Review by Aaron Haughton

Matt Reeves closes out one of the most spectacular contemporary trilogies with War for the Planet of the Apes. Like the previous films in the series, War shares some similarities the original Apes series (specifically Battle for the Planet of the Apes) but isn't a direct remake. The film draws from the familiar in authentic ways, at some points taking on the vibe of Apocalypse Now and The Great Escape, but it always manages to pack boatloads of humanity for a movie about a buncha damn dirty apes.

The film follows Cesar (played by Andy Serkis) and clan as they search for a peaceful place to call home amidst the winding down war with the humans. Plans are put on hold, however, when the Colonel (played by Woody Harrelson) from a rogue faction of human soldiers known as the Alpha-Omega sneaks into Cesar's home, murdering his wife and child before escaping. This act sends Cesar on a mission of revenge as he searches for the Colonel to deliver vengeance, a task that proves easier said than done.