Review of War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) by Jedd M — 28 Jul 2017
Like the two prior films, War develops immensely rich ape characters. The cinematography is lush and the acting tremendous. However, the third episode loses the compelling nuance of the prior films, which kept a tension between the nobility and brutality of humans.
Instead, this one resorts to the type of hyperbolic villain one might expect in a bad B movie. Similarly, with little nuance or complexity, it takes not-so subtle swipes at both American patriotism and Christianity, associating both with the worst strains of humanity.
Intriguingly, it also seems to imply that the story that Christians view as the ultimate evidence of God's love -- His willingness to sacrifice His own son on behalf of a fallen humanity -- would actually be evidence of a depraved deity.
It is somewhat ironic that this film, which seeks to call humans toward love and mercy instead of mere survival of the fittest, would jab at the faith that -- its many historical distortions not withstanding -- is so deeply rooted in that very ideal.
This review of War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) was written by Jedd M on 28 Jul 2017.
War for the Planet of the Apes has generally received very positive reviews.
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