4.5 Out of 5 Stars 93
Its been only 3 years since Matt Reeves stunned audiences with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes a sequel that decimated expectations and reinvigorated the franchise. Well, Reeves is back to continue his story where he left off, while also facing the daunting task of attempting to top himself with the next chapter. War of the Planet of the Apes is not only is a fitting follow up that manages to somehow outshine its predecessor, but it also nicely bookends the trilogy in case the director decides to part with Caesar’s story.

War picks up 2 years after the events of Dawn with Caesar in hiding as humanity is slowly turning the tide of the war started in the previous film by Koba. While the apes simply wish to live in peace one sect of humanity in particular known as the “Alpha-Omega” led by the bloodthirsty Colonel (Woody Harrelson) is hell bent on taking out Caesar and his kind once and for all. A failed assassination attempt that kills a member of Caesar’s family sends him over the edge as he embarks into the snowy wastelands on a solitary mission of revenge, sending the rest of the Apes and their families across the desert to seek refuge from the threat. But when Caesar finally comes face to face with his enemy we find out there is much more at stake than just who wins this war as the Colonel proves to not be without his own grudge.

What I loved about the original films is how they used the guise of these funny science fiction films about talking monkeys to tackle such weighty issues as the civil rights movement and our country’s fanatical religious right. War takes a cue from those original films, making a very blunt comment on Trump’s America; going as far as having the enslaved Apes being forced to construct a wall. There is little subtext to be had here as Caesar is on a mission to kill the tyrannical leader who uses fear, religion and rhetoric to rule those beneath him. War has Harrelson as the enigmatic leader of the cultish like group channeling Colonel Walter E. Kurtz with a just a dash of Mickey Knox from NBK for good measure. It’s a toxic mix that results in a stunning performance from Harrelson that makes you really root for the Apes.

The film itself operates as a thinly veiled homage to Apocalypse Now as Caesar’s quest for revenge is a very personal one as he travels through the wasteland with only Maurice, Luca and Rocket accompanying him. For a good chunk of the first 40 minutes there are almost no humans present and the apes effortlessly carry the film pulling some very real emotion from the audience. I personally was surprised just how Reeves was able to push the technology even further to turn in a narrative that had some very nuanced and engaging performances from its CG cast. Andy Serkis of course is front and center as usual giving a performance definitely worthy of a long overdue Oscar nod this time giving us a Caesar haunted by Koba.

War perfectly channels its pulpy source while imbuing it with a new purpose thanks to Reeves thinly veiled take on current events. It’s a film that’s a bit hard to watch at times for all the right reasons thanks to its relevancy and poignant symbolism. The film is a stark statement on the world today that still manages to leave some room for hope. War of the Planet of the Apes is a perfect sequel and the first film for me that really captured that essence of the counterculture nature of the originals. Matt Reeves has crafted not only a great sequel, but an important statement on how sci-fi in the right rands can still feel dangerous.