Director: Matt Reeves
Starring: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Tobi Kebbell.
Running Time: 131 mins.
There was an awful lot of pressure and expectation upon the release of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Rise of the Planet of the Apes was easily 2011's surprise package of the summer blockbuster season, a season which also saw the release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Thor and Captain America. Whilst commercially, the film didn't quite hit the heights of the above mentioned films, critically, however it was one of the better reviewed films of the summer, surprising critics and filmgoers alike. The, inevitable, sequel would therefore come under tremendous pressure. Can the film compete financially with the big boys of Hollywood in a season dominated by superheroes and giant robots, whilst still keeping characterization and storytelling at its heart?
Boy does it!
DOTPOTA takes place 10 years after ROTPOTA (still with me?). After escaping into the giant redwoods of Muir Woods, the apes, led and governed by Caesar (brilliantly portrayed, again through motion-capture technology, by Andy Serkis), have created a community in the heart of the forest. They have not had an encounter with humanity for 2 years, and are presumed extinct.
Humanity has collapsed and has become close to extinction due to the outbreak of the ALZ-113 virus (or Simian Flu), with only a small number of survivors holding up in San Francisco, led by Malcolm (Jason Clarke), sporting a hat Alan Grant would be proud of, and Dreyfuss (Gary Oldman), however after a chance encounter and panic reaction, the two species are at loggerheads once again. Not good news for the surviving humans who need the apes help in order to restore energy supplies to their settlement.
It would be impossible to review the film without mentioning the special effects which are stunning. The motion capture technology is put to superb use, and through the performances of Serkis and, a brilliantly brutal and menacing Toby Kebbell, as Koba, right hand man to Caesar, every emotion is crystal clear. It's a refreshing change for a summer blockbuster film to not only feature jaw-dropping special effects, but to include them in a way that develop characters and add emotional depth rather than just because they look cool.
Not only just, but it's the attention to detail that adds the visual spectacle to the film. The scenes of a desolate San Francisco being overran by primates (note the slightly more subtle reference back to the 1968 original, rather than Tom Felton's more-than-direct wink to the camera in ROTPOTA) is a magnificent highlight.
If there are any gripes to be had, and there are few, with the film is the that final 25 minutes aren't quite as exciting and exhilarating as they were last time out. The tension between the two species built up throughout the film doesn't quite hit the heights as its predecessor. The human characters also feel like they are there because they have to be just to move the film along, narratively. The straining relationship between Ceasar and Koba is far more interesting that the conflicting Malcolm and Dreyfuss, both representing two sides of humanity, however this is completely understandable. The film is all about the apes. This is a film not about the extinction of humanity, but a film about the uprising of the apes. With another sequel penned for a 2016 release, this film perfectly sets up what is sure to be massive. "War is coming..." warns Caesar, and we can't wait!
Verdict: Picking up where Rise of the Planet of the Apes left off, the film offers a master class in what is possible with special effects, both action and character wise. It is the summer blockbuster to beat this year, and whilst it may not be as commercially successful as some, it certainly packs a meaner narrative and character punch. We’ll stick to Optimus Primate over Optimus Prime any day of the week.
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