A rare franchise reboot that breaks barriers and asks important questions

In the modern Hollywood landscape, it’s easy to complain about the overuse of franchise reprisal as opposed to new and original content. 

The current movie scene largely consists of rehashed versions of old classics — especially during the summer months — either due to studios trying to capitalize on nostalgia or simply because they don’t want to lose rights to a character or story. 

The recent “Planet of the Apes” trilogy easily could have fallen into the seemingly endless pit of such movies, yet it stands nearly alone as one of the most well-crafted cinematic experiences in recent memory. 

“War for the Planet of the Apes” closes out this trilogy with a fantastic blend of action, drama and suspense while weaving in social commentary that no other modern franchise has been able to portray as candidly or honestly. 

The movie picks up years after the second installment with a group of hyper-intelligent apes led by Ceasar (Andy Serkis) perpetually on the run from humans trying to wipe them from existence. 

Despite attempting every feasible way of avoiding conflict, Ceasar inevitably finds that violence with these humans led by an Adolf Hitler-like figure simply known as “The Colonel” — played by Woody Harrelson — is unavoidable. 

What proceeds is an adventure flick with heist film elements before closing with a beautiful and tragic battle season that really drives home the futility of war and violence as a means to an end. 

Andy Serkis delivers another fantastic motion-capture performance as Ceasar, and as a result he has even received some Oscar buzz from many who feel he deserves a nomination for Best Actor come Academy Award season. 

 Harrelson might be right there with Serkis come that time, as his performance as the Colonel is chilling and surprisingly layered. There are few moments during the film in which both Serkis and Harrelson share the screen, but when they do it’s electric. Despite the evil actions and intentions of the Colonel, Harrelson still comes off as sympathetic while explaining his motivations. 

Underneath the surface of the fun and well-paced plot of the movie lies a heap of social commentary absent in many franchises. War for the Planet of the Apes asks a number of questions, not all of which are resolved by the story’s end. 

The story features two parties, both unable and/or unwilling to listen to one another until it almost destroys both of them, Ceasar must learn how to deal with his lust for revenge while simultaneously trying to find a peaceful home for the rest of clan and the Colonel must find a way to cope with a world that no longer belongs to him. 

All of these subplots merge into a symphony of emotions and feelings driven by a fun, exciting and meaningful story worth every penny you spend at the box office. 

9/10

(Source: Twentieth Century Fox)