Rising dawn
Famed French historian Jules Michelet once said "Every epoch dreams its' successor." In the case of the Planet of the Apes prequels, Caesar is the epoch who has been carrying the tide of revolution throughout the previous films as he continues to shoulder the weight of his species' existence and their survival. War for the Planet of the Apes, the closing chapter in the prequel trilogy, takes place two years after the events of the previous film as Caesar (Andy Serkis) and his clan battle paramilitary forces called the AO (Alpha-Omega) as well as other apes who defected from Caesar and had followed Koba from the previous film. Tired of the fighting and the death of his fellow apes, Caesar decides to migrate with his clan to another location that will be out of reach by any human interaction. The night before the move, AO forces infiltrate the apes' home where Caesar comes into contact with the Colonel (Woody Harrelson). A tragic turn of events awakens Caesar's darker instincts which could affect the ongoing conflict between his kind and the humans for supremacy for the planet. Reboots are a dime a dozen these days but the Apes franchise are the rare few that stand out of improving with each entry. As a closer to a trilogy, War for the Planet of the Apes is among the most satisfying I've seen and believe me there aren't that many that can top themselves on an emotional and entertaining level. The film delivers plenty of action spectacles and the CGI, especially on the apes, is absolutely amazing and helps strengthens some of the film's more poignant scenes.
Speaking of which, there's a sense of a biblical undertones in the film, for example the scene where Caesar leads his clan across the desert to their new home feels similar to how Moses delivered God's people across the Red Sea; which is to say that Caesar is seen more as a savior than an animal. This lends to the film's depth, allowing it to end on an epic high note, give Caesar's story the perfect closure, and at the same time open up new possibilities for future Ape films without it feeling latched on. No doubt about it, War for the Planet of the Apes is the best Apes film in the near 50 year-old franchise and is definitely the darkest entry yet. A gratifying conclusion strengthened by some strong lead performances by Andy Serkis and Woody Harrelson, a brilliant narrative and an engaging score by Michael Giacchino elevates it as one the best conclusions to a trilogy ever and comes highly recommended.
Speaking of which, there's a sense of a biblical undertones in the film, for example the scene where Caesar leads his clan across the desert to their new home feels similar to how Moses delivered God's people across the Red Sea; which is to say that Caesar is seen more as a savior than an animal. This lends to the film's depth, allowing it to end on an epic high note, give Caesar's story the perfect closure, and at the same time open up new possibilities for future Ape films without it feeling latched on. No doubt about it, War for the Planet of the Apes is the best Apes film in the near 50 year-old franchise and is definitely the darkest entry yet. A gratifying conclusion strengthened by some strong lead performances by Andy Serkis and Woody Harrelson, a brilliant narrative and an engaging score by Michael Giacchino elevates it as one the best conclusions to a trilogy ever and comes highly recommended.