Written and Directed by Matt Reeves
Co-written by Mark Bomback
Starring Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson and Steve Zahn
‘A Breathtaking Achievement’
Ever since it started in 2011, the Planet of the Apes franchise has wowed audiences around the world. A breathtaking combination of visual effects and storytelling, it has pushed the boundaries of technology. It all began with 2011’s groundbreaking “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”. A surprise hit, it set a high bar for the franchise. It was immediately followed by “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” in 2014. A worthy follow-up, it was one of those rare sequels that improved on it’s predecessor.
By this point, you would think that this long-running franchise would lose steam. There seems to be a trend where the third films in a franchise don’t always live up to expectations. However, that is definitely not the case with “War for the Planet of the Apes”. Thrilling, emotional and powerfully acted, the latest installment brings the apes saga to a stunning conclusion. Using impressive visual effects and incredible motion-capture performances, director Matt Reeves has crafted a satisfying end to the apes trilogy. It combines masterful storytelling with stunning visual effects to cap off one of the best movie trilogies of the decade.
Following the events of “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”, “War for the Planet of the Apes” finds Caesar and his clan of apes in danger. This time, they are hunted by a ruthless Colonel and his army. After the apes suffer countless loses, Caesar decides to take matters into his own hands and start a war against the humans.
If there is any director that knows how to perfectly end a trilogy, it’s Matt Reeves. With “War for the Planet of the Apes”, Reeves proves that he is an expert at combining visual effects with storytelling. It is tricky to balance storytelling with visual effects. Usually, movies are either driven by engaging stories or eye-catching visual effects. However, “War for the Planet of the Apes” is one of those rare blockbusters that excels at both. Not only does it offer a deeply moving story, but also the most breathtaking visual effects you will see in a movie this year.
Visually, “War for the Planet of the Apes” is stunning and a technical achievement. Like the previous entries in the franchise, it offers spectacular visual effects that demand to be seen on the big-screen. It’s been three years since we last saw Caesar on the big-screen, so it’s interesting to see how visual effects have improved. As technology has evolved over the years, so have the apes. Whether it is the fur on their skin or their eyes, the apes are brought to life using impressive motion-capture work. At times, the apes are so realistic that you almost forget that you’re watching CGI creations.
These apes are brought to life by a talented cast of motion-capture actors. These actors give brilliant performances and bring real emotion to the apes. It’s hard to not gape in awe at the way these actors bring the apes to life.
Andy Serkis delivers the best performance of his career as Caesar. Throughout his career, Serkis has played a wide range of strange and fascinating characters from Gollum in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy to King Kong. However, Caesar may be his finest role to date. With intense facial expressions and a commanding tone of voice, Serkis really transforms into the ape. It’s a marvellous performance that is worthy of awards and recognition. After many years of being overlooked for his work as a motion-capture artist, Andy Serkis finally deserves everyone’s attention.
The rest of the cast- which is populated by apes and humans- is also worthy of recognition. Steve Zahn is hilarious and steals many scenes as the comical Bad Ape. Karin Konoval is adorable and touching as Maurice. And despite limited screen-time, Woody Harrelson is fantastic in the role of the maniacal Colonel.
Aside from the performances, another praiseworthy aspect of “War for the Planet of the Apes” is Michael Giacchino’s score. Haunting, heartbreaking and unforgettable, the music fits in perfectly with the dark tone of the film. Not only does the music add suspense and tension, but it enhances the movie to another level.
Although “War for the Planet of the Apes” is thoroughly engrossing from start to finish, it is not without a minor flaw. The only slight drawback to the film is the running time. At nearly 2 and a half hours, the movie is overlong and drags towards the end. Although I was never bored while watching the movie, I felt it dragged at a slow pace. Viewers looking for an action-packed ride may be disappointed, because this film isn’t that. Instead, it’s a slow-paced character-driven film that takes time to unfold.
In the end, “War for the Planet of the Apes” is a powerful conclusion to the apes trilogy. A towering technical achievement, it brings the series to a sad yet satisfying resolution. If this truly is the last time we see Caesar and his apes on the big-screen, it’s one hell of a high note to go out on…
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 
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