War for the Planet of the Apes Review

War for the Planet of the Apes

Release Date: 27th July 2017 - Australia

Production Companies

20th Century Fox

Chermin Entertainment

TSG Entertainment (in association with)

Distribution

20th Century Fox Australia

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

 
Runtime: 140 minutes

Budget: $150,000,000

Box Office Gross: $490,719,763 (Worldwide) 

Plot Summary

Highly intelligent Caesar and his ape colony are engaged in a heated battle with power-hungry humans. At the loss of several apes, Caesar is enraged and vows to avenge his fallen primates. To do so, he knows he'll have to combat the leader of the humans, a merciless Colonel. 

Whichever way the battle goes, the fate of apes and the future of Planet Earth hang in the balance. (Source - Metro Cinemas)

Cast

The Apes

Andy Serkis - Caesar

Steve Zahn - Bad Ape

Karin Konoval - Maurice

Terry Notary - Rocket

Ty Olsson - Red

Michael Adamthwaite - Luca

Max Lloyd-Jones - Blue Eyes

Judy Greer - Cornelia

Toby Kebbell - Kopa 

Sara Canning - Lake

Devyn Dalton - Cornelius

Aleks Paunovic - Winter
Alessandro Juliani - Spear
Timothy Webber - Ape Elder

The Humans

Woody Harrelson - Colonel

Amiah Miller - Nova

Gabriel Chavarria - Preacher
Chad Rook - Boyle
Roger Cross - Captain
Mercedes de la Zerda - Lang
Doug Chapman - Alpha Omega Deserter
Shaun Omaid - Soldier Who Sees Ape
James Pizzinato - Captured Solider
Dean Redman - Commanding Officer

Crew

Writer/Director - Matt Reeves

Based on Novel and Suggested Concept
"La Planete des Singes" - Pierre Boulle (Uncredited)

Based on Characters/

Producers - Rick Jaffa and 

Amanda Silver

Writer/Executive Producer - Mark Bomback

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - Mary McLaglen 

Executive Producer - Jenno Topping

Producers - Dylan Clark and Peter Chermin

Co-Producer/Visual Effects Producer - Ryan Stafford

Casting Director - Debra Zane

Production Designer - James Chinlund

Costume Designer - Melissa Bruning

Director of Photography - Michael Seresin

Second Unit Director - Bradley Parker
Stunt Coordinator/Movement Choreographer -
Terry Notary
Stunt Coordinator - John Stoneham Jr.
Stunt Coordinator/Horse Stunts - Danny Virtue

Special Effects Supervisors - Dan Cervin and
Joel Whilst

Senior Visual Effects Supervisor - Joe Letteri

Visual Effects Supervisors - Dan Lemmon,
Luke Millar and Erik Winquist

Visual Effects Supervisor: Weta Digital - Mark Gee
Visual Effects Producer - Ryan Stafford
Creative Visual Effects Art Director/Texture Supervisor -
Gino Acevedo

Animation Supervisors - Daniel Barrett,
Sidney Kombo, Dennis Yoo and Emile Ghorayeb
Models Supervisor: Weta Digital - Florian Fernandez

Film Editors - William Hoy and Stan Salfas

Music - Michael Giacchino

Review

The 'Apes' trilogy has come to a screeching halt with its recent third instalment of 'WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES'. Director Matt Reeves is among those crew members that have returned to conclude the extensive chapter of the apes' re-told origins. The story-line of the third instalment was bleaker, heartbreaking and more interesting than the first two. I am surprised how this instalment turned out good with a more brooding atmosphere and less human protagonists (sans one). It's supposed to show us the outcome of the warring conflict between the apes and the humans in their battle for inheritance. It's simply unexpected for the apes to win the fight for domination.

So much has changed for Andy Serkis being his last time in the mo-cap as the ape-leader Caesar, who is now more vengeful than ever and is struggling to face his inner demons. Steve Zahn was funny as the film's comic relief as Bad Ape whom becomes a great help to Caesar and the other apes in their cause. Woody Harrelson was a gentleman actor and was rather outstanding to portray a vicious military colonel who is just as bad as the other humans that were unpleasant, cruel, selfish and misguided. His character was very much an extremist only that he is trying to preserve humanity above ape. The music score by Michael Giacchino was absolutely vivid and breathtaking to listen too. The score hit the right cords to portray emotion in situations of torture and prison confinement.

'WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES' feels like an end to the characters and not the series itself, which could mean there may be a few more 'Apes' films in the future. It could possibly lead to a remake of the 1968 classic which is unlike the drastically altered version by Tim Burton. It's a fantastic movie that could never be forgotten by its fan-base and is a must-see on the big screen.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

Back to Home