Friday, July 14, 2017

War for the Planet of the Apes Movie Review

Andy Serkis (center) stars in War for the Planet of the Apes

What Would Caesar Do?

Rotten Tomatoes Plot: In War for the Planet of the Apes, the third chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster franchise, Caesar (Andy Serkis) and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel (Woody Harrelson.) 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. Directed by Matt Reeves.


Harrelson's Colonel declares, "King Kong is dead." Despite some of the best computer-generated imagery ever, I'm kinda relieved to be done with the Planet of the Apes trilogy. The first chapter was spectacular; but the two sequels (a combined, way overlong 271 minutes) literally ran out of things to say. War for the Planet of the Apes is gorgeous to look at, with a few funny moments (Steve Zahn's Bad Ape) and some bonafide sentimentality; but it's basically Apocalypse Now meets The Bridge on the River KwaiThe Great Escape with sign language (and incredibly badass, lifelike primates.)

Grade: B-