This week at the movies, there’s only one movie debuting nationwide—after all, would anyone dare to take on the 500-pound gorilla that is the blockbuster of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes? Didn’t think so.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
The sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the reboot of the Planet of the Apes series made in the sixties, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes finds humans and the genetically advanced apes at a standoff ten years after a virus has wiped out much of humanity. The apes are led by Caesar (shades of Shakespeare), but factions inside his army split off and rally against Dreyfus’s (Gary Oldman) human army in a war that will determine who controls the planet. Jason Clarke (of Zero Dark Thirty fame) plays Malcolm, a sympathetic human who tries to negotiate peace between the two sides. Also starring Keri Russell, and Andy Serkis as Caesar (you might recognize him as Gollum in Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit).
Perfect For: Fans of the first movie and those of you who enjoy mega blockbuster Hollywood entertainment.
What the Critics Say: In a surprise twist, it’s getting extremely good reviews from all the major papers (Rotten Tomato rating is at 91 percent). Most of the critics say that it’s even better than the first movie. Says Time magazine: “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, while not nearly the masterpiece proclaimed by many critics, is certainly a fascinating cross-species: a big-budget summer action fantasy with a sylvan, indie-film vibe, and a war movie that dares ask its audience to root for the peacemakers.”
The Hollywood Reporter has high praise for Serkis, in particular: “Whatever anyone might think about the film as a whole, there is no question that Andy Serkis gives the most expressive, soulful, deeply felt performance of a non-human character the big screen has ever offered as the mature Caesar.” Writes the New York Times: “In other words, it’s a satisfying movie and an example — a dispiritingly rare one these days — of what mainstream Hollywood filmmaking can still achieve.”
Our Take: Despite the fact that the CGI apes creep us out, it might actually be a decent movie. Popcorn time!
Check Out the Movie Trailer:
