War for the Planet of the Apes - Blu-ray Review

[Michael Scott]

War for the Planet of the Apes

Movie:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:
Final Score: ​

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Movie
I will be the first to admit that I was REALLY leery when I heard that a new Planet of the Apes movie was coming out when Rise of the Planet of the Apes was announced. Marky Mark’s debacle of a film (as much as it is a slightly guilty pleasure of mine) was still fresh in the mind, and I really just wanted the series to die, as it seemed anything past the original 2 films just doesn’t hold up upon repeat viewings. However, Rupert Wyatt’s semi prequel, semi reboot film turned out to be one of the more entertaining watches of 2011. While it had its flaws, the movie was very emotionally driven, and created the groundwork for the upcoming war that was sure to follow. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes stepped it up a good notch, and delved into a world that was teetering on the brink of collapse, with Apes gaining power, and humanity struggling to grasp a hold of of a lifeline, only to be plunged into the darkness of war and violence. Now, War of the Planet of the Apes finishes that timeline, concluding the Caesar story arc, while still giving allowance for other tales to be told in the series.

It’s now been 15 years since the virus that humanity was using to cure Alzheimer’s turned on them, and 5 years since Koba and his betrayal of Caesar (Andy Serkis) kick started a war between the remnants of humanity and the growing Ape horde. The war has now grown to full intensity, with a determined military Colonel (Woody Harrelson) trying to hunt down and destroy Caesar to end this war. Unfortunately his strike at the heart of ape territory ends up taking the lives of Caesar’s wife and his son, leaving the generally compassionate ape in a fit of pure rage. Heading out into the wilderness alone, he intends to wreak his vengeance upon the Colonel, no matter the cost.

Along the way to his end, Caesar is forced into accepting help from Maurice and another on his lieutenants, and even ends up picking up a little mute girl (hint hint for those of you who were looking for any winks and nods to the original films), as well as a rogue ape (who goes by the name of “Bad Ape”, voiced by Steve Zahn) who helps him see that his own vengeance is blinding him. Unfortunately, things are much worse than he could imagine, as the Colonel’s encampment not only houses hundreds of human soldiers, but they have captured all of Caesar’s family and friends that he left behind when he started on this path. Now the leader of the apes has to figure out a way to free his family, AND murder the Colonel before a huge force of human soldiers comes to meet up with this battalion.

I’ve been very intrigued at the way that these new films have unfolded. Kind of like the original films we get a little bit of a glimpse into the “humanity” of each side of the conflict. Rise was really a human film with Caesar dropped into the middle. Rupert Wyatt crafted a very compelling human drama that setup the switch to come in the next film. Dawn was a film evenly split down the middle. You cared about Caesar and his apes, but you also equally cared about the human survivors trying to make the dam work. It was a give and take scenario where they worked together semi-harmoniously and it makes the upcoming War so much more difficult, as War of the Planet of the Apes is 90% an ape film. Here you’re squarely in the camp of the apes as the Colonel and his soldiers brutalize them every chance they get. HOWEVER, there’s still a very strong sense of emotional resonance with the humans. You get WHY they’re doing what they’re doing, and the film stresses very heavily the pitiable nature that the are about to fall into with characters like little Nova, and the final confrontation between the Colonel and Caesar.

War is easily the darkest of the trilogy, with a LOT of brutality and violence strewn throughout it. The opening shot of the film drops the viewers directly into a skirmish between the apes and the Colonel’s men, as the human soldiers rain down terror and hellfire upon the ill prepared ape encampment. This sense of claustrophobia and depression doesn’t let up as you follow Caesar through his journey of hate and anger. Everywhere he goes the touch of this evil is upon the land. His family is brutally murdered, his remaining charges are captured, and then he himself is tortured and beaten at the hands of his enemy. Even the final escape is labored and full of pain, as the surviving apes know little of what awaits them past the snowy landscape of the military installation.

There is a LOT to like about War, with some obvious steps forward from Dawn. The shift from humans to apes only point of view makes for a more compelling tale of oppression and a look through slavery’s eyes. The ending is inevitable for those of you who know what’s to come (as this is still all technically before the time point in the Charlton Heston film, even if it doesn’t act as an ACTUAL prequel), but is given a glimpse of hope. At the same time, there are elements of the story that really are a step back from Dawn as well, which makes me hesitantly say that I prefer Dawn just a little bit more. Woody Harrelson is FANTASTIC as the cold hearted Colonel, and Andy Serkis just absorbs himself into his role, but the inclusion of the virus mutating to do what it does (I’ll not spoil that little tidbit) feels a bit like a cop out. Everything is just “too easy”, and that this point you once again feel sorry for the humans (most likely unintentionally) as the de-evolution into mute beasts is not in their control, and feels hopelessly fatalistic. Something which once again left me with the feeling that I SHOULD be rooting for Caesar and his apes, but wanting to root for the humans with machine guns instead.




Rating:

Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, thematic elements, and some disturbing images




Video:

Directed by Dawn of the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves as well, War of the Planet of the Apes shifts from Reeves choice of 1.85:1 back to a scope aspect ratio of 2.39:1 for the AVC encoded Blu-ray. The digital film is nothing short of stunning, with the snowy winter backdrop contrasting the harsh, cold realities of war. You can see every snowflake dropping onto the CGI fur of the apes, and the greasy, stained earth of the military compound is bleak and depressing, yet intricately detailed. The bright whites of the snow show off well balanced contrasts, along with a slightly dark blue grading that gives it a melancholy feeling. The dark interior of the compound shows off excellent shadow detail, and the overall clarity of the film is just simply superb. Quite simply, I think this one is easily the best looking film of the trilogy by a good margin.






Audio:

Without listening to the Atmos track that is on the 4K UHD (sadly I don’t have it available at this time), I have to say that the 7.1 DTS-HD MA track on the Blu-ray is incredibly diverse and intense. The film drops us right into the heart of a human/monkey conflict within the first few moments of the opening scrawl vanishing, and it is WILDLY intense. The subs are roaring with deep impactful LFE, and the surrounds are awash with the noises of the forest. Even during the center act with minimal action, the movie manages to keep the surrounds alive with the pattering of monkey feet, or the screeching of the apes as their masters torture them. Gunshots ring out with authority and the end battle is enough to bring down the house with some seriously immersive sonic bombardment. Vocals are still well placed in the center of the room, and the balance between talking and action is impeccably done, with a wide dynamic range that goes from whisper to destruction in a mere instant.





Extras:

• Deleted Scenes with Optional Audio Commentary by Matt Reeves
- Graveyard
- Turncoats
- Barrier Wall
-"I Owe You One"
- "A Great Man"
- "Do Not Lose Hope"
- Snowfall
- The Colonel's Speech
- Malcolm and the Dinosaurs
- "I Am Like Koba"
• Featurettes:
- "Waging War for the Planet of the Apes" – In-depth documentary on the making of WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES
- "All About Caesar"
- "WETA: Pushing Boundaries"
- "Music for Apes"
- "Apes: The Meaning of it All"
- "The Apes Saga: An Homage"
• Concept Art Gallery
• Audio Commentary by Matt Reeves

Final Score: ​

War of the Planet of the Apes makes for a thrilling conclusion to the trilogy started 6 years ago. While it certainly leaves the series open for advancement into further tales, this wraps up Caesar’s arc in the Ape-verse, and does so in a satisfying, and tear jerking, way. War is easily the most action packed of the film, but also the most bleak and depression one as well. It’s dark, brutal, completely engrossing, and a complete blast to watch. The audio and video specs for 20th Century Fox are nothing short of stunning, and the extras are well worth digging into (and surprisingly beefy for a modern release). Well worth watching.




Technical Specifications:

Starring: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn
Directed by: Matt Reeves
Written by: Mark Bomback, Matt Reeves
Aspect Ratio: 2.39.1 AVC
Audio: English: DTS-HD MA 7.1, French, Spanish, English DVS DD 5.1
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 139 Minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: October 24th, 2017

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• Michael Scott
• May 11, 2017

Recommendation: Good Watch

 

[tripplej]

Thanks for the review. I will add this to my watch list.

 

[Sonnie]

Wow... so this is a new one? Never even heard about it, missed any and all advertisements for it too. Sounds like a good one.

 

[Michael Scott]

yeah, it's the conclusion of the trilogy, came out in theaters about 3 months ago

 

[phillihp23]

Can't wait for my 4K copy to show up

 

[Michael Scott]

sadly we didn't get the 4K copy this time, but from the reviewer buddies I have in the industry they say it looks good

 

[JBrax]

My 4K copy will also be here today.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Mine as well... HELLO SONIC INSANITY!

 

[Sonnie]

We watched it tonight... awesome movie... great story line... gorgeous image and superb audio. This is a keeper for me.

 

[Michael Scott]

glad you liked it. Did you get the 4K UHD version or the Blu?

 

[Sonnie]

4K UHD ... looked really good on a new Epson 4040 that hasn't had any adjustments outside of lens shift, zoom and focus.

 

[Michael Scott]

that's what I heard. I sadly didn't get a UHD to compare, but I hear it was a very nice looking disc

 

[Sonnie]

I'll send you my 4K copy. I may have your address already, but shoot me an email with it again and I'll get it out to you.