Read Mixed User Reviews for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

6

FilipeNetoAug 22, 2018

"Planet of the Apes: Revolt" is the promised sequel to "Rise of the Planet of the Apes", both of which are based on Pierre Boulle's dystopic book. Now humans are a minority, a race facing extinction (what an irony!) that apes seem to be able"Planet of the Apes: Revolt" is the promised sequel to "Rise of the Planet of the Apes", both of which are based on Pierre Boulle's dystopic book. Now humans are a minority, a race facing extinction (what an irony!) that apes seem to be able to seriously threaten. The contact between them reminded me of the difficult and dangerous understanding between different communities when distrust prevails. We can imagine something similar in moments of our past, like the first contact between European navigators and indigenous peoples of the Americas, for example. Distrust, fear, displays of power to intimidation... the film shows these in a very interesting way, with the apes being very similar to us, in behavior and way of think. Unfortunately, the whole film is quite pretentious and full of self-importance: both sides have an exaggerated awareness of the relevance of events to their own community. This is the most boring point of the movie. The actors do a good job, but non-human characters get more interest and dominate the scene. Technically, the film doesn't deserve major criticism. CGI is more cautious than in the first movie and seems more real. Sequences of combat and action are breathtaking, certainly pleasing to those who seek action and adventure.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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4

ContinualAug 7, 2014

I'm sorry if you like this movie because to me the only people who could honestly have thought this sequel was good are the ones that are die hard fans. We've seen the premise of humans being killed off almost to extinction numerous times,I'm sorry if you like this movie because to me the only people who could honestly have thought this sequel was good are the ones that are die hard fans. We've seen the premise of humans being killed off almost to extinction numerous times, something refreshing would have been nice. The plot of this movie would get a C for attempting a mediocre plot. A movie about Apes and humans having conflict and then it's resolved but they still are going to war now (next movie) makes zero sense.....I enjoyed the 1st one but this movie had so many elements that i've seen before it just seemed stale and unoriginal. I left the theater think okay...so they dropped the ball… Expand

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

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5

OhTheDerpJul 29, 2014

This is, without a doubt, one of the most boring movies I've seen all year. The action was incredibly short-lived when it actually occurred. I was hoping for an action movie, not a drama.

5 of 9 users found this helpful54

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4

DemoraseJul 30, 2014

Not a bad movie per se, but at the same time there really is nothing interesting to this story. What's the takeaway, that different species will fight to protect themselves when they feel threatened, and violence is not nice? Because somehowNot a bad movie per se, but at the same time there really is nothing interesting to this story. What's the takeaway, that different species will fight to protect themselves when they feel threatened, and violence is not nice? Because somehow that wasn't obvious??

It may look like a smart movie, but at the end of the day it's really a dumb movie with no idea of what it's trying to convey. And it's boring, which critics seem to automatically confuse for deep and provoking.… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

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5

mrniceAug 10, 2014

It aims for spectacular action and set pieces, and achieves that to a large extent. But I didn't find the story as interesting as in 'Rise...' because now the main developments have played out in the earlier film (where it was superIt aims for spectacular action and set pieces, and achieves that to a large extent. But I didn't find the story as interesting as in 'Rise...' because now the main developments have played out in the earlier film (where it was super interesting to see how apes could plausibly become super-intelligent and escape captivity), and the story left to 'Dawn...' is how things escalate from there. Which is pretty easy to imagine. Some humans and some intelligent apes have a conflict and it escalates. No matter how much action and drama you push along with such a story, it's limited in its potential. I had fun interpreting it as a metaphor for the Iraq oil invasion though. Although an insane interpretation, it fitted so well for the first half of the movie. And if seen as propaganda against Islam, the movie gets the subtext it otherwise lacks.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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4

imthenoobNov 3, 2018

Visually impressive but the story is too generic and disappointing. The ending was just nonsense and I am disappointed that they wasted a quality villain in Oldman.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

jwarkDec 7, 2014

On the verge of being a cash grab. It was pretty uninspired compared to it's predecessors. I feel like I'm over rating it giving it a 6. It's only because I'm such a huge fan of the story that I gave it a 6. I really hope this downward trendOn the verge of being a cash grab. It was pretty uninspired compared to it's predecessors. I feel like I'm over rating it giving it a 6. It's only because I'm such a huge fan of the story that I gave it a 6. I really hope this downward trend in quality doesn't continue.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

jyeager11Jul 12, 2014

Saw it last night...

I loved 'Rise' but despite its great reviews, I left 'Dawn' feeling a little hollow. While this movie is set in the same world as 'Rise', I personally did not see much of that movie in this one. So I looked up theSaw it last night...

I loved 'Rise' but despite its great reviews, I left 'Dawn' feeling a little hollow.

While this movie is set in the same world as 'Rise', I personally did not see much of that movie in this one. So I looked up the credits, and to my surprise, noticed the writing and production are being handled by the same people in both movies... with the exception of Mark Bomback, who has been added as both writer and producer.

The most prestigious names in Mark Bomback's writing resume are Live Free Or Die Hard (2007), and the Total Recall (2012) reboot. As for his producing resume, I'll spare you (it's worse).

6 different production companies were involved with 'Rise'. Only one – Chernin Entertainment – is listed for 'Dawn'. While one would expect the latter to tell a more focused and enjoyable film, it's actually 'Rise' that felt more fleshed-out and cohesive. That first movie was an unexpected hit. It pleasantly surprised everyone by being a cut above the generic fare that Hollywood has been giving us since the 90's ended. The writing, the directing, the photography... it felt like a lot of very talented people got together and really, really tried for that one. I did not get the same sense here.

Could the addition of writer and Executive Producer Mark Bomback have negatively impacted the end product that much? I'm not sure. I wasn't there. And it's not like 'Dawn' is a *bad* movie. There's a lot about it I enjoyed (beginning with Caesar's facial expressions) but as with movies like Maleficent, Oblivion, Noah, Immortals, 300 Rise of an Empire, etc. there's nothing technically wrong with this movie. I enjoyed them all on different levels. But there's nothing there I'm likely to purchase a physical copy of anytime soon.

It seems Hollywood never intended to launch a new Apes trilogy. They had a wonderful idea to create a prequel, and it worked. We could have very easily transitioned from 'Rise' to either of Heston's or Wahlberg's Planet Of The Apes movies. But it became a commercial hit, so we have to squeeze 2 new chapters in there before the Apes truly take over.

That's how this felt. Milk this cow dry for another 2 chapters, and then what? We'll have caught up to the timeline where the Apes rule the world. Will they leave well enough alone? Of course not. They'll probably film an entirely new trilogy set in that world, effectively rebooting the entire thing.

Though I wouldn't call 'Dawn' a bad movie, I fear we are currently witnessing the Transformers-ification of the Planet Of The Apes franchise. So enjoy this one while you can, because something tells me these will become increasingly soulless with every chapter.

Just like a certain other franchise.… Expand

7 of 15 users found this helpful78

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4

ScribeHardJul 11, 2014

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a film loaded with ideas, and good ones. It has good ideas about themes. It has good ideas about characters. It has good ideas about messages. But those themes and ideas and messages have all been doneDawn of the Planet of the Apes is a film loaded with ideas, and good ones. It has good ideas about themes. It has good ideas about characters. It has good ideas about messages. But those themes and ideas and messages have all been done before, and not only better, but fuller. Once this film sets up its initial framework, it ignores better and fuller and instead relies on its VFX and apes the hollow action films that have come before it.… Expand

11 of 25 users found this helpful1114

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6

ivan_terribleAug 9, 2014

I was expecting a good storyline, but it's not. Maybe I belonged to old generation because i found this movie a bit boring, not enough tensions and not enough character developments. I think probably this movie was targeting young genders. II was expecting a good storyline, but it's not. Maybe I belonged to old generation because i found this movie a bit boring, not enough tensions and not enough character developments. I think probably this movie was targeting young genders. I still like the prequel better than this.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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4

CPD98Jul 27, 2014

Decepcionante secuela de una precuela que me encantó. Los diálogos son muy pobres, el guión es pésimo (si el mono malo ese no estuviera en la peli la propia peli no tendría razón de ser), trama leeenta y aburrida. Típico de Hollywood, teDecepcionante secuela de una precuela que me encantó. Los diálogos son muy pobres, el guión es pésimo (si el mono malo ese no estuviera en la peli la propia peli no tendría razón de ser), trama leeenta y aburrida. Típico de Hollywood, te ponen unos cuantos monos realistas y una ciudad abandonada que da el pego y la gente lo flipa, yo no soy tan estúpido, yo buscaba algo mas inteligente. La precuela fue genial pero esta es una pérdida de tiempo total. Y al final de la película no pasa nada nuevo, no ha avanzado en la historia. Harán otra, pero yo no pagaré por verla ni loco. Rollazo, es lo que tiene confiarse de las buenas críticas...… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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5

silversun101Aug 2, 2014

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the equivalent of a holding pattern. A film who's seemingly only purpose is to set up the events for the inevitable third film. The first in what I guess will now be a trilogy, Rise of the Planet of the Apes,Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the equivalent of a holding pattern. A film who's seemingly only purpose is to set up the events for the inevitable third film. The first in what I guess will now be a trilogy, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, was a perfectly contained movie, showing us how the world of Planet of the Apes came to be while giving sly nods to the original film. At the end of Rise, the story is concluded and nothing more needed to be said. And indeed, nothing more is said with Dawn. While the depictions of the Ape society are fun (and indeed the best part of the movie) the "drama" between the apes and humans that this film hangs on is flat, overwrought, and hopelessly predictable. All this film does is draw out what we, as an audience, could infer happened from the closing credits of it predecessor without bringing anything new or interesting to the table (aside form monkeys with machine guns). While an entertaining distraction and a true achievement in the field of special effects, I left the theater with the distinct notion that nothing substantial or satisfying had actually HAPPENED in the film.

A movie that didn't need to be, it poses no convincing argument for its own existence.… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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5

adamjonesJul 29, 2014

Come on guys this one is not good.. It did keep my attention though, so for that (and because I'm in a really good mood today) I'll say an even 5 out of 10.

-a

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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4

justbart4uJul 20, 2014

This movie has no IQ. It's almost the worst of the series, very sappy and obnoxious, ripe with stereotypical embarrassments, and horrible mini-plot lines, just plain gawd awful, couldn’t wait to leave the theater.
Anyone who saw the originalThis movie has no IQ. It's almost the worst of the series, very sappy and obnoxious, ripe with stereotypical embarrassments, and horrible mini-plot lines, just plain gawd awful, couldn’t wait to leave the theater.
Anyone who saw the original with Heston to compare how it all began ought to pass this by or else will be retching. Where was the Statue of Liberty? Apparently 3000 miles away and still standing (waiting for the sequel).… Expand

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

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5

kenenjJul 16, 2014

If you're a guy, you're sure to like this. If not, think twice. It's very violent, and loud. First the premise; that most of the humans are wiped out by a worldwide flu that apes are immune to. Second, that in the next 10 years that apesIf you're a guy, you're sure to like this. If not, think twice. It's very violent, and loud. First the premise; that most of the humans are wiped out by a worldwide flu that apes are immune to. Second, that in the next 10 years that apes learn to speak, but don't do so because, well, they're apes? Then the humans and apes find each other and all heck ensues. One ape in particular, is not inclined to make peace and wants war with the humans...... It gets really loud. I ended up with a headache, a backache, and a stomach ache from watching this. All I have to say is, my husband loved it.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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5

DQ_SlotkinsJul 22, 2014

The effects and the motion capture work was spectacular. The plot was so old and tired that I saw it coming after 7 minutes — the whole damn plot. It's as if they created the look of the movie and had no energy to make the story so theyThe effects and the motion capture work was spectacular. The plot was so old and tired that I saw it coming after 7 minutes — the whole damn plot. It's as if they created the look of the movie and had no energy to make the story so they borrowed a plot from an old Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan movie. What a let down.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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5

WestenderJul 12, 2014

the visuals were unreal, but the musical score was oppressive and ludicrous - it didn't even pause for the entire duration of the movie in a lame attempt to keep tension up and tell you how you are supposed to be feeling during every singlethe visuals were unreal, but the musical score was oppressive and ludicrous - it didn't even pause for the entire duration of the movie in a lame attempt to keep tension up and tell you how you are supposed to be feeling during every single scene. it took away from the movie big time for me.… Expand

3 of 10 users found this helpful37

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5

dave89791Jul 12, 2014

I found the apes kind of laughable.

I mean, honestly, just let the apes speak like they're not children - there's no way all sorts of apes could be so proficient in sign language and simultaneously can talk - I'd find it more believable ifI found the apes kind of laughable.

I mean, honestly, just let the apes speak like they're not children - there's no way all sorts of apes could be so proficient in sign language and simultaneously can talk - I'd find it more believable if they all just spoke.

The story was a bit too simplistic and hard to believe - how could some tiny crew of people get a major power plant to work?

Why would one guy be so careless about his gun?

I think I went into this with too high a set of expectations from the reviews here - as sci-fi flicks this summer go, I found Edge of Tomorrow far superior… Expand

4 of 16 users found this helpful412

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6

AMovieBuffJul 12, 2014

"War of the Apes" (Modern v/s Primitive)!!!

Good for: 1. Awesome graphics and simulation! 2. The apes convey emotions superbly! Especially Caesar! 3. Comparatively it's a relief-movie after the recent Transformers! Still okay: 1. I"War of the Apes" (Modern v/s Primitive)!!!

Good for:
1. Awesome graphics and simulation!
2. The apes convey emotions superbly! Especially Caesar!
3. Comparatively it's a relief-movie after the recent Transformers!

Still okay:
1. I kinda fell asleep in between since it was a little draggy and I yearned for more dialogues. It was 90 minutes of sign-language, subtitles, action and other sound effects. 40 minutes of actual verbal talk amongst the parties!
2. I felt that the trailer was so intense but it eventually misled the audience a bit. The movie should have been named "War of the Apes" instead. The war action between the apes and humans was lesser than that compared to the war that raged amongst the apes themselves!… Expand

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

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6

csw12Oct 31, 2014

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is carried by one man (or ape) of the name Andy Serkis with a few decent tense scenes that grab your attention. Other than that, I simply didn't find the film interesting with a slow pace and an ending thatDawn of the Planet of the Apes is carried by one man (or ape) of the name Andy Serkis with a few decent tense scenes that grab your attention. Other than that, I simply didn't find the film interesting with a slow pace and an ending that needed some help.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

TheApplegnomeJan 11, 2015

This sequel is less impressive than its predecessor. There’s much events that can be predictable, much slow action sequences and the characters are mostly terrible.

The main issue I have with this movie is that there’s no clear mainThis sequel is less impressive than its predecessor. There’s much events that can be predictable, much slow action sequences and the characters are mostly terrible.

The main issue I have with this movie is that there’s no clear main character, the movie kept changing focus, and I guess that’s the point but it feels stupid. There’s also too much focus on the apes and too little on the humans, it’s understandable but I want more focus on the humans. More on the characters: there’s no chemistry between them and it feels dumb and awful. Another flaw is that I could predict almost every main plot detail in the movie, much more than in Rise of The Planet of The Apes. I also expected a greater soundtrack from Michael Giacchino, who gave us the awesome soundtrack in “Star Trek” (2009) and the TV-show “Fringe”. The action is just as the soundtrack: less impressive and less unique. The movie does in fact have some great moments, it do raise even more ethical questions than the previous movie. It also does a great job when it comes to illustrate what no knowledge results into. The movie is also emotional powerful, and the CGI is spectacular. It’s much clearer and detailed than in the previous movie. Not flawless though.

The opening scene is exiting and the first act is totally superior over the second and the third. They are predictable, slow and less entertaining. The ending however, could have played out much better. The previous movie was much about science; this however got a more basic tone about survival and coexistence. It’s too boring for my taste.

Dawn of The Planet of The Apes gets a 6.8/10.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

bradchengApr 28, 2015

It’s been four years since “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” director Matt Reeves last cinematic outing, “Let Me In” — an English-language remake of Swedish director Tomas Alfredson’s vampiric coming-of-age film. While there will always beIt’s been four years since “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” director Matt Reeves last cinematic outing, “Let Me In” — an English-language remake of Swedish director Tomas Alfredson’s vampiric coming-of-age film. While there will always be film aficionados who insist the original take of a film presents its truest form, I felt Reeves’ reboot wrought a more kinetic, more universal telling of the tale and that Reeves had created an instant classic of the horror genre. My respect for “Let Me In” was immense.
Unfortunately the material he’s been given to work with isn’t of the same quality as Alfredson’s wholly original horror concept or enough of a pure action-fest like “Cloverfield” to let one overlook the general mundanity of “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes'” story. How possibly mundane can a planet of talking apes be? Aside from the fact that these simians have now been performing their grunt-speak to audiences for over fifty years (Maurice Evans’ buttery, upper-class mannerisms notwithstanding — what planet was he from?), that novelty remains fairly fresh.

But it’s “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes'” screenplay that comes across as flimsy as Linda Harrison-as-Nova’s” deliciously hung rags. If one were to take away the apes as players (which would be a waste as they are miraculously rendered CGI creations), stripped of tooth and fang, “Apes” would be left with an all-too-human and all-too-cliched story.

The film revolves around the “stop the madness” efforts of a good-hearted human survivor of the simian-virus apocalypse and the now imperially seated Ceasar of 2012’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” These two suffer fools, villains and rebellious children as they toil haplessly to bring peace to opposite ends of an inter-species battlefield. The CGI action is exciting, but the behind-the-scenes powerplays of their shared struggle — however novel on the Darwin spectrum — feels too familiarly packaged.

The screenplay, credited to Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Sliver, makes the writers sound less like science fiction visionaries than a preachy team behind a Vietnam-era anti-war film. There’s a decidedly “retro” feel to the futuristic war film, with the camouflage-clad ghosts of Audie Murphy and Dennis Hopper lingering somewhere just out of sight.

The story trudges along dredging up far too many plot points from Shakespearean-aspired royal dramas; I’d recite the litany of cliches but I don’t want to spoiler-ize anyone’s fun. Gary Olman, who once shone in the sun as a lean, English mad dog, now seems comfortably settled into playing roles of the flustered heavy (and I still think he applies the same touch to his American accent.) He’s ostensibly the leader of one of the last tribes of humans, but his nervous fidgeting makes it difficult to believe he would be put in charge of much more than a AA meeting.

The cast of largely unknown actors doesn’t help either. Though capable, they never bring any real fire to the screen, although lead Jason Clarke works tirelessly at his angst. Unfortunately, the human cast is frequently emotionally upstaged by computer-generated apes, that in itself a scary accomplishment which may, indeed, portend the fall of mankind. Or at least the Actor Guild of America. On the other hand, I never know exactly what praise to lavish on human-marionette, actor Andy Serkis. Certainly dancing around in leotards glued with styrofoam balls for the roving eye of a computer to map can’t be easy, but the question is how deep does one’s Stanislavsky have to run?

But the film’s real problem is its script, and its by-the-numbers roll call of devices. Without the apes, I imagine the plethora of well-intentioned, but tired war movie cliches would have “Apes” garnering far less praise than it is receiving. And those hokey-ending lines gravely spoken by the defeated peace-makers … Where have I heard them before? “I thought we had a chance,” says Clarke. “So did I, my friend…so did I,” intones the moribund chimp. It’s almost a pity that all the battling that has come before falls into a pile with those oh-so heavy lines, which ring as outdated as a throw-away bit of hippy schtick from “Easy Rider.”

Of course, the action fans may not notice these overwrought grarnishes, as they have been rewarded earlier to a fiery finale of two foes battling it out, swinging on an exploding skyscraper, as the inevitable flames lick at their feet, er, paws. While “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” will certainly please the action crowd with the most technologically advanced simian set pieces yet, it’s ultimately a pretty routine and not terribly clever affair. Invoking the film’s catchphrase, “Ape not kill Ape,” I would proffer, “Ape not make Sequel.” Though I’m sure “the heavies” will triumph again, man.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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4

RedfordstoJul 26, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. There were many compelling aspects to this movie. The interactions between the characters, their motivations and backgrounds, and the portrayal of apes as its own culture was excellent. The cgi was mostly seamless with some visuals slightly broken because there is evidently nothing real in the scene to as reference. As far as plot, it's as good as a sci-fi plot gets and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes takes the IP seriously. At the same time, much of the execution is contextually flawed. For example, the survival camp in San Francisco simply letting a national guard base and all it weapons sit nearby open to bandits or transient raiding parties until suddenly apes are an threat. That's a poor survival strategy. Another huge problem is the Ape learning curve is unrealistic. Assuming apes can fire weapons is fine. Having them assault a fortified position with those weapons and win is silly. The apes clearly charge an implacement on horseback with their fingers on the triggers. Guns run out of bullets and the apes don't reload. Even though they've never seen a cars controls, they can commandeer a tank. I like the power struggle aspect between the apes. I really liked the ploy of Koba acting playful to fool a couple of morons. But largely the battle and fall of the human was poorly executed. It could have worked well if the apes simply came down from the rooftops or infiltrated from other areas instead of a charge with guns (limitlessly) blazing. Otherwise, the movie was entertaining as a sci-fi diversion, but by no means epic or revolutionary.… Expand