"War For The Planet Of The Apes" is a wonderful end to a great trilogy that has set an example for quality commercial cinema and set a high standard for all summer productions. All this was clear after the "Rise" and "Dawn", which impressed with a rewarding and stylish approach that no one would expect from a blockbuster for talking monkeys riding horses and firing machine guns. The trilogy could have been totally fiasco, but the director Matt Reeves made an uncompromising cinema with clear thoughts and well arranged archetypes. The story takes us deep into the forests where Caesar and his monkeys are forced into a deadly conflict with a small but effective team of soldiers led by the unscrupulous Colonel (Woody Harrelson). Once the monkeys bear unimaginable losses, Caesar opens the door for his gloomy instincts and begins his mythical revenge. When their path ends, Caesar and Colonel meet in an epic battle that will determine the evolution of both species and the future of the planet.
In the "Dawn", Caesar experienced treachery, but eventually became the absolute leader and savior for the apes. In "War For The Planet Of The Apes," as the title suggests, tranquility is a mirage. The movie begins with an incredibly shot battle scene in which each victim is painful. The camera goes over the battlefield to unravel the insanity of the conflict. The bitter balance and fatigue followed by the inability to achieve balance. The monkeys hide in a cave under a waterfall, an extremely beautiful but dangerous place that will soon try to leave. Caesar's son promises that after the wilderness awaits them a blessed place to build their home. In fact, he expects an intolerable tragedy. "War For The Planet Of The Apes" is sad and in some places rather raw film. The first half goes on a journey that Caesar and his most loyal friends take to find the camp of the enemy, the second is their escape and the inevitable culmination. On the way, the monkeys meet a blonde little girl with big eyes, which will become a symbol of hope. Meanwhile, Bad Ape (a bad monkey) - a fearsome but good monkey who has survived alone and learned the language of people. Caesar's path is also internal, he has to deal with the Kobah who lives in him, the hatred and the longing for revenge. Once again, thanks to the incredible Andy Serkis, the hero is more real than ever. Even the Colonel is amazed: "Your eyes are so real!"
This is the ninth full-length film of the Monkey Planet series and the finale of the new trilogy that revived the world and told how things had gotten people to slave primates. As they relate to an earlier time before civilization and written history, the new films (and especially the "War For The Planet Of The Apes") mainly deal with the theme of heroism and the creation of archetypes and metaphors, which in turn give an example of the culture of the newly formed society. Thus Caesar, like a monkey Jesus, is much more than a simple monkey. He is the hero, the image everyone will follow after their lives. In this film Caesar is beaten and crucified (literally) on a cross. His motives to be a hero almost evaporate. Because of the injustice and the courage of Nova, he finds that his life only makes sense for the benefit of others. His personal motives remain in the background (at least towards the end). The collision with the Colonel is exceptional. This is not the expected climax in which the battle gets incredible in size to impress with a spectacle. The conflict is not even between monkeys and humans. This is a struggle for a planet that already belongs to the monkeys. Conflict between people who have already lost. Woody Harrelson, in a much more motivated image than Gary Oldman's in the second film, continues the tradition of these films discussing the theme of the wrong choice to take a step backwards after personal tragedy, using primitive methods to impose your ideology. It does not matter whether you're a monkey or a man, but how you look at the world and how you choose to deal with crises. In the heart of all this darkness, Reeves chooses to allow a ray of light. He sneaks through Nova's blond hair. Her character is a great dramaturgy decision, which strengthens the dramatic effect towards the end of the film and creates a pleasant balance between sternness and warm emotionality. The image of a child thrown into a world reaching its most desperate situation was also well-used in "Logan". Nova has no spikes coming out of her hands, but her courage stands out even more, precisely because of her defenselessness. Steve Zan is also playing in the role of Bad Ape, who manages to bring some humor (albeit awkward in places) the balance between darkness and light is even more successful. The movie is full of references. To the original film with the name of Nova and the scene on the beach, to "Full Metal Jacket" and the inscriptions on helmets, as well as to "Apokapisis Now" because of the Colonel's image, which is the amalgam of Colonel Heroes Kurtz (Marlon Brando) and Bill Kilgour (Robert Duvall), which further suggests Reeves' rich cinema culture. Some footage is even reminiscent of "The Two Towers" and an unhealthy battle for Helm's delight. The film is an entertaining cinema that is not afraid to point out its inspiration, most of which military films about the Vietnam War. Perfectly, as the world is in true Ape-pocalypse, as it is written on one of the walls.
Unfortunately, almost all endings of trilogies suffer from one disease - predictability. In some moments, "War For The Planet Of The Apes" allows one idea of a more patho of heroism and spring tears. This may be normal, given the film's archetypal basis, but the prerequisites for a really artistic approach were there, and the tight adherence to the formula is not os good. Too many heroes die too soon after an emotional relationship has been established with them, there is a suspicion that something is set up, which is even more annoyed by one avalanche. Under no circumstances are critical but still unpleasant roughness in a really excellent movie. Matt Reeves's unmistakable directing, which has recently discarded the "Batman" screenplay to follow his own vision of history, is a rarity in the corporate Hollywood environment, and strong handwriting, in addition to refusing to compromise with his inner voice, are qualities , which will not be underestimated by the real cinemas. In support of Reeves' ability to create a drama and to shoot a spectacular action. Strenuous, primary and, at the same time, deeply emotional compositions are a wonderful accompaniment to history and heroes. "War For The Planet Of The Apes" is one of the most meaningful and well-filmed films before year. It would be a crime to skip it. Further proof that good commercial cinema has something to offer that simple messages about family, morality and community in the context of an unimaginable crisis are still as strong as 40 years ago.