This year the highest
rated show on television is a bleak tale depicting the aftermath of a
zombie apocalypse. If there is any justice in the world then Dawn of
the Planet of the Apes, which depicts an alternative dystopian future, will be awarded the cinematic version of The
Walking Dead's television crown, because it's the best
movie you'll likely see in 2014.
Set 10 years after Rise
of the Planet of the Apes, 'Dawn' introduces us to a time when the
ALZ-113 virus has wiped out billions of humans, leaving just a few
thousand struggling for survival. Under the rule of Caeser the apes
have continued to evolve and thrive. An incident leads to the threat
of war between the two sides, this then plays out in the spectacular
final third of the movie.
Matt Reeves presents
some amazingly powerful action sequences amongst a huge brooding
scope complete that has moments of really claustrophobic tension.
From the opening extreme close-up of Caeser, 'Dawn' will draw you in,
and will stay with you long after the credits have rolled. If you are
not moved by some of the performances in this movie then you really
need to check your pulse.
Andy Serkis deserves
all the accolade he will surely get for his motion captured
performance as Caeser. Yes, the CGI is mind blowing, but it's the
characteristic of Serkis' performance that shines through. I know the
Academy can be a strange bunch but if he doesn't get a Best Actor
nod for this then I'll be very surprised.
I couldn't help but
think of the recent Transformers movies and compare the two
franchises. Michael Bay chooses to focus his stories and emotional
connections on the humans, who often prove very difficult to like,
and this is why the Transformers films fail to deliver - we didn't
pay to watch people, we paid to watch the Transformers in the title.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, gives us exactly what the title
infers. We the audience feel as much of a genuine connection to
Caeser and the apes as we do with the on screen human actors.
The 130 minutes just
flew by, 'Dawn' is perfectly weighted throughout and never once
drags. In many ways it does feel like the middle chapter of a trilogy
– I mean that in no bad way at all, think of this as The Empire
Strikes Back of 'Apes' films. Nothing in the movie feels unnecessary,
it is perfectly edited and you doesn't leave you longing for a
Director's Cut to further explore any areas.
All round, Dawn of the
Planet of the Apes is as close to perfection as any science fiction movie of it's kind could be. A 10 out
of 10 experience as far as I'm concerned.
Quite simply the best film of 2014 so far.
