Review of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) by Mike D — 08 Aug 2015

A follow-up to 2011's reboot of a storied franchise, 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' takes a look at what would happen to society if a deadly virus wiped out nearly the entire human race, leaving an overgrown wasteland that is ripe for the taking by another species. As is the case in the aforementioned 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes,' the film takes place in San Francisco, and things kick off when a band of human survivors stumble upon a thriving colony of apes, led by none other than Caesar (Andy Serkis). The crux of the matter is, the human who've taken refuge in San Francisco want to reconfigure an old hydroelectric dam in order to restore power to the ruined city. As one might expect, this is easier said than done.

There are a great deal of things to like about 'Dawn.' For one, the animation of the apes is top-notch, as they almost appear as lifelike as the humans they star alongside. Additionally, the language invented for the apes is intricate and intelligently designed, and the constant subtitles are not off-putting in the least. On the human side of things, Jason Clarke delivers the standout performance of the film as Malcom, the fearless leader of the refugees who must keep his comrades under control when emotions run high. Gary Oldman does not disappoint, either, but Keri Russell resurfaces in a role that is not all that memorable.

While 'Dawn' is not an amazing cinematic experience, it does offer up enough high-energy scenes and keeps audiences entertained with a series of close calls and misinformation that swirls thanks to opportunists on both sides. Aside from the CGI and acting, the soundtrack that supports 'Dawn' is very fitting, and gives the film an extra boost. At 130 minutes, the runtime is not a major issue, but there are a few scenes that seem to drag on a bit.

'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' is one of the more understated sci-fi summer blockbusters of the past few years, but it's definitely worth a watch for the CGI and action alone.