3. Its Sequel Baiting - Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes
Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes marked the point where a franchise that had been a geeky sci-fi merchandising giant pre-dating Star Wars became a totally mainstream hit again. Obviously the incredible motion capture effects play a massive part, but central to the film's success was Matt Reeves' direction, treating the idea of not just talking apes, but the whole post-apocalyptic landscape, seriously. The final act twists the focus away from the conflict central to the franchise, with the in-fighting amongst the respective species taking prominence over the battle between ape and man. This is clearly done to keep the door open for a sequel, going against what the film had led the audience to expect thus far. It gives certain characters a resolution to their arcs, sure, but given we're two movies in you expect to be getting a little closer to the world we know from the 1968 classic (or at least something similar) This whole train of thought that seems to exist in many Hollywood blockbusters is a little confused in its thinking; while it's helpful for a sequel to have a sense of purpose, continuing on from an earlier movie, the best way to get audiences interested in a follow up is to have a solid previous installment.
