Planet of the Apes is one of the oldest major franchises in Hollywood. Since the release of the first film in 1968, eight more films from the brand have appeared in addition to several television series. While some entries were certainly better than others, The planet of the monkeys has consistently established itself as one of the most groundbreaking and thought-provoking film series in Hollywood history. With the recent announcement that the latest addition to the series, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apesreleased in 2024, it’s worth revisiting some of the franchise’s highlights to get excited.
By far, one of the highest points of the entire series is 2014 Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. It’s the second movie in the reboot Planet of the Apes trilogy of the 2010s, after 2011 Rise of the Planet of the Apes and followed by 2017 War for the Planet of the Apes. It continues the story of Caesar, a hugely intelligent monkey who escaped captivity with several others at the end of the first film. Dawn turns 10 years after the end of To get upand it shows how the group of monkeys has grown into a small society as humanity’s hold on the earth begins to languish.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a prime example of making franchise films that go the extra mile to provide a cinema experience unlike any other. It’s not an overly expensive cash grab just trying to take advantage of a recognizable name. It really has a great story to tell, with heavy themes like war, bitterness and what it means to be human. Beautifully directed and brought to life by Matt Reeves, it features numerous career best performances, most notably that of the legendary Andy Serkis in the role of Caesar. Not to mention the excellent visual effects work of Weta Digital and the immensely powerful music score of Michael Giacchino. It’s certainly the best film in the franchise since the original, and you could even argue that it surpasses the 1968 film in some ways.
The Rise of a New Civilization
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes delivers on the promise of the rebooted trilogy by directly showing and establishing how the apes have overtaken humanity as the dominant species on Earth. The film shows that transition point in time and all the unrest and struggle that came with it. The ape civilization is still in its infancy, but in the ten years since the events of To get up, humanity has been largely wiped out by an international pandemic. The Simian Flu, which infected some people at the end of this year To get up, spread like wildfire. Very few people in the world had natural immunity to the disease, which meant that the world’s human population had declined dramatically, but was not completely eradicated.
The monkeys, on the other hand, had previously gained enhanced intelligence through the same chemical that caused the pandemic. As the human world essentially descended into a post-apocalyptic nightmare, the apes within the borders of their lands remained deep in the the redwood forests of California. They knew very little or nothing at all about what was going on in the world. They were solely focused on their own nascent civilization and could not care less about the ins and outs of humanity. As man’s society crumbled, the apes were busy building their own society. They taught their children to speak, read and write; they installed Caesar as the head of their tribe; and they hunted for food. They continued to grow in intelligence and population, and they lived happily through the first decade of their society’s existence.
The film’s conflict comes when the monkeys are confronted by the surviving human population of nearby San Francisco. A small expedition of humans travels out of town and into the woods intent on repairing a generator that would power the town. The group unknowingly travels into the territory of the apes, causing both civilizations to suddenly become aware of each other and find themselves in a conflict sown by mistrust and the desire to protect their own people. On the one hand, the humans are trying to protect the tiny fragment of society and control they still have, and they see the apes as a threat that would end the extinction of humanity. The monkeys, on the other hand, remember how cruelly some people had treated them before. Caesar only wants to protect the newborn society of the apes from the dangers of humanity. It is within this balance between the two civilizations that Dawn of the Planet of the Apes really challenges the viewer.
Different perspectives on war
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes depicts the conflict and complexity of both civilizations. Rather than making humans or ape society the obvious protagonist of the story, the film thoroughly shows the good and the bad of both. While the A storyline focuses entirely on the apes and the inner turmoil growing among them, the B storyline focuses on the humans and how they desperately seize anything that can keep their species alive. Tensions between the two neighboring societies continue to mount and war becomes more and more likely. However, the main characters in both stories are the ones who do everything they can to avoid the impending conflict.
Caesar, as the leader of the apes, has the most power over civilization. He initially distrusts the people, having seen the horrors of their past firsthand, and he doesn’t want to expose his people to it. However, he also remembers the well-being of humanity, as he recalls the kindness of his human father figure, Dr. Will Rodman (James Franco in the previous film). Caesar anxiously agrees to help the humans restore the generator, but many within the apes’ ranks, especially Caesar’s confidant Koba (Toby Kebbell), strongly oppose the decision. As the film progresses, Koba and these other monkeys, who would rather exterminate the remaining humans, become increasingly resistant to Caesar’s actions. In the end, Koba tries to kill Caesar, blames the people and then uses that as the spark that ignites the war.
As for the human side, the central character is Malcolm (played by Jason Clarke). Along with Dreyfus (Gary Oldman), he is a leader of the remaining human sect in San Francisco. The story of these two men mirrors that of Caesar and Koba, with Dreyfus preferring war with the apes while Malcolm tries to make peace between them. Both men lost their families to the Simian Flu, and while Dreyfus blames the monkeys for that, Malcolm understands the reality that it was humanity that developed the disease in the first place. From the apes perspective, Malcolm is the hope Caesar sees in humanity, and Dreyfus is the abomination that Koba remembers. The same goes for the other side. Malcolm recognizes that Caesar is trying to do what’s best for his people and family, while Dreyfus is enraged and fed on Koba’s bellicose actions.
What it means to be human
It is through this conflict, and the portrayal of the two sides of this brewing war, that the nuance and brilliance of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes can be found. Thematically, it is an exploration of what it really means to be human. The film asks the audience to think about whether humanity is really just the specific species that we are or whether humanity is the ability to empathize with and consider the reality and perspectives of other intelligent people. Through its depiction of Caesar, Malcolm, Koba and Dreyfus, the film makes a strong case for the latter.
Dawn shows that there are human and animal tendencies within both civilizations. The humanity in the film is epitomized by Caesar and Malcolm and their willingness to work together to overcome their problems. They are especially concerned about the safety of their families, their people and the protection of their species. However, they understand that protecting themselves does not have to come from destroying others. They recognize the similar desires shared among themselves, and they even dare to hope that perhaps the people of San Francisco and the ape civilization could learn to live together peacefully. However, their hopes for a peaceful solution are thwarted by the animosity of Koba and Dreyfus.
Koba and Dreyfus are bitter and hateful characters. They blame the other species for the tragedy of their lives, and as such they only have room in their hearts for hatred. For Koba, this hatred of people even leads him to turn against his own. He tries to kill Caesar and then leads the monkeys in an all-out attack on the people of San Francisco. The monkeys easily conquer the city and Koba becomes its de facto ruler. When a few other monkeys try to follow Caesar’s teachings of understanding, Koba kills some of them outright and jails the others for infidelity.
In general, the animosity of hate seems to dominate humanity’s optimism in Dawn of the Planet of the Apeswhile Caesar and Malcolm fail to stop the war. Caesar’s defeat of Koba at the end of the film, however, adds a new depth. It shows that while hatred and trust often affect and rule the hearts of many, the hope and desire for good in only a few can have a tremendous effect. The empathy of Malcolm and his family saved Caesar’s life, and the few monkeys who remained loyal to him laid the foundation for Koba’s downfall. It is the strength and determination of humanity, not as a species but as an ethic, that wins out in the end.