“I don’t fear you.”
In 2014 audiences were blessed with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, a fascinating tale that allowed us to forget about the 2001 Mark Wahlberg and Helena Bonham Carter atrocity. War for the Planet of the Apes concludes the trilogy that spoiled us all, offering up a brilliant and thought provoking send off that wakes your mind while stirring your spirit.
Opening with an intense attack that re-introduces us to current state of the fictitious planet, Matt Reeves’ film forgoes nothing as it dials in on the grit and violence while still paying respect to the power of friendship and humanity.
Andy Serkis continues to blossom as Caesar, giving us everything we want and more as he courageously leads the charge, fighting against the humans as an act of rebuttal…not vengeance. You often forget you are watching a visual-effects marvel as raw emotions work their way onto the screen, most notably when Caesar declares that he only wants to live in peace - but those damn humans and their fearful sense of the unknown.
During the film’s opening act we are introduced to Caesar’s family and his most loyal soldiers as they live under a waterfall, connected through a maze of tunnels. Though these actors will likely never get the credit they deserve for crafting and delivering such deep, passionate performances, it is the raw emotion of the apes that ultimately sets War apart from its counterparts.
But life isn’t grand for the leader of the apes. Hunting Caesar is one of the last remaining segments of the U.S. Army. Based in the Pacific Northwest, the regime’s leader is played by Woody Harrelson and known only as Colonel. His own backstory is rough and complex, adding to the commonalities shared between the two species.
Unlike prior films War for the Planet of the Apes focuses on the ape’s perception of the war, following them as they are uprooted from their home and forced to travel in hopes for safety nearby. The cultural and historical references laced within the story are heavy and poignant - yes, there is a reference to a wall - adding an additional layer of intelligence to the already complex story. But where Reeves succeeds the most is in the details, refusing to allow the effects and gimmicks to become too obstructive, he focuses in on the story at hand.
The one glitch in the film comes by way of Steve Zahn’s turn as Bad Ape. The character, which is painfully reminiscent of Star Wars’ Jar-Jar Binks, is out of place and a bit random. Once in a zoo he was forced to hide his evolving intelligence for fear of death. Though an interesting backstory, the whole scene is a desperate reference to the Charles Heston 1968 classic - a reference that War didn’t need. The character’s comedic undertone is out of place as it works to lighten the film for younger viewers as the rest dives into dark subject matter.
Beautifully shot and remarkably acted, War successfully creates a world unlike anything we have seen before. The landscapes are pristine; however, at closer glance, you begin to see the small imperfections that lie deep within. These small blemishes create suspense and a yearning for a better understanding - a yearning that Reeves delivers on in both mind and spirit.
