The Dean of Cinema

Written by Dean Zarbaugh II

For freedom. For family. For the planet. Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.

Matt Reeves returns to the director’s chair to bring the Apes trilogy to a thrilling and explosive conclusion. Years of fighting has finally boiled over into all out war for survival. Will the apes be victorious, or will humans rid the planet of these damn dirty apes once and for all?

War For the Planet of the Apes picks up a few years after the events of Dawn and finds Caesar and his clan living in a hidden refuge deep in the Muir Woods. When their shelter is discovered by the bloodthirsty Colonel, he starts them down a path from which there is no going back. Reeves and cinematographer Michael Seresin bring their visual flair back to the franchise and turn in the most beautiful looking film in the trilogy. The scenes outside in the snow are nothing short of stunning. Reeves brings the audience into Caesar’s struggle for co-existence with humans after Koba’s actions in Dawn. He battles with being able to let go of the past and get revenge on the Colonel for killing those he love, but in doing so, he puts his clan in even greater danger. Will he be able to let go, and bring his clan the home and future they deserve, or will his grudge spell the end of the apes?

Reeves also takes over writing duties, collaborating with Dawn’s co-writer Mark Bomback. The result is a compelling, tightly paced story filled with action, suspense, drama and heart. They put the pedal to the metal and don’t slow down until the very end. War showcases Caesar’s inner turmoil of letting go of the past and embracing the future. He makes decisions that have major repercussions on the future of the ape colony. On the opposite side, the Colonel is driven by a compulsion to set things right after the devastation brought on by the Simian Flu.

Andy Serkis returns again as Caesar, the anchor to this trilogy. Between the performance by Serkis and Weta’s top notch work on the visual effects, Caesar comes to life like never before. He was absolutely robbed of an Academy Award nomination for his performance. It’s one of the biggest oversights on the Academy’s part. He has carried this franchise on his back the entire time. That’s not saying anything bad about the other fantastic actors who turn in career defining performances as well, but audiences have been following Caesar since he was a baby. This is his story.

As amazing as Serkis is, there are a couple other standout ape performances in this film. First up is Karin Konoval as Maurice. Konoval has played Maurice in all three films, and gives Maurice a quiet, but wise personality that makes for the perfect balance to Serkis as Caesar. He is the secondary heartbeat of the trilogy. Maurice advises Caesar and gives him a look at the whole picture in times of stress and doubt. Konoval is an alum of my favorite tv show, Psych, and it’s fun to see her in a much different role in War. The other performance I want to single out is Steve Zahn as Bad Ape. Ever since seeing Zahn in Werner Herzog’s film Rescue Dawn, I knew he had the ability to turn in a great performance beyond the funny guy persona he usually dons in films. In just one scene he’s able to fully captivate you and bring you into the journey that led him to Caesar. Zahn also gives the film a lift in some of its darker moments with trademark warmth and lighthearted nature. Oftentimes timid, and forced into places and situations that scare him, Bad Ape overcomes this and helps protect the colony during the final battle and escape.

Woody Harrelson plays the ruthless Colonel, turning in a performance reminiscent of Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now. He wants humans to remain at the top of the food chain and will do anything to ensure that result even at the cost of his own soldiers. He’s seen the results of the Simian Flu on the remaining survivors and looks to rid the Earth of the cause. It’s a layered performance, with real motivations that push him into becoming who he is. It’s nowhere near Brando as Kurtz, but it’s a decent facsimile for the Planet of the Apes universe, and Harrelson nails the vibe Reeves was going for with the character.

Weta Digital reaches all new heights in visual effects work on War For the Planet of the Apes. The apes are incredibly lifelike and the actors portraying them give such emotional performances that translates into memorable acting that’s will be talked about for years.

Reeves and company deliver a powerful finale to Caesar’s story, capping off his journey with his most important battle yet. Michael Giacchino returns to score the film which helps heighten the emotional magnitude of the story. The final product will excite you and move you to tears. It’s been a long, hard journey for Caesar and his colony. Will it all be for nothing? Watch War of the Planet of the Apes to find out.

Grade: A