Combining special effects and a powerful narrative, the blockbuster trilogy reaches its conclusion, taking the throne as one of the top movies on the local scene at Clickthecity.com and enjoying a full 5-star Users’ Rating.
As indicated by Rotten Tomatoes, War for the Planet of the Apes has also reached fever pitch anticipation. Not only that, but the movie has also scored a 98 percent in the want-to-see meter while boasting a 96 percent high on the critics’ corner.
Delving into new realms of legend-building, the movie explores values which make a civilization, the story moreso enhanced by a whammy of breathless action, big ideas, and potent storytelling that go hand in hand with the exceptional visual effects of Weta Digital.
As the tide turns against humans, there are more apes than ever, including a dozen key characters along with new and unforgettable characters:
The Colonel, a brash human solider who believes that the only way to save humankind is through an apocalyptic war, is played by two-time Oscar nominee Woody Harrelson. Steve Zahn plays Bad Ape, the movie’s lonely chimp who brings warmth and humor to the apes in their darkest hour. Nova, the human child who becomes the unexpected link between apes and humanity is portrayed by Amiah Miller. Alex Paunovic plays the role of Winter, the stunning but anxious white gorilla; Michael Adamthwaite as Caesar’s gorilla lieutenant Luca who also forms a bond with Nova, and Ty Olsson as the turncoat gorilla, Rex who works for the colonel as his “donkey.”
Not only that, but Andy Serkis brings more power to the movie with the most complex and intense performance as the powerful and commanding Caesar. Along with Serkis, the series sees the return of Karin Konoval as Caesar’s trusted advisor Maurice, Terry Notary as Caesar’s right-hand man Rocket, as well as Judy Greer as Caesar’s wife Cornelia, and Toby Kebbell as Koba.
Returning to the franchise in order to take the next step after Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, director Matt Reeves’ large scale ambition of the third film was clear. The movie wasn’t just aiming to follow the increasingly becoming human apes into warefare’s bloody chaos, but it was also to step into psychological territory as Caesar fights to hold unto his most humane instincts.
Reeves then realizes that the trajectory of the apes mirrors the archetypal myths of humanity.
“As this story starts, there is no more peace with humans, which thrusts Caesar into a deeply emotional, universal kind of conflict,” Reeves describes. “Caesar has always been unique in that he is part ape, part human, yet neither one fully. The hope has been that he might be able to bridge the two societies, but now it is clear that this will not come to pass. What’s so exciting is that in exploring Caesar’s internal dilemmas at this profound moment it becomes a chance to look at a battle we all know: the war between our intelligence, our empathy and our instinctiveness, and how that forms what defines our humanity. At the same time as this is a very dark journey, it is also a story with so much spirit in it.”
For the very first time, the action is also captured in spectacular 65mm with the masterful eye of cinematographer Michael Seresin, bringing performance capture action into the rugged, frozen mountains and snowy world. Other than promising visuals, Oscar winner Michael Giacchino also graces our ears with a stirring musical score.
War for the Planet of the Apes opens July 12th nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Watch the latest trailer below for War for the Planet of the Apes, revealing the two legendary leaders Caesar and the Colonel facing each other off to protect their own species from extinction.
