Rating: 6/10

Ten years after the pandemic of the deadly ALZ-113 virus, later called the Simian Flu, the worldwide human population was drastically reduced, with only about one in 500 genetically immune to the virus. Meanwhile, the apes, under the chimpanzee Caesar, all bestowed with genetically enhanced intelligence by the virus, have long established a colony in the Muir Woods near San Francisco.

One day, a group of humans, led by a man named Malcolm, enter the apes’ territory from San Francisco in search of a hydroelectric dam that would restore power to the city. An encounter by Caesar’s son Blue Eyes and his friend Ash leads to the latter’s injury by a man named Carver. Malcolm manages to prevent further escalation, while Caesar orders the humans to leave. Prompted by Koba, a scarred bonobo who holds a grudge against humans for his mistreatment as a test subject, Caesar brings his army to the humans’ community at an unfinished tower as a display of strength. Caesar announces his intent to fight the humans if forced to, while demanding the humans to stay in their territory. Malcolm convinces his fellow leader Dreyfus to give him time to take a small team to the forest and reconcile with the apes so they can access the dam. He meets with Caesar, who allows them to work on the generator on the condition that they surrender their guns. As Malcolm, his wife Ellie and son Alexander work, they bond with the apes. The fragile bonding is greatly helped when Ellie, a nurse, effectively treats Caesar’s wife Cornelia’s illness. (Source: wikipedia.org)