War for the Planet of the Apes
2017
***
Director: Matt Reeves
Cast: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Toby Kebbell, Judy Greer, Karin Konoval, Terry Notary, Gabriel Chavarria, Amiah Miller, Roger Cross
The prequel trilogy kicked off with the surprising and captivating Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but the story has since taken a more predictable and disappointing direction. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes introduced a dystopic future, where the remaining apes and humans would inevitably clash. The third part is about the survival of the species, and it's like a cross between Apocalypse Now and The Great Escape. Two more years have passed and the apes are engaged in an extended battle with military troops led by the Colonel (Kurtz?). Caesar must decide whether he seeks personal revenge or leads his tribe to safety. Caesar remains a wonderful character throughout the trilogy, and the special effects are amazing. However, there was potential for more. This is the longest and most static of the films.
