Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

*****
UK Release Date: July 17th 2014

In the wake of a disaster that changed the world, the growing and genetically evolving apes find themselves at a critical point with the human race.

Director: Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In)

Starring: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell

10 years have passed since the events inRise. The virus that made apes intelligent has decimated the human population.

A group of apes led by Caesar (Andy Serkis) have built a settlement on the edges of San Francisco. They are aware that humans live in the city, but have no desire to interact with them.

In the heart of the city, the remaining survivors are running low on resources and must find a way to get the city's power back up. In order for that to happen, a small group led by Malcolm (Jason Clarke) must enter Caesar's territory.

Peace is fragile, and both sides have everything to gain, and so much to lose. We spend just as much time with the apes as we do the humans. There's no good vs. evil, only two factions trying their best to get along. Well, most of them try...

Koba, second in command to Caesar, is the apes' dark horse, whilst Drefus (Gary Oldman), the rallying leader of the humans, will do anything he can to save them, even if it costs them dearly.

Now the greatest aspect of Dawn is how heartfelt and emotional it can be. For a film that's up to its eyeballs in CGI, it's absolutely gob-smacking how easy it is to relate to the apes. From the guys at Weta studios to the staff who design the creatures from scratch, you can't help but focus on the small details, like how coarse their hair is, or the different expressions on their faces. Dawn goes to show that CGI can be used wisely.

Dawn keeps you on tenterhooks until the very end. You know there's going to be an all out war sooner or later, but the build up to it is the best part. The unrest within both races is felt throughout, and when the (spoiler) battle finally arrives, it's hard to digest as we can't separate our feelings for them both.  

One standout set piece has a camera attached to the turret of a tank, just after an ape has taken control of it. The turret spins continuously and we are in the thick of the battle with him. This is blockbuster cinema at its most powerful.

Rise gave us a fresh intake of a legendary saga that started over 35 years ago. Dawn has pushed the envelope further by introducing the struggle between man and ape. It will be interesting to see what direction the untitled  third film will take, whether it falls in line with the original, or takes its own path. Either way, I can't wait.