Review of War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) by Christopher E — 14 Jul 2017

A solid conclusion to an amazing trilogy.

In War for the Planet of the Apes, the third chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster franchise, 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.

Being a huge fan of the Apes trilogy, I was more than excited for this film. Although I still think "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" is the best film in the trilogy, I still thought this was a great way to end the series. This film looks the best out of all three films, continuing with its amazing CGI and motion capture performances. I want to say that they set the standard for what films should look like, but that would just be unfair. This film looks amazing and even if you don't like it, there's no denying that they have broken barriers in terms of motion capture.

In terms of story, I think this was the most emotional film within the trilogy. There were plenty of moments where I had goosebumps and chills down my spine, while simultaneously on the verge of emotional instability. There are some shots in here that I genuinely love and I wish I could just put them on repeat. The screenplay was very well written and before you watch this, I think the title can be a bit misleading. Yeah, I guess there's a war going on, but this film is a lot slower than the other ones. There's not a ton of action in this film, which is fine, but your expectations could hurt you more than they help you.

Even though I'm sure it won't happen, I honestly think that Andy Serkis deserves an Oscar for his performance here. What he does to capture the character of Caesar and make it his own is stunning. What he did here is going to be very underrated but at the same time, he deserves all the recognition he can get. He, along with the rest of the cast, all did amazing jobs. The only person I thought felt out of place was Woody Harrelson. I just personally think that he wasn't a right fit for his character, but it doesn't mean he did a bad job.

In the end, I don't think this was the best film in the franchise, but it certainly is a great ending for it. It's an emotional ride and certainly one you don't want to miss.