Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes TV Spots Depend On Caesar And Critical Praise
This article is more than 2 years old
The next movie up on our summer blockbuster list, now that Michael Bay and Transformers: Age of Extinction have smashed through theaters worldwide, is Matt Reeves’ Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, a movie we’ve been rather excited about for quite a while. We’re now less than a week away from finally getting to see the sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes, a reboot of the beloved franchise, and 20th Century Fox has released two new TV spots to get you ready.
Dawn has already screened for a number of film critics across the country—we’re not included in that group and have to wait until later this week—and both of these short spots largely focus on the reaction by those who have seen the film. Both videos are full of quotes praising the film superimposed over the man-versus-ape action.
Thus far, critical reaction has been almost entirely positive. Of the 16 reviews currently listed on aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, only one is negative. The remainder, however, aren’t just tepid approval. They don’t say things like, you know, this was pretty good, you might want to consider buying a ticket. No, they’re full of admiration and endorsements, calling the film groundbreaking, better than the original, the best movie of the summer, and all the usual manner of hyperbole.
While this acclaim takes the center stage, this first spot also has a fair amount of meat on its bones. You get the chance to witness more interaction between the humans and the apes. There are a number of quiet, intimate moments between the two groups on display here. In the wake of the events of the first movie, ten years have passed, and a vicious plague has decimated the human population. As a result, the two sides inch closer and closer to war, and you see the pressure that the ape leader, Caesar (Andy Serkis) is under. Not only do his own kind depend on him for protection, to keep them safe, but there are humans who also rely on him as well.
The close ups of the apes, specifically their faces, drives home exactly how incredible the CGI and motion capture Reeves and company use has become. You see every subtle movement, each change in expression, no matter how understated and delicate. And if it looks this good on your computer, just imagine how it will come across in 3D on an IMAX screen.
This second commercial is fine, though it is doesn’t offer up much in the way of new material or anything that you haven’t already seen before. The focus is obviously to use other people’s words to tell you how awesome their movie is. It’s good, but isn’t anything particularly special.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes opens July 11, and stars Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Judy Greer, Toby Kebbell, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and more.
