Andy Serkis plays Caesar in the War for the Planet of the Apes.
Andy Serkis plays Caesar in the War for the Planet of the Apes.
War for the Planet of the Apes – a film that embraces the first word of its title. It is full of fighting, full of testosterone. It's unashamedly similar to Platoon, in fact many war films, but for a reason, it looks at the darkest side of humanity through lensthat do not provide an official answer – it leaves it up to you to decide.
The science fiction epic is directed by Matt Reeves, and written by Mark Bomback. It is the final instalment in the Planet of the Apes reboot series, starring Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson and Steve Zahn; it follows a confrontation between the apes, led by Caesar, and the humans for control of Earth itself.
Woody Harrelson in a scene from War for the Planet of the Apes.
Simple, right?
It was an immediate box office juggernaut upon its release in July, grossing over $490,000,000. But more than this, it received critical praise for its acting, storyline, score, direction and visual effects – I can attest to all this - particularly the last.
The CGI and visual effects utilised in the film are worth the viewing itself.
But the examination of warfare, of the line between right and wrong, and how that can be so often blurred, is what captures me the most. It grips you from the very first moment, right up until the incredible dénouement.
