It’s been a while since I had something worth reviewing. Let’s get to it.

What’s It About? In the ruins of San Francisco, a group of human survivors and a tribe of super-intelligent apes find themselves on the brink of war with each other.

STRAIGHT UP: I loved it. Tense, tragic, and surprisingly emotional. 9/10

What I Liked

Andy Serkis as Caesar – Watching Caesar on the screen, it’s hard to believe that a human actor is providing the basis for all of his expressions and movements. Serkis really is the master of this particular acting domain. As a character, Caesar is complex, yet relatable – even more so than the human cast. I think audiences are meant to recognize him as the true protagonist in this film.

Toby Kebbell as Koba – Kebbell also deserves credit for the job he does as Caesar’s rival. Koba is, at least early on, a more sympathetic villain than expected, and he’s featured in some of the movie’s best moments.

All the apes, really – From their photo-realistic hair and eyes to their authentic movements to their distinctive harsh voices, the apes onscreen are marvels of modern CG production.

A blockbuster with something to say – There’s more thematic depth in Dawn than I ever expected. The narrative weaves together meaningful messages about trust, leadership, humanity, and the nature of war – and delivers them through a story that plays more like a classical tragedy than a summertime shoot-em-up.

General intensity – Both apes and humans stand to lose a lot from all-out war, but the screenplay sets things up so that almost every interaction between the two sides is potentially volatile. Even during cool-down scenes, there’s plenty of dramatic tension.

The action scenes – There are only a few set-piece action scenes, but they’re very well done. The apes’ raid on San Francisco, featuring machinegun-wielding apes on horseback, is awesome; so is the final clash between Caesar and Koba.

What I Disliked

Thin human characters – Even the major human characters in this movie ultimately feel like supporting cast. Their backstories and personalities are given minimal attention. I found myself wanting to know why Malcolm (Jason Clarke) was sympathetic to the apes, or how Dreyfus (Gary Oldman) came to lead the human survivors, among other things. While the apes are the stars, not investing more in the human cast feels like a missed opportunity to heighten the emotional stakes.

CLOSING THOUGHT: I feel like Dawn of the Planet of the Apes didn’t need to be this good – even if it had just been another forgettable summer action blockbuster, it would’ve done just fine at the box office. But the people responsible for this movie worked hard to make it great, and I’m so thankful that they did. Dawn has a better narrative, a better understanding of its own themes, better signature moments, and a better sense of spectacle than almost any other movie that has hit theaters this season. The latest installments in the Planet of the Apes franchise have proven that intelligent films can still have mass appeal, and I will be eagerly awaiting the next one.