the end “My friend,” damn I almost lost it there!
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Haha, yeah the SQI was going to be ape films but i could onl think of Dunston Checks In and the baseball one with Matt LeBlanc!
I had a tear in my eye at that part too! Can’t wait to see it again
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I always thought this franchise was about the Irish…. no??
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And it leads to us taking over the world. You’ll be my personal slave. My Reek
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Reek belongs to Cara Gale.
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Good review. It’s a very exciting blockbuster, but also has plenty of heart and emotion added to the proceedings as well. You know, just for that extra oomph.
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Thanks mate, I was entertained from start to finish
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I saw this last night and it was all the awesome.
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Damn straight!
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Great review Mikey. Loved the bit about The Last of Us. I’ve never played that game but from what I have seen it does look like it! All in all, I believe we are looking at the best blockbuster of the summer, and one of the better films of the year so far.
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Thanks, I think this ties with Edge of Tomorrow as my favourite big summer movie. You should check out The Last of Us, it’s a beautiful game.
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Great review, dude! I want to see this, but I don’t know if any of my friends do…
Might have to go solo for this one. Sounds like it’s worth it!
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Get new friends! I think you’ll love it
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Can’t get enough of the SQIs!
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Haha I spend more time picking the SQI than reviewing the film!
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time well spent!
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This isn’t really a movie that I care much about, but it does sound like fun!
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Surely you care about chimps on horseback! 🙂
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Nice review Mikey, I wasn’t going to bother with this at first even though I liked Rise… but I’ve read a few very good reviews including yours and my mind has been changed. Will try and catch it before it goes from cinemas.
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Thanks Stu. Hope you like it as much as I did
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Great review. Hoping to see this over the weekend! This weekend bombed AGAIN. 😦
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Poor Zoe! Hope this weekend is better 🙂
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I am really going to do my nut if I miss this one 😦
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B a n a n a s
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I just lost respect for a buddy of mine. He sent a text my way saying that Purge was excellent (have not seen it yet) and followed it by claiming that he also caught Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Now, I feel that he was lying because he said that he was not a fan. HOW IS HE NOT A FAN? THAT SHIT IS BANANAS!
Great review as usual dude! Loved the Last of Us comparison! And laughed at your fear of monkeys! I used to dream of owning one when I was later…
…Years later, I heard about a woman who got her face ripped off by her pet monkey. **** THAT.
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Great review, Mike! Stop agreeing with me, dammit!
This was awesome. Loved it!!! STILL trying to decide if it gets 2nd or 3rd place on my 2014 list. Hmm……… (It’s between this & Her) : )
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Her is definitely in my top 5 so far. It brought a tear to my eye at the end. I’m shit with time perception, I can never remember which year a film came out!
And we’ll always agree. You complete me!
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It was 2013 in the US & 2014 here. Like my number one. So I’m cheating. ; )
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Great Review Mike. Apart from its few shortfalls, namely the rather unimaginative story, I thought Dawn was absolutely stunning. CGI Visuals used for character instead of just dazzle, AT LAST!!
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Cheers mate. It made me want to go live with apes!
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Had to bookmark the reviews again. Only just saw the film.
Great review. The film is an excellent visual and conceptual improvement of the first and that’s impressive in its own right. And Andy Serkis retains his Title as the master of motion capture.
“Apes. Together. Strong.”
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Think this is one of my favourite reviews. I just saw the film and loved it. You did good!
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Thanks Rara! Glad you liked it 🙂
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Great film. Even better review! Love how this was your first review and now your back with the sequel. May the blog and the POA franchise grow and grow.
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Also love my poor grammar / grammer no wonder I’m won of you’re staff writers
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You’re a pity project. I’m trying to train you in the art of eloquence
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The art of eloquence – sounds like a movie starring Richard Gere. A movie I would likely enjoy.
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How did they manage to make Caesar sexy? Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about!
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Youre into scruffy hairy men who live in the woods. Weirdo
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Totally with you girl.
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I’m slightly scared of you guys!
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The art of eloquence stars Richard Gere as senator Tom Watts – a powerful man with a dark secret. Inquisitive Washington Post journalist, Rett Chilver (Chris Pine) is on the verge of breaking the biggest story of his career – but will bring him down before it brings down the senator.
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Write me a two page treatment and I’ll start costing and set up a meeting with Gere and Pine. Let’s do business!
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Nice review and this film is so entertaining, must watch.
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Thanks Ayush, I can’t wait to see it again!
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