Known as one of the milestones of science fiction films, the original Planet of the Apes was released in 1968 and became a massive worldwide hit. Since then, several projects such as sequels and remakes have been launched, but without much success.

The reboot series began with the 2011 film Planet of the Apes: Genesis. It was well received for its technological innovations and profound storytelling. Although it was not as big a hit as the original, it was a hit with many moviegoers. The third and final film in the reboot series is “Planet of the Apes: The Holy War. This film, the conclusion of the new series, has been highly acclaimed by moviegoers as one of the best films ever. How did the story of Caesar, the story’s hero, end?

Unparalleled visual technology that has evolved even further

The main attraction of the movie “War for the Planet of the Apes” is its stunning visual technology and its beauty. To begin with, this reboot series was acclaimed from many quarters for its visual technology. This film was produced using motion capture technology, and the CG expression of the apes was so wonderful that it gave the illusion of being real. The technical prowess of the first film was outstanding. Still, the technology has improved with each successive film, and this film boasts even more stunning visual beauty than the previous one.

In the previous film, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, although many apes appeared, it was difficult to recognize their individual differences. It wasn’t easy to tell which apes were which characters. This work greatly improved this aspect. Because the resolution of the differences in the movements and facial expressions of the apes has been improved, it was easier to grasp the characteristics of each of them than in previous works.

The landscape was also beautiful, and the CG representation of the snowy landscape was breathtaking. I thought depicting the snow on Ape’s fur would be tough, but I felt that even the most minor details were beautifully created.

The VFX for this film was done by New Zealand-based Weta Digital (renamed “Wētā FX” in 2021). The company’s founder is Peter Jackson, director of the famous Lord of the Rings film series. The company has won various Academy Awards for visual effects.

Examples of Academy Awards for Visual Effects

• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
• King Kong
• Avatar

The company has also received numerous other BAFTA and VES (Visual Effects Society) awards.

The evolution of the main character Caesar throughout the series

The depth of Caesar’s character, the protagonist of the film War for the Planet of the Apes, is also one of the highlights of this film: in the first film, Genesis, Caesar was not even the protagonist, but in the second film, New Century, he is the leader of the Apes. He has gained more depth with each successive work, and his conflicted character moved me.

Caesar is often referred to as “a Shakespearean dramatic character,” and I felt he also carried that vibe in this film. In particular, the way he is driven by the ghost of Koba is reminiscent of the scene in Julius Caesar, where Brutus is haunted by Caesar’s ghost.

Facial expression and voice acting are key to making Caesar a Shakespearean dramatic conflicted character. Unlike Ape and his friends, who use sign language as the basis of their communication, Caesar’s communication is primarily through the occurrence of words. For this reason, the words he utters and how he delivers them are the parts we inevitably pay attention to. Furthermore, his fine facial expressions convey the subtleties of his emotions to the audience in great detail. The overwhelming expressive power of Andy Serkis, who plays Caesar, makes it possible.

Andy Serkis has been captivating as Caesar in Planet of the Apes and as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings series, where his acting is highly expressive.

Conclusion of the epic story of the reboot series

The film War for the Planet of the Apes was produced as the conclusion to the rebooted Planet of the Apes series. A sequel was actually in the works, and a sequel was made. Still, the three films are considered complete (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, with a new protagonist, was released in 2024). Overall, this reboot series has been a very profound and epic story.

The series depicts Caesar’s spectacular life from birth to death. It is heavily told of his shattered hopes, how he distanced himself from humans, how he built relationships with them, and what he said and did as a leader of the Apes and their family ties. I felt that the film showed his way of life without mentioning that he was human or an Ape.

Summary

The” film “War for the Planet of the Apes is a work that strongly attracts audiences with its overwhelming visual beauty and visual technology. Viewers can enjoy not only the state-of-the-art technology used to represent Ape and his friends, but also the motion actors’ high level of acting skill. The life of Caesar, which is depicted throughout the series, is particularly sensitive and heavy, and it touches people’s hearts. The performance of Serkis, who made this possible, is also to be highly appreciated. This film is recommended for those in the mood to enjoy a slow and profound work of art.

Planet of the Apes Trilogy [Blu-ray]

Amazon.com: Planet of the Apes Trilogy [Blu-ray] : Movies & TV