Home Entertainment Midweek Mouth-Off: What did you think of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes?

Midweek Mouth-Off: What did you think of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes?

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This weekend past saw Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, one of the biggest films of the year, come swinging into theatres where it promptly became the 500-pound gorrilla in the room. After the surprising success of Rupert Wyatt’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes, new director Matt “Cloverfield” Reeves had one massive task ahead of him with the sequel. And boy, did he he ever pull it off!

The movie had big action set pieces, dramatic moments, thought provoking subtext, emotional gut punches aplenty, and also arguably the greatest CGI the world has ever seen resulting in a bunch of digitally created apes out-acting Gary freakin’ Oldman. Oh yeah, and an ape dual wielding machine guns while riding a horse that’s jumping through a wall of fire. What more can you ask for in a blockbuster?!

But that’s what we thought about it, and not everybody has the same opinion. So today we want to here from you guys. Did you also go bananas for the apish tale, or did you find it to be no more chimp chump than that champ?

Please note: Since this will be for people who have actually seen the movie, SPOILERS will be allowed, so tread lightly if you haven’t seen it yet.

Last Updated: July 16, 2014

5 Comments

  1. I found the movie to be boring. My friend fell asleep and my wife asked me more than once if we could leave. As great as the final third was, I just felt the first 80+ minutes flowed really badly. The movie was more drama than anything else, and it did a very bad job at the drama in my opinion.

    Reply

    • Kervyn Cloete

      July 16, 2014 at 11:28

      Rise was also weighted more way towards drama than action (and so were the original POTA movies). If you were expecting the film to be a straight-up action film, then yes, I can definitely understand your opinion.

      I personally really enjoyed the measured pacing as it allowed for better development of the Apes (particular Caesar as the noble leader, and Koba as the tragic villain) and also gives some time for all that subtext and social commentary to sink in.

      Yes, the first act moves much slower than the rest but I never found it boring, and I thought it mixed up the pace well with some nice brief spikes of excitement every once in a while (like the opening hunt, the initial meeting with the humans, and the confrontation at the dam, etc).

      But like I said, everybody has their own opinion as to what tickles their fancy. I rewatched the movie over the weekend, and while I loved it again, and friends that were with were also very impressed, my wife felt the same way you did.

      Reply

      • DarthZA

        July 16, 2014 at 12:59

        I definitely didn’t go into the movie expecting action. The day before we rewatched the last one (which I also feel was boring until the final act), and so were expecting more of the same. There are many dramas out there that don’t feel near as slow, or are near as boring. I know many people feel the same as me, but I think many more feel more like you do. I guess POTA movies really aren’t my thing.

        One thing I can say about that movie, the CG was simply incredible. And there were 2 scenes, one with Ash’s dad (can’t remember his name now), and one with Ceasar’s son (can’t remember his name either), where I was taken back by the level of acting, but it was from a CG monkey. Truly impressed.

        Reply

        • Kervyn Cloete

          July 16, 2014 at 13:01

          Ah, yeah. If you felt that way about Rise, then this was definitely not going to change your mind.

          Have you seen the original movies? Planet of the Apes is probably in my top 5 favourite sci-fi movies of all time.

          Reply

          • DarthZA

            July 16, 2014 at 13:50

            I have, but I don’t think those viewings should count because it was so long ago, and I was so young, that I really don’t even have an opinion about them anymore. I have made a plan to watch them soon though.

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