It's been nearly 50 years since the Planet of the Apes franchise first started, and although making sequels and prequels appears to be the norm nowadays, the prequel trilogy starring Andy Serkis in the role of Caesar may prove to be one of the most popular and successful reboots to date.
Directed and co-written by Matt Reeves, the film delivers what everyone has been waiting for: the final battle between Apes and Humans. Having survived a disease that wiped out the majority of humankind in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the remaining survivors are faced with a choice: to spend the remnants of their days in fear of extinction or to stand and fight for their future.
"Apes Together Strong!"
Reprising their roles alongside Andy Serkis are Karin Konoval (Maurice), Terry Notary (Rocket), Devyn Dalton (Cornelius), Michael Adamthwaite (Luca) and Judy Greer (Cornelia). And joining the overwhelmingly fantastic cast most notably are Woody Harrelson (The Colonel), Steve Zahn (Bad Ape) and Amiah Miller (Nova).
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
Straight away this film apart is set apart by the brilliant re-composing of the 20th Century Fox theme, heavily packed with wooden, earthy war-mongering sounds - the perfect premise for a battle that starts sooner than one expects. The severity of the situation is revealed almost instantly as armed soldiers creep up a woodland bank, 'Monkey Killer' and 'Bedtime for Bonzo' scrawled in white paint on the backs of their helmets. Whist providing a summary of the prior plot-line, the opening sequence avoids being cliche with an extremely long shot that leaves one waiting with both anticipation and apprehension for the events to follow. And as the title is slowly revealed, the highlighting of the text is satisfyingly climactic as all three films are intricately bound together.
From snow-covered mountains to thick forests and military compounds, the audience is invited to join Caesar on an almost suicidal mission of revenge after the war takes a personal toll on his family. No more is he the sweet, innocent young ape we first met in Rise; he is now his own self, a leader, warrior, and thirsty for blood. This darker theme runs throughout the movie, touching on Caesar's guilt and personal struggle with his emotions and what he has fought to stand for. The motto 'Ape not kill Ape' is called into question several times, and an old enemy makes a surprising appearance.
Opposite Caesar is an extraordinarily extremist military leader: a man hell-bent on surviving and ridding the earth of the plague of apes that have infiltrated his world. Whilst there is a methodical madness and unforgiving nature to him on one hand, there is a grieving father on the other. Woody Harrelson plays The Colonel with a subtle brilliancy, his quietly demeanour both disturbing and compelling as the horrific truth is finally revealed.
"Bad guys" are no longer misrepresented as all black and no white; they are grey, multifaceted, multilayered characters that tear at the heartstrings and yet torment the mind with the knowledge that their salvation may never come. The Colonel is without one of those "bad guys", and Harrelson's delivery of him is superb.
Prior films have had their funny moments, but War for the Planet of the Apes goes beyond and presents an almost slapstick comedy sidekick who is far more endearing than one expects. Though having spent much of his life alone after escaping his compound, and having learnt to speak on his own, Bad Ape proves himself to be a valuable asset and trusted friend.
The audience were laughing out loud at his whimsical remarks, the way he dawdled around bumping into things, and fantastic comedy timing. His on-screen presence provides much relief for the characters and the audience as both are left baffled by his bumbling clumsiness and amusing reactions to the worst possible situations. Bad Ape, played by Steve Zahn is certainly a breath of fresh air against the backdrop of bloodshed and hardship.
And then there is Nova. A silent role in a modern movie is quite rare these days, but Amiah Miller's character has no speaking lines at all. Pulling the audience in with her enchanting smile, her tears and her bravery, Nova seems to be the only remaining link with the apes and the humans as she discovers the simian world.
She makes a connection with each ape: Maurice, who teaches her to understand a world she cannot communicate with; Luca, who offers friendship in the simple act of picking a sprig of blossom for her; and Caesar, who despite his fixation on revenge, is touched by her kindness to both him and his kind. Miller is without doubt outstanding in her generation, and will hopefully make many appearances in the filmmaking world. It also goes to show that perhaps dialogue isn't everything when it comes to making a movie.
Motion capture has come a long way since it was first developed - having first sprung up in the 1970's, but really becoming prominent in 2002 with Gollum in the second Lord of the Rings film: The Two Towers. Now, after so many years of practice and technological advances, it seems it couldn't possibly get any better. The incredible detail in the animation is powerfully realistic; one forgets that there is an actor behind the digital mask.
In a movie with little dialogue, motion capture is brought directly to the forefront where it allows the audience to indulge in raw emotion: the stolen glances, the simple acts that bring a character to life. Andy Serkis is a true master of the niche technique, and it is delightful to watch others follow in his footsteps and make their own mark on the Motion Capture world.
Motion capture has come a long way since it was first developed - having first sprung up in the 1970's, but really becoming prominent in 2002 with Gollum in the second Lord of the Rings film: The Two Towers. Now, after so many years of practice and technological advances, it seems it couldn't possibly get any better. The incredible detail in the animation is powerfully realistic; one forgets that there is an actor behind the digital mask.
In a movie with little dialogue, motion capture is brought directly to the forefront where it allows the audience to indulge in raw emotion: the stolen glances, the simple acts that bring a character to life. Andy Serkis is a true master of the niche technique, and it is delightful to watch others follow in his footsteps and make their own mark on the Motion Capture world.
"All of human history has lead to this moment..."
- The Colonel
As witnessed in Dawn, it was only a matter of time before the coexistence between Human and Ape gave way to an overpowering side. With the threat of humankind's extinction hanging in the balance, the audience is suddenly faced with a major dilemma: Human or Ape? As we've watched the Apes grow and develop, their knowledge and intelligence increasing as they learn more of the world around them, passing that information down to the younger generations, it comes almost as a shock when the humans start travelling in the opposite direction.
On one side the humans are represented as egotistical military maniacs with little to no mercy, and on the other they are an endangered species struggling to pick up the remaining pieces of their lives. In losing their ability to speak, due to the mutated virus that kick-started the entire situation, the humans lose part of their humanity - which brings to mind images of the dumb humans found in the Ape camps by Charlton Heston in the original Planet of the Apes.
- The Colonel
As witnessed in Dawn, it was only a matter of time before the coexistence between Human and Ape gave way to an overpowering side. With the threat of humankind's extinction hanging in the balance, the audience is suddenly faced with a major dilemma: Human or Ape? As we've watched the Apes grow and develop, their knowledge and intelligence increasing as they learn more of the world around them, passing that information down to the younger generations, it comes almost as a shock when the humans start travelling in the opposite direction.On one side the humans are represented as egotistical military maniacs with little to no mercy, and on the other they are an endangered species struggling to pick up the remaining pieces of their lives. In losing their ability to speak, due to the mutated virus that kick-started the entire situation, the humans lose part of their humanity - which brings to mind images of the dumb humans found in the Ape camps by Charlton Heston in the original Planet of the Apes.
"I did not start this war. I offered you peace. I showed you mercy. But now you're here to finish us off... for good"
- Caeser
Given the action-packed trailers and stunning opening sequence, one might expect this film to be a full-out battle for the entire 2 hours and 20 minutes. Instead the audience are thrust into a much more personal war between the two kinds - or so it would appear. Caeser's determination to hunt down the man responsible for his loss blinds him from the bigger picture and unravels the inevitable dangers of acting on emotions in war. This turn of events may be disappointing to some, and perhaps the trailer was a little misleading, but this storyline is in no way predictable nor cliche.
The character of Caeser has grown so much throughout the trilogy. We have watched him grow from a young ape first discovering his place in the world, to teacher, leader, father and warrior. His personal struggle in War for the Planet of the Apes brings to light the dark temptation of giving in to hatred and the choice that all must face in the end: to be consumed by revenge, or to forgive. The film rounds off Caeser's character arc with dignity, providing the perfect ending for the Ape leader.As we near the story's end, the camera rests of the ape colony and their newfound home and then smoothly tilts up to reveal a clear sky. Going back to Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the audience witnesses the launching of the Mars Mission and this shot alone brings their return into question. Could this lead to a remake of Charlton Heston first landing on the Planet of the Apes?
It's the end of an era, the end of Caeser's story, but one cannot help but wonder if there is still more to come...
See here for the trailer
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