“DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES” (2014) MOVIE REVIEW
In context and form, the latest "APES" installment is one helluva of a great film to boot, for its human and beast elements.
You can sense and feel the input of blood and tears indulged by the cast and crew members in a joint-effort to harness artistic perfection for this movie.
Unfortunately, the media presentation was shown in the standard cinematic format.
Had the press members been treated to the 3D version, it would have been so much more gripping.
It is an absolute wonderment to appraise the menacing apes fighting for dear life in the battlefield to protect their fort against the human mercenaries with machine guns.
“DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES” is a well-detailed remarkable film. It is not just a work of art, as much as it is entertaining.
This is a ground breaking project packaged with brilliant visual effects by the post production department, capturing and intensifying every emotional delivery.
Apes, like humans, have profound feelings, both good and bad.
Most scenes are emo-sensitively charged to keep the audience enraptured.
Film director MATT REEVES has successfully given us a top-notched entertainment.
The Nutshell content:
A nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar (brilliantly voiced by ANDY SERKIS) find their jungle existence threatened by a band of human survivors who caused the destructive “simian flu” virus to be unleashed a decade earlier.
While mankind has suffered as a result, and most people died over the past decade, the apes on the other hand have flourished. They now reside in the forests north of San Francisco, an ape city surrounded by lush woods and waterfalls.
Then out of the blue a small gang of human survivors appear to disrupt the peace.
Initially the humans and apes agree to an interim peace, but this truce is short-lived, as both sides will not compromise.
Now all hell break lose for both humans and beasts in a challenge to determine who’s the Earth’s dominant power.
Aside the heartbreaking vocal performance of SERKIS that forms the crux of the plot, the rest of the ensemble cast specially JASON CLARKE (as Malcolm), GARY OLDMAN and KERI RUSSELL deliver powerful performances.
It is amazing for us to enjoy a sadistic scene (for example) of an angry ape riding into a storm of bullets with a machine gun toting in each hand. Both we love the massacre.
The imagery of the apes is painstakingly rendered to give facial expressions heart and soul.
You can be brought to tears when you feel the power of love as you witness tender moments shared with CAESAR and his injured wife CORNELIA (JUDY GREER).
The dynamic between the screen characters CAESAR (ape) and MALCOLM (hero) is obvious.
The two share a common goal, as Malcolm is also trying to protect his family (a son, Kodi Smit-McPhee, wife, Keri Russell) and his people.
The desired truce comes from a shared understanding that they are working and sharing the same vision — for family, for community, for the future.
Closing Credits:
It’s a fascinating film, staged with passion and skill that stands as one of the best of the year.
A must-see!
RATING: 4.5 out of 5
Local Distributor: 20th Century Fox Malaysia
“PARANOIA” PRESS PREVIEW
Just say “beef” and you ‘ll get this Australian beefcake on your platter.
Whether he is a delectable piece of ham depends on how you rate him.
The taste of the pudding is in the eating, isn’t it so?
You will see this hunk attired in designer suits and casuals.
As well as in all forms of undress to eagerly display his well-toned bod and six packs.
And he is magnifique.
The young actor is a 23 year old young’un called LIAM HEMSWORTH.
Little wonder if”PARANOIA” is a movie project crafted for him and for his myriad of drooling female fans.
Supporting actors HARRISON FORD and GARY OLDMAN stay safely in the background playing second fiddles.
This is an hard edged corporate thriller.
It is a parable about thwarted ambitions and how the thirst for easy money and power have their setbacks.
LIAM HEMSWORTH is Adam, a young executive working at entry level at a tech company runs by Nicholas Wyatt (GARY OLDMAN)
Adam is as spotless as a sheet, but wants more out of life, envious of people he knows who are stooping to con in order to move up the corporate ladder.
He has an ailing father (Richard Dreyfuss) and loads of hefty medical bills to pay.
When he and his team are fired from their jobs, they decide to commiserate and overspend on their company credit card.
Strangely, the following day, Adam’s is confronted by his former boss and given an ultimatum – to face jail time for fraud charges or infiltrate another tech company run by HARRISON FOR’s Jock Goddard, Wyatt’s former mentor and now business enemy.
Seduced by the lure of money and to save his skin, Adam is torpedoed into a world of corporate espionage and is soon on the run from the corporate rogues who want his life.
A merry-go-round game of cat and mouse, and a web of deception ensues, culminating to a final broil.
Where will all this be leading us to?
ROBERT LUKETIC is the film director and AMBER HEARD is the pegged add-on female interest.
It may not be a tour de force, but could have been a slick, fast paced and entertaining movie with a tense build-up.
“PARANOIA” has an admirable supporting cast to boot marred by a lack-luster script.
Blame it on the film director’s creative vision and plot treatment.
The end result is what you get.
Now, ham steak anyone?
