CINEMA often tells us about the curse of conflict and the futility of war.

But while you would expect that from the likes of The Thin Red Line and Platoon, it might come as a surprise from a high fantasy film about an uprising of apes.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the sequel to the 2011 reboot of the series when a supposed Alzheimer's cure gives rise to super-intelligent chimps.

The film catches up with events a decade later when the same ‘miracle cure’ has wiped out most of mankind and caused human civilization to collapse.

Survivors live in the ruins of San Francisco, segregated from the new ape society in the forest.

But when the lights go out, the humans need to access the hydroelectric dam in the apes’ territory to power to the city.

Andy Serkis is brilliant as the motion capture actor who again plays compassionate chimp leader, Caesar.

He allows the humans to work in the dam for a chance at peace.

But heightened tensions and misunderstandings cause trust to break down and violence to erupt despite the best intentions of human group leader Malcolm (Jason Clarke).

What makes ‘Dawn’ stand out is that there are no rousing speeches or glorification of war – it is with fear and regret on both sides that conflict has broken out.

The CGI in Cloverfield director Matt Reeves’ film is astonishing too.

From the hairs on their arms and the emotional depth behind their eyes to the way the apes look swinging through the trees – all done by a computer – you will actually think you are witnessing a simian insurrection.

It makes it a lot easier to suspend your disbelief than it was watching the 1968 Charlton Heston original with actors in ape suits.

‘Dawn’ is not perfect though. The group dynamics lack subtlety with Malcolm and Caesar playing honourable leaders while Carver (Oz and Fringe’s Kirk Acevedo) and ape Koba (Toby Kebbell) play characters consumed by fear and hate.

Most of the other actors make up the numbers especially the usually excellent Gary Oldman, who mostly seems to be in the film for his name on the posters alone.

This is really The Chicago Code actor Clarke’s movie whose character Malcolm finds an understanding with Caesar amid the chaos.

Despite a few problems, ‘Dawn’ is an intelligent and emotional update of the Planet of the Apes story which will eventually lead into Charlton Heston’s adventure with those ‘damn dirty apes’.

A respectful reboot of the series, it might even wipe your memory of Tim Burton’s dreadful remake.