Review: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

A cinema going experience that leaves me greatly satisfied is like nourishment for my soul. It's been at least 2.5 weeks since my last trip, as sickness has kept me away. Well, today, I got to go back to my first love. And, well, what a film! Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is greater than it's predecessor. And, I loved Rise.

Set 10 years after the outbreak of the Simian Flu, humans are barely existing anymore. 1 in 500 were thought to be immune to the Flu virus. The apes of San Francisco have created a home, and do not know if humans still exist. This is, of course, until humans discover their presence whilst on a trek in the woods. 

This film is built on emotion and characters. The story itself is merely a device to bring the interaction between ape and human back into the fold. Although it is still relevant, it's the interaction that provides the excitement, both at a conversation and action level. The motion capture work here is phenomenal, with each ape having distinct features and characteristics. The realism of it all is really something to behold. Even moreso than Rise. I dare anyone to say they didn't believe the apes looked real.

The story follows the usual tropes of building a relationship between human and animal, which starts with fear and then comes to understanding and so on. The apes are led by the great Caesar, a truly inspiring character, with awesome presence on screen. He has kept this ape colony together, and helped them to build a safe haven - a home. They live by code, especially 'ape not kill ape'. Caesar has seen the worst of human kind, and doesn't want his apes to fall victim to our ways. Jason Clarke, playing our lead human, is amazing. His character embodies everything that is good about human beings, and it is his fear of war that allows the relationship with Caesar to develop. Unfortunately, not all the humans and apes are as great as their leaders.

The messages sent through this film are strong, and I hope the rest of viewers take note. War mongering has ruined us, and it is all we're known for as a race. Well, perhaps not all for, but, we're certainly pretty good at fighting and killing. Should another race come to earth or an existing develop our intelligence, they'll see us for what we are - killers. This is unfortunate, and the good of will suffer for it. There's a line spoken towards the end, about humans and forgiveness, which resonated so much with me. 

Do yourself a favour, and go watch this film. Listen to it, watch it, feel the emotion pulsating through. If you get bored and find it silly, then I'm sorry for you. 

Rating:

4.5 out of 5.

Review: Under The Skin (2013)

Under The Skin certainly lives up to its name. I've been thinking about it and reading others thoughts on it ever since I got out of a screening just over an hour ago.

I sat there, transfixed to the action on screen. I didn't know what to expect from this film, but in some ways it's not what I had in mind at all. I had been thinking something more in the way of a gory sci fi horror, instead it was more pyschological horror. But, I didn't not like this movie. It's an exercise in art film. The kind of film that most audiences will be "What the fuck?" with.

Scarlett Johansson plays an unnamed character, an alien, that seems to devour men like they were prey. She is cruising a metro area of Scotland in a big white van, asking unsuspecting men for directions, whilst at the same time asking them questions about their life (single, married, family etc). She targets the unattached men, or men that have nothing to go home to. Luring them to her place, which is like some sort of dark room with infinite space, their desire takes over as they walk into an almost black abyss.

This film is designed to be deciphered, but I don't even know if I can truly understand what is happening here. Perhaps you're not supposed to. This is just one for provoking your thoughts, and creating discussion - of which it certainly does....but there is no one meaning or answer.

The music and photography is used to good effect. I do admire what the director has produced here. Scarlett is very good. She plays that fish out of water (an alien) very well. As I said before, I was probably a bit disappointed, but I understand why some people are loving the shit out of this film. Although there is little dialogue, the story and events taking place on screen were still quite engaging. It's no masterpiece or excellent film for me, but overall I think it is quite well made. I'll revisit it one day, even if to try and decipher it some more.

Rating:

3 out of 5.