I will admit my bias. I am a Planet of the Apes and have been ever since I saw Planet of the Apes as a child. It’s a bit like pizza, even bad pizza is still pretty good.

That being said, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is well worth watching. Although, skip the 3-D which adds little to this film.

Original Apes fans will see threads of both Battle for the Planet of the Apes and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. While, Dawn is not a retelling of either story, the plot is predictable to even one who reads a synopsis of the original five movie story arc.

New Apes fans will also enjoy this one. It stands on its own two feet. It is faster pasted than Rise of the Planet of the Apes providing quite a bit more action as well as more insight into “ape culture”.

Like all modern science fiction films, the special effects are excellent. The digital rendering of the apes makes one wonder when we will replace human actors. However, I could do without the 3-D, which does little to enhance the special effects.

The best special effect of the movie, at least for this Bay Area resident, is the rendering of San Francisco. I’m always fascinated of artists post apocalyptic renderings. Add a city I know and love, you’ve made me a fan. Too bad they did not show the dunes reclaiming the Outer Sunset.

Fo me the most interesting thing about any of the apes film is my fascination with them. Analyzing this after the film lead me the three themes in which my fascination is based:

One: We are them and they are us. Anyone who learns a little about real apes, or rather primates, understands primates demonstrate many of the same sociological customs as humans. The Apes films use this to explore ideas of love, hate, friendship, trust, betrayal, bigotry and forgiveness. However, seeing everyday themes played out by apes separates the “me” from the story and allows us to explore, and acknowledge, the simple solutions to which we aspire but so often fall short of.

Two: But for the grace of god . . .. The apes films demonstrate that we are not so far advanced from our primate brethren, which so many of as beneath us. How quickly we would devolve into animalistic chaos but for those systems which make the hunt for food a simple drive to the grocery store. Also, how quickly would another animal rise to dominance but for our technological toys?

Three: The taint of human civilization. Watching the apes films, one realizes that the film’s ape culture is affected by human culture. While watching this film, one sees the extent to which lessons learned from humans influence the apes’ way of life. It leaves one wondering, if apes spontaneously reached a our level of cognitive development in the absence of us, would ape culture develop on a parallel track to human culture?

So, in the end, a good film that gets one thinking. See it on the big screen and enjoy the special effects.