Rent War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

Risible cgi apes go wild - War for the Planet of the Apes review by Alphaville

To get anything other than initial laughter and growing boredom out of this film, you have to be able to take these motion-captured cgi apes seriously. Unfortunately that means you’d have to have a lobotomy. Top Ape Caesar is angry because Top Human Woody Harrelson, here slumming it, has killed his wife. Since when did the apes adopt human marriage rituals? Which marriage rituals? Who were the bridesmaids? Did the best ape give a speech? Who baked the cake? Where’s Top Cat when you need him?

Andy Serkis voices Caesar as though delivering a funeral oration, pronouncing every word so slowly and with such import that it’s best to fast forward his speeches to give them some approximation of realism. Indeed, after 10 minutes of this rubbish you might want to fast forward the whole film because there’s little plot and no surprises. The fact that most if it takes place in darkness further adds to the ennui. With so much cgi on view, do you think there’d be explosions at the climax? Tick.

Pity director Matt Reeves. To think he once made the innovative Cloverfield before getting embroiled in this embarrassing franchise. Most critics who like the film do so because the apes look real. Is that all it takes? Okay, we’ll give it one star for animated ape hair.

Past the sell-bye date! - War for the Planet of the Apes review by HM

Starts well, but ends up as nonsense. The humans build a wall to defend a compound and then store highly inflammable fuel next to it so the slightest thing blows the whole lot up 'James Bond finale fashion'. Very silly. Hopefully last in series. Basic amusement I suppose but it wears thin by the end.

These apes are strong, strong together, and definitely need keeping an eye on. - War for the Planet of the Apes review by Strovey

So often in the modern filmmaking world, reboots/remakes that claim to 'pay homage' to the original films they are based never live up to the originals. Now as a huge childhood fan of the original Planet of the Apes films (and the TV show) it is a great pleasure to see a set of film-makers and actors who clearly have a great respect for the source of their film.

The War for the Planet of Apes is clearly greatly updated in the storyline, realistic settings and unparalleled special effects and ape acting but if you look closely you can see the setups and references to those original films. In particular, I was delighted with the build-up and story behind 'Nova' the mute girl and how human's became mute (or will). The makers really sat down went through the original stories and must have said let's pad this out, give it a reason and not just say 'because it is'.

It made me smile and still does thinking about it now. Someone thought long and hard about the backstory, cogs and wheels in the background.

The story itself is as old as the hills, revenge, pure and simple. What makes it better than most is the clear villain, Woody Harrelson, has a motive that makes sense and there is a reason for his specifically cruel and merciless actions. Most of us, but not all, would not agree with them but we do know why he does them and it's not because he is 'evil'. Yes, the makers do have a dig and modern society and the current world situation and why not? It's a road that is clear for all to see.

The action sequences are as good as most serious war films and especially the opening assault puts me in mind of a few Vietnam films from over the years, both claustrophobic and then all-encompassing with some great sweeping camera shots.

It takes some great writing and motion-capture acting to make you close to tears over the deaths of CGI apes and laugh at the antics of Steve Zahn's comic side-kick 'Bad Ape'. In lesser hands it could have been awful but the motion-capture and Zahn's comic chops had the role on the right side of the tracks. Needless to say, Andy Serkis is basically now a real talking ape because he has his role to the T so much you forget he's an actor from London. He is helped no end with his supporting cast, particularly the other apes where facial and body language is the performance. That is not to cast the 'humans' into the shadows because overall I could not think of a character that jarred with me throughout the running time.

It was great to see that a film that uses 'War' in its title did not go down the explosions and non-stop gun battles that perhaps some would expect or even want it to be. There is a battle at the beginning and battle at the end but in between you get a drama with pathos, laughter, tears and peril. Pretty impressive I'd say.

Both the main character are neither black nor white, there is a moral to the story and real peril throughout with no character, favourite or otherwise, guaranteed to make it to the conclusion. The settings and locations are both magnificent, wild and natural. A world left alone.

If I have a quibble it would be the ending seemed rushed and slightly too neat, which is odd considering the film's 140 minutes running time, I can't actually say what happens without spoiling the film but considering the way the story was crafted as messy and difficult for all the characters, like real life, the ending was just too neat, too tied up in a bow but it's a personal quibble really. Others will love the ending I'm sure.

Oh and I hated Woody Harrelson's actor's tool, the unnecessary sunglasses, used to take off and put on to emphasise points.

War for the Planet of the Apes is a very, very, good film, it sits comfortably with the first two films of the series, is a fine update on the original films and pays knowing, loving and carefully thought-out tribute and continuation of those 70s film storylines.