War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

Director: Matt Reeves
Starring: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn

Synopsis:
Caesar finds himself locked in a battle with a rogue Army unit dedicated to wiping out the apes.

Impressions:
Given how much I liked Rise of the Planet of the Apes, it was only the ridiculously high ticket prices in Japan that kept me from watching this in the theater. Had I gone though, I feel I would've gotten my money's worth. I like what they do with Caesar's character arc, giving him a cause for revenge that brings him dangerously close to Koba, something he himself acknowledges. He's got a great foil in Woody Harrelson's Colonel. Fans of the franchise will appreciate all the little nods made to the series' history. Other things I appreciated were the relationship between Maurice and Nova and the amusing Bad Ape. Also, I liked the dynamic of the treacherous "donkeys" serving the Colonel. I feel there was a missed opportunity with the character of Preacher, but so it goes. On the tech side, the apes are amazingly expressive, arguably taking things up a notch from the previous entry. If you liked Rise, you'll definitely want to give this one a watch.

Rating:
Watch It