La planète des singes : L'affrontement

"I always think... ape better than human. I see now... how much like them we are."

After the magnificent "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" from 2011, Caesar the legendary ape who started the revolution for his species, can show up again in this sequel. It's 10 years later and the world has been decimated thanks to the Simian virus. This flu originated from a genetically engineered virus and ensured that the apes became systematically wiser. The magisterial beginning shows Caesar in close-up and from there it's a run-up to an amazing first 20 minutes in which no human is seen and we witness the ins and outs of the apes commune, who communicate by use of a kind of sign language. They have retreated into a mountainous forest near San Francisco, where they have formed a primitive society with Caesar as the absolute leader. They lead a peaceful existence, not aware of the fact that humanity has survived the pandemic. Until such underdeveloped biped turns up one day and immediately shoots an ape at first sight. And that's the beginning of a very interesting struggle for power between two different cultures with survival instinct, self-preservation and demarcating the territory as a central issue. Eventually you start to wonder who really are the primates.

Is it necessary to see this movie in less than no time because of the original story with surprising twists? Nope, not at all. It's not really that exciting and even a normal chimpanzee can predict the outcome. But, it's the amazing design of the apes and the sometimes real human actions and emotional traits that they show. Probably the fact that the actors are "motion captured" has something to do with it, but it's still breathtaking to watch. At certain moments the CGI wasn't quite correct. Especially the fragments of the horse riding apes. You can notice sometimes that these were computer animations. But that's really nitpicking. The Most part looked lifelike and one can only conclude that the authentic episodes of "Planet of the Apes" from the 60's were irrefutable populated by costumed actors.

The final confrontation between humans and apes, with Caesar, again played by Andy Serkis (who formerly also performed as Gollum in TLotR), and Malcolm (Jason Clarke) as the two righteous leaders of the two parties, is of course inevitable. Clearly a socio-political theme was ingeniously woven throughout the cheap, ordinary Hollywood entertainment. The mutual distrust with revenge as the cause for the sneaky tricks and treachery. One group is angry because the apes are supposedly the origin of the extermination of mankind. The other group is unnerved by the years of abuse in laboratories and a doomed life in captivity. The result, of course is a clash with also some internal feuds and conflicts.

Unfortunately after several memorable and downright masterful film clips, we're treated with some ordinary, cheap action movie scenes. A kind of "Expendables meets The A-Team" with heroically swinging of automatic rifles, rockets whizzing around the ears as if the third world war just began and even a tank broke loose. Next to that a big can of sentimentality is pulled open quickly leading to an engaging conversation between Caesar and his son. And then the curtain falls across this magnificent epos with a picture of a real Messiah who parades among his followers. An open end that yearns for an overwhelming third part. But beyond this kitschy final offensive you can admire a few cinematic gems like the appearing of the apes colony in the big city, where they speak to the crowd in an admonishing tone. You could feel the consternation of the crowd after hearing the first words of Caesar. And also the magnificent mimicry Koba used at one time to deceive two armed men. A moment where CGI and facial expressions blend effortlessly. Yes, that's the reason why you should watch this movie.

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As someone who really enjoyed Rise of the Planet of the Apes, expectations were high for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. And apart from a rushed ending and the underdeveloped human characters Dawn of the Planet of the Apes didn't disappoint and is just as good. It looks amazing for starters, the cinematography and lighting are of great beauty and atmosphere and the scenery is equally striking. But the visual highlight, and most likely the best thing about the film, are the special effects for the apes, that they look so real and that it's hard to believe they were done by computer is testament to how good they look. The soundtrack is haunting and rousing with no dirge-like tempos and it doesn't feel overbearing either, even with sound with as much authenticity as here. The script also impresses, it's very intelligently done and has a lot of tension and heart. What impressed even more was how simple and nuanced some of it was, like when the apes speak they only need to say a few words and it still feels like it's saying a lot, a couple of times even a sideways glance brings more impact than you'd think. The story takes a bigger and somewhat bolder approach than Rise of the Planet of the Apes and this is an instance of it working very well, especially with the visceral action sequences which are very tense and look terrific and in the incredibly intense and emotional final act. It's compelling stuff where you feel compassion for and identify with every step of the way with Caesar and his family. Matt Reeves' direction doesn't make the mistake of being overblown or lethargic, there is at least a sense that he knows what he's doing. The acting is solid, Jason Clarke and Keri Russell are charming leads and Gary Oldman while criminally underused still gives a spirited performances. But other than the special effects the other highlight is the characterisation of the apes, which is just superb especially for Caesar(who is by far and way the most relatable and most compelling character in the entire film), Andy Serkis never fails to amaze me. All in all a really well done blockbuster, although the human characters do not register anywhere near as well as the special effects and the apes characterisations. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is at the same time a great Planet of the Apes movie and a terrific science fiction movie. The way speech is brought upon in the movie is amazing and really brings a lot of reality to something so out of the box. The tension is palpable through the whole movie and there's never a dull moment.

9.5 Sequels often carry the heavy burden of expectations, and few films manage to meet these expectations, let alone surpass them. However, "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" not only meets the criteria of a great sequel but exceeds them in remarkable ways. This cinematic gem, directed by Matt Reeves, expertly continues the story set in motion by its predecessor, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." What sets "Dawn" apart is its intelligent storytelling, superb character development, and breathtaking visual effects, which collectively elevate it to the ranks of cinematic excellence.

One of the most commendable aspects of "Dawn" is its strategic decision to shift the focus primarily onto the apes. While the human characters in "Rise" were not inherently flawed, they felt somewhat generic, lacking the depth and nuance needed to fully engage the audience. "Dawn" rectifies this flaw by wisely sidelining most of the human characters from "Rise" and bringing the apes to the forefront. This shift not only provides a fresh perspective but also allows for a more profound exploration of the ape society, their emotions, and their struggles.

What truly distinguishes "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" is its thematic depth. The film seamlessly weaves together complex themes, including survival, leadership, prejudice, and the consequences of human actions on the environment. These themes are not merely brushed upon but are deeply embedded in the narrative, prompting viewers to reflect on the intricacies of human nature and the choices we make as a species. The movie's ability to tackle such weighty themes with finesse is a testament to the skillful craftsmanship of the filmmakers.

Furthermore, the film boasts some of the most impressive visual effects ever witnessed on the big screen. The seamless integration of motion capture technology to bring the apes to life is nothing short of astonishing. Every nuance of emotion, every subtle facial expression is captured with remarkable accuracy, making the audience forget that they are watching CGI creations and instead, empathize deeply with the characters. In particular, the performances of Andy Serkis as Caesar and Toby Kebbell as Koba are nothing short of masterful. Their ability to infuse these digital creations with genuine emotions and humanity is a testament to their acting prowess.

The brilliance of "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" is not confined to its individual success alone but extends to its impact on the franchise as a whole. The film, along with its subsequent sequel, "War for the Planet of the Apes," revitalized the franchise, breathing new life into a classic series. This resurgence catapulted the "Planet of the Apes" franchise into my personal top 10 list of all time. In conclusion, "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" stands as a shining example of what a sequel should aspire to be. It delves deep into its characters, explores profound themes, and dazzles the audience with its visual splendor. This film is a testament to the power of storytelling and the limitless possibilities of cinema, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of viewers, myself included.

Matt Reeves took over directing duties from Rupert Wyatt, for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes along with the third installment titled "War". What to say about his direction and visual storytelling? It's superb and he was rightfully chosen for this franchise. The screenplay is once again written by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, but Mark Bomback joins them. The writing is smart and it's been both directed and written with intelligence, wanting to put research first instead of imagination first. The themes they bring up, from the script and how Matt Reeves brought that to the screen. The story and all the characters, new and old, are so rich. It stars Andy Serkis as Caesar and alongside him are a brilliant cast with Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Kirk Acevedo. With this cast of brilliant actors, comes a bunch of brilliant performances. Andy Serkis gets to do much more in the role as Caesar, verbally I mean, here he's still one of the film's highlights. But Jason Clarke, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Gary Oldman and Keri Russell stand out a lot from the human characters whilst Toby Kebbell is there alongside with Andy Serkis as having one of the best performances. You see Toby's character, Koba, was only briefly seen in the first film but is one of the leads here. Mark Hughes from Forbes stated that Kebbell's performance as Koba truly defined the film, and compared Kebbell's performance to that of Heath Ledger's as The Joker in The Dark Knight. It's one of the film's best character arcs, hugely thanks to the writing and the character's sympathetic motivations due to his history of abuse. The interesting thing is how this character have grown to be and are now cited as one of the best, most developed and sympathetic movie villains of the 2010s. All thanks to three things; Toby Kebbell's performance, the writing and Matt Reeves' direction.

In Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, human survivors battle to stay alive in the wake of a deadly pandemic, while Caesar tries to maintain control over his expanding ape community.

The story has such emotional depth, it's written and directed so brilliantly that you just fall in love with the characters and world built. The visual effects are one of the reasons why it's so easy to get immersed, it looks spectacular. It also sounds spectacular, with the sound design but especially the musical score, Michael Giacchino's score is truly brilliant and works so well with the emotional drama along with the memorable sequences and action. The action sequences are terrific, directed and performed to such perfection. Matt Reeves' direction is one of the film's many highlights, I couldn't picture anyone else to helm this movie. It's shot so beautifully, with imagery that'll stay in your mind for years after you've seen this film. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes was a commercial success for a reason, becoming the eighth-highest grossing film of 2014 and the highest-grossing film in the franchise. It also received numerous awards and nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects.

If you decide to rewatch this film, or this whole trilogy, you might find yourself in the same boots as me. You notice the themes more than watching solely for the spectacular experience the Apes films have to offer. Theme of fatherhood is present here like the previous film, but now it's Caesar who's the father. We also see the difference of two people, who're trying to live together to find peace, but like in the real world, greed leads to questionable actions. I think this is a great film, a perfect sequel that expands on lore and its characters, a story worth telling. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a post apocalyptic SciFi film, with half its cast being Simonians, would an outsider to the franchise ever think this story and these characters would ever be more human than in other films. It's incredible from start to finish, enough tension and suspension to satisfy anyone.