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Film Review: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
/ July 22, 2014
Release Date: July 9, 2014
Rating: M
Don’t be fooled into thinking this is just another one of those ‘monkey movies’, calm your angst – this one’s got machine-gun wielding apes on horseback…with fire. It’s epic.
Number one around the globe on opening weekend, ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ is the 8th in the franchise, following 2011’s ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ bringing the story of man vs. monkey to a new generation.
Dawn opens in a post-aplocyptic Earth where humans have been wiped out by a deadly virus, and Apes are the ruling authority. Life’s good, there’s no threats…until two young apes discover human survivors.
Caesar (leader of the apes played by Andy Serkis), and Malcolm (leader of the humans played by Jason Clark) spend the film working out how the two races can live together in peace, building a new kind of future.
Running throughout themes of home, family, trust, forgiveness, Dawn’s biggest question is whether or not mankind are ultimately doomed to destroy ourselves, and whether or not we can change that.
Portrayed as a species predisposed to war, our demise seems inevitable. Malcolm and Caesar have to negotiate the trappings of our shared past, and rectify it with hopeful belief in establishing a new world order.
They need a key to change. And while Dawn offers no direct solution readying itself for the 3rd film, it highlights our need to listen to Paul in Romans and “not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of [our] minds.”
Caesar and Malcolm want to make the most of a fresh start, but attitudes have to adjust if they want to see different results; Apes must let go of hatred for humans, and humans must learn to forgive.
For us, Paul’s encouragement is to fix our attention on the Word of God, on His character, allowing Him to shape us into the likeness of His Son and bring about ultimate revolutionary change.
Alternatively, we keep following the pattern.
Bearing the same old cookie-cutter results.
Taking ourselves down the tried and true path of personal and societal destruction.
So what do we do?
We don’t look for a ‘fresh start’ rolling round every 6 months to catalyse our freedom, we look for a new pattern.
Beginning at the inception of our design we see why the worlds clothes never fit quite right, and why its hand-me-downs just won’t do.
Transitioning to tailor-made may take time as we un-pick stitches and re-cut cloth, but it’s got to be better than ending up in a ‘new’ outfit with all the flaws of the last one.
Yes humanity can avoid a destructive end, but only if we align ourselves with the plan of the One who makes it possible.
7 .5/10
