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

After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. (IMDB)

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 2 hours 20 minutes

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Drama, 

Released: 

Directed by: Matt Reeves

Written by: Mark Bomback, Matt Reeves, Rick Jaffa(based on characters created by)

Starring: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Karin Konoval

War for the Planet of the Apes is the third installment in the series of prequels to Planet of the Apes released in 1968.  If you are looking for a fast-paced, easily-digestible action movie, then steer clear of this one.  The overall pace of the film is sluggish at best, but every “slow” moment is saturated with philosophical themes and profound, realistic emotion.  

As expected, the visuals in the film are breathtaking and the most immersive and believable use of CGI I have ever seen. The eyes of the apes are so detailed and expressive that they challenge you to find a flaw in the special effects. The action scenes are good but not what makes the movie worthwhile, emotion is the real star of this film.

Those who have seen the previous films will appreciate the returning ape characters the most and will feel the gravity of each major event the strongest. The movie also introduces a new character, Bad Monkey, who manages to bring some fiercely needed comic relief while continuing to highlight the thought-provoking themes of the film. I would recommend this movie to any fan of the original or new Planet of the Ape series, as well to any newcomers who are looking for a compelling philosophical journey into what truly makes one "human."

Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆8/10