In the next installment of the Rise of the Planet of the Apes,
Matt Reeves
brings us a more dynamic, darker and sensitive sequel. We yet again see our favorite Caesar having to battle a mental and as well as physical war as the relationships between the humans and the apes are threatened again, and this time, with a lot more at stake than ever before.Â
Plot: A decade after a devastating virus had wiped off most humans; the apes have managed to build a home and a vast community for themselves under the leadership of Caesar. A group of people try to enter the area of the apes to locate a hydro-electric dam so that they can turn it on to use the electricity to restore power in San Francisco where a few survivors have taken refuge. This request, seemingly innocent and harmless in the beginning is what sets the turmoil in motion as it is something that Caesar has to decide being the leader of the whole community of Apes.Â
We have seen Caesar as the leader of a revolt in the last movie, where he was mostly seen recruiting and influencing a large number of apes to stand up against the humans and take their rightful places in the forest. In this movie, Caesar has evolved into a family man and also a just leader, who has experienced a lot of time with the members of his community and has gotten to know them all. When he is required to take any decision regarding the request of the humans, he not only has to think about his fellow apes but also the humans as he still loves them. On the other hand, there are other apes who think that humans are dangerous, and Caesar should not make any effort to help them. These same conflicts also reflect the human community who cannot make a unanimous decision about whether they can or cannot trust the apes. The politics of the movie has been played out very intricately through the eyes of Caesar and also his human counterpart, Malcolm.Â
The CGI effects are breath-taking as we see the depth and intensity of the expressions of the apes and the feel of their whole community are portrayed in a very mature way. The action in this movie are much more violent and upsetting and they are justifiably so, because there is so much more at stake here than just a few lives. The movie has been able to keep the suspense and the thrill alive for the whole length of the movie and both the sides if conflict, humans, and apes, have been shown with such sensitivity and reasoning, that it will almost be impossible for you to want any of them to lose.Â
Verdict: To this gripping movie about the severe politics which clearly tells us that we can learn a thing or two about loyalty and friendship from the apes, I give this movie, 4 out of 5 victories.