Today’s quick review: War for the Planet of the Apes. Fifteen years after a virus decimated humanity and granted apes intelligence, Caesar (Andy Serkis) leads his tribe of apes in their struggle to survive in the harsh wilderness. But when a ruthless Army colonel (Woody Harrelson) makes it his mission to exterminate the apes, Caesar must choose between leading the tribe to safety and embarking on a lone mission of revenge.
War for the Planet of the Apes is a science fiction movie and the third Planet of the Apes prequel. Set two years after Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, War for the Planet of the Apes continues the story of Caesar, his family, and his tribe as they fight for their future against a humanity pushed to the brink of extinction. The movie boasts impressive dramatic storytelling, flawless CGI, and grounded sci-fi speculation.
War for the Planet of the Apes has the same outstanding quality as its predecessors. The action is organic and effective. Stunning CGI and skillful motion capture bring the apes to life, imbuing them with greater nuance than many human characters. The plot’s structure and pacing are both on point, and the film’s dramatic moments hit the right notes. The speculative elements are handled intelligently: plausible and thorough extrapolation from a simple premise.
The one major catch is that the movie occupies a specific niche it shares with its predecessors. War for the Planet of the Apes sits at the intersection of several particular genres, including action, drama, and realistic sci-fi. Fans of the fun side of action and sci-fi may not appreciate the film’s serious tone; drama fans may be put off by the far-fetched premise. But the quality of the film is high enough to overcome most of these genre-based foibles.
Watch War for the Planet of the Apes if you are a fan of the series or you are in the mood for well-executed post-apocalyptic drama. War for the Planet of the Apes is a polished movie that handles all aspects of its storytelling with skill and care. How much you get out of it will depend on your tastes, but those even mildly interested should start with Rise of the Planet of the Apes and go from there. Skip it if you disliked the other prequel films.
7.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for rock-solid storytelling.