Within a summer loaded with the typical blockbuster fare, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes took the reigning place as the best movie of the season. Although flicks such as Guardians of the Galaxy as well as Transformers: Age of Extinction earned more money over the summer season (294 million and 244 million, respectively), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (206 million) proved to be the thematic standout.
Set several years after the end of 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes, wherein the newly created intelligent faction of apes escapes into the wilds of California, Dawn takes the series into darker territory as the viewer finds the apes spread into a breathing civilization while, simultaneously, the human race declines sharply after a viral pandemic.
The story of the film, then, centers around a human colony’s struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic environment while squaring off against both its own demons as well as the demons of the forest: the apes. While neither side truly wishes to fight, the natural outcome of the confrontation between species results in bloodshed.
What made this movie stand out among a summer of entertaining (but vapid) films was its thematic depth. Centered around the idea of family, Dawn traces both ape and human stories to find a common theme of love struggling within the context of war. Issues of species-ism (racism) and familial estrangement both prevail over the context of conflict, allowing Dawn of the Planet of the Apes to succeed as a film based on more than just the merit of its CGI budget.
The importance of Dawn’s CGI budget, however, must not be understated because of its depiction of the lead ape protagonist, Caesar, who was played by famous motion-capture actor Andy Serkis. Serkis crafted the most realistic performance of the most unrealistic character in recent memory. In this writer’s opinion, Serkis should be nominated for a lead actor Oscar for his performance.
Although the film is now out of theaters, keep an eye out for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes on DVD or rental–you will not regret experiencing the film of the summer.
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