"War has... already begun. Ape started war. And human... Human will not forgive."
Caeser
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| What did I learn watching this film? Never piss off an ape. |
Synopsis:
In the years following their escape across the San Francisco bridge, Cesare and his intelligence-enhanced tribe are living peacefully in the forests, almost oblivious to the complete collapse of mankind by a deadly virus. That is, till a small group of human survivors accidentally wander into their territory. What follows from this tense encounter is an unlikely yet shaky alliance, as both sides strive to better their lives, but old hatreds die-hard and tragedy looms on the horizon, threatening to lead both man and ape into a bloody conflict...
Script: 1/2
The script is solid by any standards, with a small-scale focus and intimate drama rarely seen in Blockbuster fodder. Cesare’s character arc is the most effecting (he is, after all, the lead), and it's the primates who are given the most to do on screen. Despite the fact the titular primates do more than carry the film, more effort could have been put into fleshing-out some of the human characters. During the more human-centered elements the film is at its weakest; story arcs and character motivations aren’t so well defined, meaning that the film's nail-biting climax, while very dramatic from the point of view of the apes, lacks punch while resolving the human character's journeys.
Pace: 1/2
Never a dull moment. The story appears to take it’s time and build suspense while simultaneously rushing at break-neck speeds to its inevitable and tragic conclusion. And even though it’s clear from the outset that man and ape will know no peace, audiences will still find themselves engrossed to uncover the reasons for this bloodshed, and captivated by the heroism and betrayal on both sides of the species divide. However, that same script flaw also costs the film a further mark here- while the pace may work in favor of the apes, it still leaves the humans with little time to become fully rounded characters...
Acting: 2/2
No weak links here, believe me. I mean, has motion capture ever been so captivating? Never. But leaving aside the incredible facial performances of the apes (as played by the always incredible Andy Serkis and co), even the less developed humans, as played by veteran Gary Oldman, and the lesser-known but equably reliable Jason Clarke and Keri Russel, convey a desperate and anguished realism: they all have the look of people who have seen terrible things, and lost something inside during the process of survival.
Aesthetic: 2/2
One of the film's many triumphs (and possibly its biggest talking point) is the superb special effects. While they don’t quite manage to cross the 'uncanny valley', like many knee-jerk critics claim, they do represent a big step in the right direction, and this is a far more significant breakthrough than claimed by the overhyped Avatar. While most of the CGI seen in films is distracting at best, on this occasion you'll soon forget that what you're watching are a bunch of CGI primates; instead, you’ll find yourself completely captivated by the realism and subtleties of their performances and character arcs.
One very minor gripe, I personally found the score distracting (all percussion drums and awkward pauses before the beats). While I do understand this is a conscious call-back to the original Planet of the Apes films, I did found myself being “taken out” of the action. But like I said, it’s very a minor gripe.
Intention: 2/2
The first Planet of the Apes reboot / prequel was a pleasant surprise- a blockbuster with both invention and heart, but this, the second in the new run, is a superior film in all respects, and technically and dramatically better than most summer fodder.
Final Score: 8/10
Serious-minded, affecting, heartrending and exhilarating- a film that actually does more than live up to the hype; I hope the series continues in the same vein, although this has certainly set the bench mark staggeringly high.
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