by Melissa Antoinette Garza
I was a huge fan of Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) and anxiously awaited the sequel. I awaited for three years and when the first teaser trailer for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes came out, I was a bit disappointed. It just seemed as though they were going for the most predictable angle. At the end of the first it was shown that a virus was spreading through humankind, no doubt leading to the at least near extinction of man. There was two ways the movie could go. (1) the predictable angle of a small percentage of people surviving and fighting against the apes OR (2) the more enjoyable predictable angle of all humanity being dead and the apes having their own functional society and political system established.
It instead went with a mix-mesh of both angles. Starting with the positive, I did enjoy Caesar’s (Andy Serkis) relationship with the other apes and the showing of his compassion for humans. Likewise, I enjoyed Koba’s (Toby Kebbell) transition from sympathetic victim of scientific testing to rival of the human race and eventually Caesar.
My issue was with how generic the story was and how empty and unexplored the philosophy of the Apes was. Other than the basic, “thou shalt not kill” there was nothing else stated about the belief system of the Apes. They obviously condone a Monarch society with Caesar and Koba fighting to reign as King.
The story follows a group of humans immune to the virus going into the deep forest to find a broken dam and to repair an energy source to have electricity in their society once again. They come across the Apes. The humans learn that there is an ape race who can speak and is far more advanced than any other animal, and the apes learn that not all humans were killed by the virus.
In both the ape society and in humanity, idiots who ruin the peace attempted to be formed are to blame for war. Though Caesar and most of the humans in the rebuilding party want peace, apes like Koba and Caesar’s son Blue Eyes (Nick Thurston) distrust the human race. Koba in fact hates them as he only recalls the torture he endured at their hands.
Some of the humans want to destroy the apes as well. The worst of the bunch is Carver (Kirk Acevedo) a hot headed idiot who blames the apes for the virus that destroyed the humans. Even though, it was caused by testing a medication to cure Alzheimer’s Disease on the apes which spread and killed everyone.
Even though forewarned by the Apes not to bring guns into the forest, he breaks the rules and of course is found out, which only heightens the worry of Blue Eyes and the contempt of Koba.
Overall, it was just too predictable. The effects were great, though barely any scenes were in 3D. I would highly suggest if one wants to see it, don’t pay for the 3D tickets. In all honesty, I’d say wait for Redbox.
What is sad is that I really thought I was going to be blown away by this. It would have been so great had they delved into the political structure and philosophical beliefs of the Apes rather than just a typical Apes vs. Humans film.
The original Planet of the Apes (1968) established not only the belief system, but those within it who were attempting to hide the truth. I understood that Rise was a prequel to the Apes establishing a society, but I was certain the comes the next movie, we’d be there. Instead, this was a money=grabber which wouldn’t be so hard to swallow if it wasn’t 3 years in the making. Had it come out in 2012, I would’ve understood, but this took a long time to make and in the end was nothing more than a lead-up to what this film should have been.
Plot aside, the acting was fine, the characters though common were believable and for a film that is two hours long, it did go by rather quickly, but that doesn’t make it a great movie. I wouldn’t watch it again, but it is superior to a lot of the junk that is released nowadays. For example, I’d watch this before ever seeing the Michael Bay Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or a Transformers film. For those movies, there is no hope. For the Apes, I still hold out that the third will be more than just a war movie between Apes and Humans. I’d much rather a 15 minute prologue explaining how the Apes won and begin with the forming of their belief system. I just want an intelligent movie that really challenges the way we think as the first did, rather than just an emotional drama where the Apes could easily be exchanged with an invading nation.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7/10
