10 Reasons why you should watch Dawn of the Apes

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is, quite simply, one of the best, if not the best film I’ve seen this year. So instead of a review I’ll give you ten quick reasons why you should rush to your nearest theater to catch it.

1) The sequel improves over the already decent Rise of the Planet of the Apes in every single way. It looks better, is written with much more nuance, directed with much more confidence and even cast better.

2) This is not just a cash grab Hollywood sequel. There is actual character development in the film, and at most times it doesn’t even feel like a Hollywood blockbuster – it is much more than that.

3) The motion capture CGI is a technological breakthrough. Every drop of water on every follicle of hair on the apes is stunning. Their eyes are mesmerizing. Their movements and the level of realism are jaw dropping. They’re in fact much more real than actual reality.

4) There has never ever been a character like Caesar in cinema. This is a CGI anti hero who commands more screen presence and expressive nuance than the human actors in the film. To think that a computer graphics rendered entity is better fleshed out than actual actors is mind boggling.

5) The film is more about the apes than about the humans. But this is not a national geographic documentary – this is a stunning character based drama that somehow manages to make the apes interesting.

6) In a movie featuring apes there is actual conflict between the characters. Conflict between the apes, between the apes and the humans, and between the human themselves. The friction between Caesar and his lieutenant Koba is epic.

7) There is a good dose of action. But there is a bigger dose of emotional plotting as well. You feel for the apes. A couple of scenes could even make you cry, and you won’t believe you’re wiping your tears for apes.

8) Matt Reeves’ direction is glorious to behold. His control over the material is solid.

9) Michael Giacchino’s music is hair raising and powerful. Even in the big dramatic scenes, or in a scenario where there is a lot of noise, the music is subtle, which makes it sort of unique.

10) This is clearly the best sequel since The Dark Knight, and dare I say, as good. It’s best enjoyed in 2D, on the biggest possible screen that you can find.

(First published in MiD Day)