Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - Movie Review

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Review by Ryan Davidson

Score: 9.5/10

I really love this movie. There's not much more I need to say. Caesar's story is one of the most interesting stories I've ever seen, and his character development is a prime example of how characters should be done. In a world with a lot of sequels, this one seems necessary. Without context to the first film, we lack the personal connection to Caesar as a character, and I assume that will continue on to the third and final chapter. This story needs three movies to be told, and that doesn't bother me in the slightest. Andy Serkis turns in an Oscar-worthy performance (although he will never get nominated), and Caesar continues to be one of my all time favorite characters. Dawn is yet another example of the second installment being better than the first, as it's the Empire Strikes Back to Rise's A New Hope. The action is minimal, as it's a deep story about humanity and explores what it means to be human. This is a must see movie, if not for the amazing story, for the superb visual effects. There are moments when it is unclear whether you are looking at a real ape or a CGI ape (I am convinced they used real apes for certain shots, but who knows, it could all be CGI). It's very seamless between the live action and the special effects, creating characters that feel real even though they aren't. I recommend this whole heartedly, but only after you've seen Rise of the Planet of the Apes.