Review of War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) by Axet — 29 Jul 2017

Absurdly over-rated retread of the last entry with cliché action and contrived emotion. The reboot launch from 2011, "Rise" (10 rating here, and best movie of the year) was excellent because it was a compelling, very clever origin prequel and it had something called dynamics: big story arc, variety of locations and scenery, unpredictability despite the audience knowing where ultimately it was leading, and a wildly good action climax while not totally original, about as much so as these franchise tent pole Hollywood blockbusters get these days. The follow up, "Dawn" (8 rating here) was very good, but not as clever or dynamic as it was a more typical dystopian sci-fi entry lodged in the same dark muddy woods most of the picture. What it had in spades was suspenseful moral conflict making it highly watchable.

Now "War" is just more of the same but not nearly as well plotted, original or unpredictable. It's another overlong slog put out by passionless, spineless studio execs who no longer challenge self-indulgent directors! Its formal filmmaking style is welcome and the VFX are good once again but nothing amazing or visibly new.