We go to the theater to escape into the fictional world created by filmmakers who deliver all different types of stories from various types of genre. Filmmakers try to deliver stories that evoke a reaction from the audience, where it can be 
fear, anxiety, joy or deep emotional reaction. Films like 12 years a Slave, and Philadelphia are films that leave a lasting impression in society today. It addresses moral values and deep controversial issues that we have to deal with everyday. It is normal for movies that those to deliver a powerful performance. But when you watch a film like Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, your expectations are somewhat different. I’ve been known to have a skeptical opinion on sequels, but this film really delivers a powerhouse of a performance.
The human cast consists of Gary Oldman who plays Dreyfuss, the leader of the remaining survivors. Jason Clarke, who plays Malcolm, another leader who tries to befriends Cesar and the other apes, and Kerri Russell, who plays Ellie, 
Malcolm’s wife. The humans live in a post apocalyptic world where the main focus of this film takes place in San Francisco near the Golden Gate Bridge. The performance of Gary Oldman was fine, but he wasn’t the star of the show nor was Kerri Russell and Jason Clarke. Their job was to give you the human perspective, and their fears. Although they did a fine job, Andy Serkis was the star. He reprises his role as Cesar and is the only repeating character from the first film. His performance as Cesar was terrific. His character has become more developed and complex. Ironically his character shows more human compassion to man than does the actual humans. His love and protection for his kind was apparent, but at the same time his determination for peace among the humans was strong as well. His conflict within his group grows stronger when some of his fellow apes disagree with his method of dealing with the humans. Other primates like the gorillas, and the orangutans gave us different reactions and views on how they should deal the situation in dealing with the humans. This leads to a big point in the movie where everything goes ape s@#$%. The action sequences were amazing and the CGI was cool also. But the fragile relationship between Cesar and his fellow 
primates really took center stage in the film. It was like watching a lit fuse slowly burning toward a lake of gasoline and knowing that when it reaches it destination all hell was going to break loose.
This film deals with the fact that we live a world where survival of the fittest brings out the best in people and the worst in people, or apes. The story had heart, intense deep emotions from both humans and apes, and the moral issues that everybody deals with everyday. What is the definition of being human? Is it our decisions, and our emotions that separate us from being savages? I watch these horror stories on the television and on the internet of people shooting animals for sport or caging them for scientific and entertaining purposes. This film gives a different perspective of what would happen if the tables were turned. The film lets you see the raw emotion and reaction from both sides of the fence. It was a dramatic and moving film that can be categorized as an epic piece within the cinematic world. I can tell you this; this film will be talked about for years. The visual effects, the storytelling, and the performances definitely made this film one of my favorites. My views on sequels had always been unfavorable, this one was an exception. I can’t wait until the next chapter in this saga.
I give this film four and a half out of five movie stubs.
~The TruthSayer
