War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

War for the Planet of the Apes

• Probably my favorite movie of this series, I was so emotionally invested in this movie, and it really stood out from the other ones to me. Matt Reeves once again made an absolutely insane movie, and the whole story was really great. From the very beginning I was hooked, and like I said, I was so much more invested in each character and scene. This movie picks up perfectly from the previous one, and the first 10 or so minutes really sets the mood and setting for the whole thing. It shows you how even though many of the monkeys wanted peace, the mistake of one has led to a full out war. It’s also very interesting to see the monkey vs monkey war within the monkey vs human war, a lot like the second movie. It gives you a sense that no one can be trusted, even the people in your own community. I also LOVED the character progression of Caesar (who was, once again, wonderfully played by Andy “The 🐐” Serkis) in this movie, and there was one specific scene with him that absolutely broke my heart. It really makes you sympathetic for him, and it makes you realize everything he’s been through. It also makes you appreciate his origin, and all the love that he was shown from Will. Because of that specific scene, it kicks off a chain of events that lead to one of the main plots of the movie. It also makes you really pull for the monkeys because you appreciate their motivation and want for independence and peace. One of my favorite parts of the whole movie was the conversation between Caesar and the Colonel. I was not ready at all for how the Colonel thought of himself, and it really put an interesting twist on his character. You notice in the background details that he has a crucifix or two, as well as a Bible. It’s revealed that he basically compares himself to God, because the Colonel had to sacrifice his only son, which puts the idea in his head that he and God are the same. It also helps make the plot really resonate in your head. It also makes the prison camp seem even worse. I also enjoyed the movie so much because of the prison camp. It really opens your eyes to the evils of both sides, and you realize how awful the war is. However, the depressing message is definitely made easier to watch because of Bad Ape. He was the comic relief in the movie, and every scene he was in was absolutely hilarious. He was played by Steve Zahn, who is one of the funniest guys ever. He was so fun to watch, and he made you smile even in the worst situations. Once again, Michael Giacchino wrote an absolutely amazing score, and I loved every second of it. It has some really great climatic themes, as well as some sad themes. There was one scene where the music reminded me of “Philadelphia Morning” from Rocky, and it made the scene what it was. Overall, this movie was phenomenal, and I highly recommend it. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!