Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Director: Matt Reeves
Cast: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, Gary Oldman
Darkness has fallen across the world. The lives of millions of people have been extinguished, and those who remain live in fear of an entity they do not understand. After a decade of suffering and suspicion, two very different worlds collide. Can peace be forged between the remnants of humanity and a clan of intelligent apes or will the scars of the past ignite a war that will destroy them all?
One of the most ironic and powerful themes conveyed in the film is family. While the desire to protect their family is the catalyst which motivates both the humans and the apes, it is expressed in very different ways. For Caesar, the leader of the apes, his desire to protect his family and the home they have built is the catalyst which compels him to seek peace with the humans rather than war. The greatest example of Caesar’s devotion may be found in the bond that Caesar shares with his wife, Cornelia, and his children, Blue Eyes and Milo. One illustration of this is when Caesar is reunited with his wife and children after tragedy separates them. No words are exchanged between them, only a hug, but the love that is conveyed between Caesar and Cornelia is undeniable.
Pain is also a powerful theme in this film and it is manifested both physically and emotionally. The irony of the pain felt by both the humans and the apes in the film is that although their pain stems from a common source, each side blames the other for their suffering. For Koba, one of the apes in Caesar’s tribe, the physical and emotional scars that were inflicted on him by humans are so deeply rooted that his heart is lost in darkness, unable to forgive or forget.
The humans are more divided in their suffering. For the majority of the humans, the pain they have endured watching their families being destroyed by the virus is what compels them to go to war with the apes. For others, like Malcolm, the desire to make peace with the apes transcends the painful losses they have endured in the past.
What makes “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” remarkable is that it is more than just two hours of war and bloodshed between men and apes. The message that the story conveys is a powerful one because both sides have something to fight for: family. The casting for this movie is stellar, but Andy Serkis shines in his role as Caesar, giving the character a strong identity as both a noble warrior and protector of his family. I would highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys the “Planet of the Apes” franchise.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Matt Reeves
Cast: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, Gary Oldman
Darkness has fallen across the world. The lives of millions of people have been extinguished, and those who remain live in fear of an entity they do not understand. After a decade of suffering and suspicion, two very different worlds collide. Can peace be forged between the remnants of humanity and a clan of intelligent apes or will the scars of the past ignite a war that will destroy them all?
One of the most ironic and powerful themes conveyed in the film is family. While the desire to protect their family is the catalyst which motivates both the humans and the apes, it is expressed in very different ways. For Caesar, the leader of the apes, his desire to protect his family and the home they have built is the catalyst which compels him to seek peace with the humans rather than war. The greatest example of Caesar’s devotion may be found in the bond that Caesar shares with his wife, Cornelia, and his children, Blue Eyes and Milo. One illustration of this is when Caesar is reunited with his wife and children after tragedy separates them. No words are exchanged between them, only a hug, but the love that is conveyed between Caesar and Cornelia is undeniable.
Pain is also a powerful theme in this film and it is manifested both physically and emotionally. The irony of the pain felt by both the humans and the apes in the film is that although their pain stems from a common source, each side blames the other for their suffering. For Koba, one of the apes in Caesar’s tribe, the physical and emotional scars that were inflicted on him by humans are so deeply rooted that his heart is lost in darkness, unable to forgive or forget.
The humans are more divided in their suffering. For the majority of the humans, the pain they have endured watching their families being destroyed by the virus is what compels them to go to war with the apes. For others, like Malcolm, the desire to make peace with the apes transcends the painful losses they have endured in the past.
What makes “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” remarkable is that it is more than just two hours of war and bloodshed between men and apes. The message that the story conveys is a powerful one because both sides have something to fight for: family. The casting for this movie is stellar, but Andy Serkis shines in his role as Caesar, giving the character a strong identity as both a noble warrior and protector of his family. I would highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys the “Planet of the Apes” franchise.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.