War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) Movie Review

Official War for the Planet of the Apes Poster

The third entry in the newly rebooted series, the second one helmed by Matt Reeves, after having directed Dawn. It is a very solid film, narratively speaking. The story is compelling and Matt chooses an interesting way to approach it. War is a movie primarily about the apes and their struggles and the audience is invited to see this world through their eyes; and quite successfully, I must say.

The screenplay has vast sequences of the apes interacting with each other, making silence and body language key players. This aspect is preserved impeccably, as the soundtrack serves the story with its ominous beats. The cinematography is great and the apes have never looked better; I mean, we are living the golden age of technology and the way CGI is used here will make you forget that it is there. But believe me, it is there. Besides the common use of green screen, we still have motion capture, at its best.

Two species prepare to enter the battle, in War for the Planet of the Apes

The apes have never felt so human (this is an integral part of the plot, by the way). Caesar’s arc in this film is one of vengeance and hatred, which is striking, considering the character`s past motivations. Andy Serkis portrays him flawlessly, continuing to reassure moviegoers he is the king of motion capture. Seriously, the amount of empathy and raw emotion conveyed through Caesar’s eyes and speech is just mind blowing. Woody Harrelson plays the Colonel, a man who has sacrificed everything and is conflicted in his own way. Woody delivers a fine performance and it was amazing to watch their clash of opinions unfold before my eyes. There was the inclusion of Bad Ape, a new character, that, at first, I was skeptical about. How could comedy fit into this theme? I am glad I was wrong. Since the film is constantly building tension, Bad Ape is necessary for comedic relief purposes. It was a risk that ultimately paid off.

Apes riding on horsebacks. Cool, right?

Speaking of risks, the subplot with the girl seen in the trailers was a delight to witness. She was a symbol of innocence and hope; ingredients that were somewhat scarce, between all that wreckage and destruction. With that being said, I firmly believe this is a good film, filled with drama, populated with strong characters and sprinkled with genuine moments of joy. Perfect conclusion to the Planet of the Apes’ trilogy.

After careful consideration, I rate this movie with a B+. Have you seen War for the Planets of the Apes? Do you think it was a good way to end the trilogy? Jump into the comments' section down below and share your thoughts!