2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes grossed over $710 million, becoming the 8th-highest-grossing film of the year. The film earned widespread critical acclaim and even an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects, guaranteeing another sequel. 20th Century Fox was so impressed with Matt Reeves’ cut that they signed him onto direct one more installment. While the studio had a planned release date, they gave Reeves and writer Mark Bomback additional production time. Andy Serkis returned to play the ape leader, Caesar, with Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Gabriel Chavarria, and Amiah Miller joining. With a budget of around $150-152 million, filming took place in Vancouver from October 2015 until March 2016. While initially planned for a 2016 release, 20th Century Fox announced they’d delay it to the following year. After premiering at the SVA Theatre, War for the Planet of the Apes hit theaters in July 2017.
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Synopsis
Following the last film, the apes are at war with a human militia, the “Alpha-Omega,” searching for their colony. Specifically, they’re after the ape’s leader, Caesar (Andy Serkis), who’s searching for a new home for the apes. Unfortunately, a raid by the human militia leads to his wife and eldest son dying, so Caesar vows revenge. Caesar and a group of apes journey to the militia base to eliminate their leader, Colonel J. Wesley McCullough (Woody Harrelson). Along the way, the group meets a young mute girl (Amiah Miller) and an ape called “Bad Ape” (Steve Zahn). Eventually, they make it to the militia base, where they see several apes captured and forced into labor. In addition, it turns out that the Simian Flu has mutated to where those infected lose their intelligence and devolve. Will humanity reclaim its place in the world, or will the apes win the war?
Review
Often, the third part of a trilogy tends to stumble and fall rather than end things on a solid note. Films like The Godfather: Part III and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker are perfect examples of unsatisfying trilogy conclusions. Thankfully, War for the Planet of the Apes is one of those rare exceptions that ends the trilogy strong. First, the effects are easily the best since the first film, showing how much CGI has evolved in six years. The fur, textures, and muscles on the apes look so lifelike that you almost believe they’re real. Of course, it helps that they have great actors like Andy Serkis to make these feel more three-dimensional. Serkis perfectly plays an older, wiser Caesar trying to win a war he never wanted but has to fight. His is a great character arc that comes full circle by the end of this film.
Unlike the last two, this one focuses much more on the apes than the humans, which is a step up. However, that isn’t to say the movie lacks humans; they play a more minor role. While she has no speaking lines, Amiah Miller is memorable as the mute girl the apes name Nova. She shows how, despite conditions for humanity worsening, there’s still hope that they can coexist with the apes. On the opposite end, we have Woody Harrelson as Colonel McCullough, who’s ruthless in his efforts to save humanity. Harrelson does a great job playing such a horrible villain that you almost understand where he’s coming from. He’s not evil for the sake of evil but rather a man who thinks he’s doing good but is wrong. Also, Steven Zahn helps bring some fun as comic relief but never derails the tone.
Like the other two, this one delivers on the action while telling a tense, dramatic story that never lets up. It’s a thrill ride from the opening sequence of the militia hunting the apes to the attack on the compound. Admittedly, the film slows down after that opening sequence, but the pacing is solid enough that it never feels dull. It’s also interesting to see how things have progressed, such as the Simian Flu evolving and apes fighting alongside humans. Little details like this enhance the film while never feeling like they’re there just for the sake of being there. It’s the longest of the trilogy at two hours and twenty minutes, but there’s enough story to justify that runtime. Regardless of how this series continues, this film shows how the franchise lasted for decades. Overall, War for the Planet of the Apes is a fitting conclusion to the trilogy.
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