New ‘Apes’ realistically appealing
Andy Serkis’ role as Caesar reaches new heights
review for ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’
Those “damn dirty apes” of old are no more. The simian heroes of War for the Planet of the Apes are special-effects wonders who help create a dazzling and gripping third film in the revamp of the 1960s and ’70s sci-fi movies. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves returns for the excellent next chapter ( out of four; rated PG-13; in theaters nationwide July 14) that pits evolved ape leader Caesar (played via motion-capture performance by Andy Serkis) and his comrades against a ruthless human foe, the Colonel (Woody Harrelson), whose mission to save mankind rests on the extinction of Caesar’s people.
An immersive war movie, the new film deftly connects the storylines of the two previous movies, exploring the continuing effects of the simian flu that hit in
Rise of the Planet of the Apes, as well as the aftermath of Caesar’s decision to let his mutinous second-in-command Koba (Toby Kebbell) fall to his death in Dawn.
Since the last film, soldiers have been hunting Caesar in and around what used to be San Francisco, hoping to assassinate the great ape and deal a death blow to his army’s morale. Already, some have joined the humans, thinking it’s only a matter of time before they’re defeated and enslaved.
The apes finally believe they’ve found a place they can call home, but Caesar is dealt a crushing loss when a late-night raid by the Colonel kills his wife and son. Instead of leading his people to a promised land, Caesar sets out on a journey of revenge.
It was a shame Serkis’ mo-cap role as Gollum in The Lord of the
Rings films didn’t snag him an Oscar nomination. But it’s truly an injustice if Serkis’ third — and best — turn as Caesar doesn’t get a serious push. While it’s probably still a long shot (no mo-cap performance has ever garnered an acting nomination), what he accomplishes here is monumental.
Since Caesar is the only ape who talks, Serkis’ speeches give him the gravitas of a Spartacus or Ben-Hur. Close-ups capture the pure pain as he’s haunted by the ghost of Koba but also the needed hope that arrives in Nova (Amiah Miller), a human girl who joins his group.
All of the apes are so realistic that the audience quickly forgets they’re simians: The acting and CGI wizardry combine to create more humanity in those guys than Harrelson’s Colonel, a sociopath with a tortured back story. Bad Ape, a new simian played by Steve Zahn, is the most noteworthy addition, though his role as comic relief is mostly welcome if at times odd, considering the movie’s emotional stakes.
War bogs down during a major sequence where Caesar is captured and his squad orchestrates a massive breakout, but turns it around before the end when both men and apes have to deal with their own survival situations. The satisfying and heart-wrenching climax is a last reminder that Caesar’s new adventure is one of this summer’s best.