REVIEWS
Set two years on from the events of predecessor Dawn, War has finally arrived as the Apes reboot trilogy comes to a combustible climax.
For so long reluctant to head into conflict with human kind, Caesar (Andy Serkis) is backed into a corner by crazed military man The Colonel (Woody Harrelson) and his efforts to wipe out the apes.
Not many cinematic re-imaginings have been as critically and commercially wellreceived as this Apes series and I’m pleased to report that this third entry manages to avoid the curse of the threequel that often hinders trilogy-closers.
Dawn director Matt Reeves is back behind the camera and builds on many of the themes and character traits of the previous film.
Reeves’ fingerprints are all over the flick as this time he also co-wrote the script with Dawnscribe Mark Bomback and together they keep the blockbuster grounded as loyalty and trust are tested and a desire to ensure the survival of each species – using very different methods – dominate much of the just shy of two-and-ahalf-hour running time.
It’s pretty dark stuff too; although it’s hard to envisage how combat could be anything but. And some welcome levity comes courtesy of Steve Zahn’s cuddly ex-zoo dweller Bad Ape.
The similarities with 70s classic Apocalypse Now are hard to ignore, not least Harrelson’s