Ape vs human in the 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes'

MANILA, Philippines- Can humans and apes co-exist in this world?

This is what's being tackled by the film “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” where the story starts 10 years after the Simian Flu virus almost wiped out the humans.

In the previous film, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” Ceasar and his community of apes isolated themselves in Muir Woods near San Francisco to prevent the Simian Flu Virus from infecting more humans.

As a group of virus-resistant human survivors try to recover from the devastation brought about by the virus, the conflict between men and apes arises.

“There is this question of co-existence,” explains director Matt Reeves. “So, this is that one moment when it could have been Planet Of The Humans And Apes. And that’s what we’re exploring in this story: how that fell apart.”

Now a husband and a father to two offsprings, the ape community leader Ceasar stars again in the film as he not only fights to protect his kind but also his family.

“In this movie, Caesar goes from being a revolutionary to a leader and a father and someone who has to lead through very difficult times,” concludes Reeves. “In that sense, the ambition is for him to be an ape Lawrence Of Arabia.”

The other characters that will appear again are Koba (Toby Kebbell), the ape who grew up as subject for experiments in laboratories that made him hate humans; Cornelia, the “gentle ape” who is the wife of Ceasar; , one of Ceasar's loyal allies; Rocket (Terry Notary) and Maurice (Karin Konoval), a former circus orangutan who now teaches the younger ape generation.

Also starring the film are Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, Gary Oldman and Andy Serkis.

“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” is screened in 2D, 3D, and 4DX, and will be in Philippine cinemas on July 9.