Rupert Wyatt's Rise of the Planet of the Apes defied pretty much all expectations to become one of 2011's most entertaining blockbusters, in large part thanks to Andy Serkis' magnificent performance in the central role of ape Caesar. With Cloverfield's Matt Reeves at the helm, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes manages to be a superior sequel and not just the year's best blockbuster, but one of the year's best films, period. What really stands out from minute one is Reeves' clear desire not to talk down to his audience: the opening 15 minutes of the film takes place almost entirely from the apes' point-of-view, and Reeves is confident that audiences won't sniff at his decision to use subtitles for the apes' sign language. As hard as Jason Clarke and Gary Oldman try to give the human characters some import, this movie is all about the apes. Andy Serkis' tremendously affecting performance combines with some stunning visual effects from WETA Digital to make of Caesar one of the most convincing and well-drawn characters, "real" or not, in recent memory. Also worth singling out is Toby Kebbell, who breathes savage life into Caesar's main rival, the distrustful, violent ape Koba. With thrilling action sequences, plenty of intelligence and a handful of heart, Dawn is a superb Hollywood tentpole that proves we should expect more from expensive movies than just pretty explosions.
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
