Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
The opening scenes of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes depict a civilization where apes are the superiors. They hunt in packs, communicate with sign language, build forts and have a clear hierarchy. These first moments set up the film perfectly, showing that the apes are perfectly capable of living a peaceful life without the human race. However, this picture of harmony is interrupted by a group of humans, led by Malcolm (Jason Clarke). After a tense stand off, the humans return to San Francisco, where the citizens are trying to rebuild their lives. Here we see the disastrous effect that the simian flu outbreak had on the human race, and the vast difference between the apes' progress and the human's regress. Tension between the humans and the apes rises as Malcolm and his family return to the forest to try and make peace. Caesar, the leader of the apes, whose story was first told in Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), is shown as a powerful, wise figure and can be considere...