MOVIE REPORT CARD: WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES

DATE: 7/14/17
TITLE: WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES
DIRECTOR: MATT REEVES
STARRING: ANDY SERKIS, WOODY HARRELSON, STEVE ZAHN, KARIN KONOVAL, AMIAH MILLER

GRADES

ACTING: 100
DIRECTING: 100
SCREENPLAY: 95
EDITING: 95
CINEMATOGRAPHY: 95 
​SOUNDTRACK: 95

​FINAL: 97/A

COMMENTS

Some have called this new Planet of the Apes trilogy of films, among the best trilogies of all time. Having now seen War for the Planet of the Apes, I would have to agree. Every entry in this current saga, has gotten better incrementally. Rise, is a solid spectacle, Dawn, is riveting, and War, is nothing short of superb. Director Matt Reeves, has crafted something with War, that is incredibly special. Anything else that comes after this entry, is going to have a tough time beating the craftsmanship in this film. War for the Planet of the Apes, is incredibly gripping. From the moment the film starts, it has you and never lets you go. Andy Serkis, gives yes, an Oscar worthy performance as Caesar. The emotion that he is able to bring through the motion capture, is both spectacular and heartbreaking. You feel for Caesar in every frame of film. Steve Zahn, is also quite spectacular here, and Woody Harrelson, while one note at times, still manages a great performance. All of the motion capture performers here, are incredible. The evolution of the motion capture technology in War, is astonishing. You can definitely see the advances, as each entry has progressed. War for the Planet of the Apes, is in many ways, daring in its approach. This is a gripping, often times heartbreaking, and emotional drama. In the midst of summer, that's pretty ballsy. Yes, it has its action, but that's not the focus here. War for the Planet of the Apes, is one of the best films of the year, not just of the Apes franchise. Absolutely superb from start to finish.