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War for the Planet of the Apes

kdk July 14, 2017
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It’s been almost half of a century since the release of the original Planet of the Apes. But with War for the Planet of the Apes, the third film in the series reboot, director Matt Reeves uses updated technology to make a new adventure that still feels like a classic.



War for the Planet of the Apes continues the battle between ape and man—a battle that the apes’ leader, Caesar (Andy Serkis), doesn’t want. Still, he’s constantly hunted by the Colonel (Woody Harrelson), his loyal soldiers, and their Donkeys—apes who choose to work for the humans. Caesar tries to offer peace between the two warring groups, but when the Colonel takes away his family, Caesar sends the apes to a new home as he sets out on his own mission to get his revenge.



During the summer, theaters are loaded with big, noisy, action-packed movies—and, lately, a whole lot of them have been some kind of reboot, remake, or sequel. But while many of those films seem all too confident that they’re improving on the original, War for the Planet of the Apes puts extra effort into maintaining a more classic feel. That’s not to say that it doesn’t have plenty of action and adventure. There are still big, breathtaking battle sequences, with man fighting ape in striking wooded settings. But there’s so much more to this film than just its action sequences and effects.



Almost everything here feels grand and dramatic—from its epic battles to its thought-provoking story. As Caesar continues his quest, he struggles with his feelings of anger and his need for revenge following the devastating loss of his family. He’s haunted by memories of vengeful ape Koba (Toby Kebbell). And he’s shown love and forgiveness by a mute young orphan girl (Amiah Miller) who joins the apes on their journey.



While other filmmakers may have turned the classic series into a massive spectacle—complete with over-the-top characters and futuristic weapons—everything here feels like it comes from another time. The only thing here that’s completely new and updated is the film’s remarkable visual effects. And the only goofiness comes from Steve Zahn’s Bad Ape, an ape in human clothes who escaped from a nearby zoo. But while you won’t get a whole lot of laughs from this primate thriller, you’ll definitely get plenty of action and drama.



Of course, if you’re expecting noise and over-the-top effects, you may be disappointed by War for the Planet of the Apes. The classic feel may seem a little too serious for audiences who prefer robots and superheroes, but it’s certainly smarter and more moving than the average summer blockbuster.





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About Post Author

kdk

Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it. Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course. As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com). Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
kdk@nightsandweekends.com
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kdk

Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.

Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.

As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).

Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.

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