7/18/17 - War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) - 6/10

In a film series of surprisingly solid efforts, this is perhaps the strongest of the series. If you were not as into the past ventures or don’t know any of the previous mythos developed, this probably won’t grasp you firmly enough to make an impression. That said, I thought this was a fine war film about prejudice and self-knowing that capped off the series in a solid and fulfilling fashion. 

I was expecting one thing but the film was able to jilt my expectations. It was inventive to make the true war between a warring species: man. Not Apes. Based on what I knew of the film and would have predicted, this kept me intrigued. The story was simplistic, but twist enough to stick.

The Apocalypse Now references and homages perhaps were a bit too much, but placing Harrelson as the Kurtz worked for the character and story. Better than a similar Apoc Now simian film (Kong) which felt contrived and laughable. Harrelson’s intensity and likability let this film sing when it needed to.

I respect that it did have larger things to say, even if it was a bit lazy & in your face.  Discussions about slavery, the socio-political maelstrom, and the demonizing of “the other” were all over. What stronger analogue can be made to "those from the outside that are different from us taking our everything from us"/white privilege than the apes as analogue? But there was no subtlety, be it the Star Spangled Banner playing to put the apes to work, the internal loss of identity ( though taking one's voice was so on the nose) and the external (apes better faster stronger).

In general, it was enjoyable but overly long. The story gets right to the point and functions as a solid capper to the series. Some of the CGI still felt light, lacking the weight of reality, which bothered me. Still, it was a good time and a sufficient summer sci-fi popcorn endeavor.