War for the Planet of the Apes

Tonight, I finally got a chance to check out the latest "War for the Planet of the Apes" movie, which came out in July. Tonight, I will post my thoughts on it. 

The best thing about the restarted "Planet of the Apes" trilogy has always been the apes. Magnificent on a technical way and a dramatic one, these motion-capture animals – embodying intelligent, even caring chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and bonobos – dominate their human equals when it comes to emotional connection with the audience. They may not be people, but they are, in every respect of the meaning, completely realistic characters. 

Michael O'Sullivan stated in his review, "The title of the newest installment in the durable franchise, “War for the Planet of the Apes,” is something of a misnomer." Seeing how it takes place 15 years after the injection test that started the smart, talking ape colony – and at the peak of damage between these intellectually advanced apes and the more violent of the people who would imprison them – the movie doesn't have that many scenes of serious fighting than parts of quiet thinking and conversation. (Note: Not all of the apes can talk. Many still communicate with sign language. On the other end, several humans have lost their ability to talk because of a virus called the Simian Flu.) 

O'Sullivan said, "All this is explained, for newcomers to the saga, in a short preamble to the action of the new film, which begins with the apes ensconced in their fortified encampment in the deep woods of Northern California. Although the apes just want to be left alone, and there is a contingent of humans who are inclined to leave them in peace, there is an incursion by renegade human commandos." Their leader is a bellicose officer called the Colonel (Woody Harrelson), who murders the wife (Judy Greer) and son (Max Lloyd-Jones) of the apes' peace wanting leader Caesar, reprised by the great Andy Serkis, whose expressive, raspy vocal performance and physical miming controls the film. 

Obviously, this starts a rancor between Caesar and the Colonel, whose men gather and imprison many of the apes, for slave labor at the same time, just as they are moving camp to prevent any other murders. Among those imprisoned: Caesar and his only surviving son, the infant Cornelius, played by Devyn Dalton. 

O'Sullivan mentioned, "With Caesar out of the action, though not out of commission — despite being tied, seething, to a wooden structure that lends him the silhouette of a crucified, simian Jesus — the story shifts to the small band of apes still at large, plus a couple of newcomers." This group includes the amazingly smart elder Maurice the orangutan (Karin Konoval), a mute little human girl whose parents are gone (Amiah Miller) and a loquacious yet scared pessimistic escapee chimp who introduces himself as Bad Ape. O'Sullivan credited, "In this last role, Steve Zahn delivers a memorable turn, transcending a part that might otherwise have been used for little more than comic relief, and leaving viewers with a sense of genuine compassion." 

However, much of this connection can be credited to the actors – and CGI experts – who give life to the ape characters, credit should also be given to the storytelling abilities of director and co-writer Matt Reeves, who did an amazing job with the previous films. O'Sullivan said, "Along with returning writer Mark Bomback, Reeves spins a gripping, visually stunning and emotionally complex tale of otherness — one that examines, against its us-vs.-them subtext, not just what it means to be human, but also humane." 

"War for the Planet of the Apes" may have the look of an action film, but it has the heart of a powerful drama and the intelligence of a political flick. 

This is, hands down, the best of the rebooted Apes trilogy. If you haven't seen this yet, see it if it's still playing in a theater near you. I think it's best to leave it off with this film and not make anymore, seeing how I'm not hearing any talks of another movie. Besides, this series is all about Caesar, so I don't see how they can continue after this film. You'll know what I mean after you see this film. I would say this is the best Apes film since the original. 

Thanks for joining in today, stay tuned this coming Friday for the next installment of "Religious Epics Month."