War for the Planet of the Apes [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray/DVD] [2017]

It’s a movie about intelligent apes. I was so skeptical when I saw the first movie of the trilogy. But I was surprises when I like it. The second one came and it was great as well. And this one just blew me away. This is hands down the best one in the series. The characters is complex, both the human and the apes. And the story makes sense. It might be a science fiction but this one has a lot of hearts. I waited to get the 4K version because I knew that it would look stunning in 4K and I was correct. This is the one to get if you want to expand your collection. The picture is sharp and the color is balanced throughout the movie. The special effect of the apes is so good and makes it even better in 4K. Highly recommended. I got it for $14.95 at Best Buy during the sale. But I wouldn’t mind paying $20 for the movie.

The first film, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, James Franco’s character Will is a scientist trying to cure Alzheimer’s disease (which his father suffers from). In the sequel to one 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, a decade has passed since the events of “Rise,” and the apes start to think the humans have died off. But a small group of survivors collide with the apes in an effort to find a new power source, and a bitter clash between the two species erupts.War for the Planet of the Apes takes place a couple years after Dawn. The land is war-torn and Caesar has been in hiding in an effort to keep his family safe. But like before, trouble seems to find Caesar no matter where he is, and soon a militant faction is trying to hunt down and cut off the leader of the apes. Overall, War for the Planet of the Apes is a worthy conclusion to a journey that began six years ago.

Another complex, beautifully filmed story of the evolution (de-evolution?) of a possible future. Both exciting as an adventure story, uplifting as a 'stand by your principals' character story, and intriguing as a "who is the real animal here?" story. How far would you go to preserve your tribe? Andy Serkis is once again amazing as Caesar, trying to lead his tribe in the way of peace and harmony, but falling into hatred and revenge. Woody Harrelson's character is a bit too broad of a classic psychopathic leader who will stop at nothing. The rendering of the motion capture on the apes is pretty astonishing, to the point that you have a tendency to forget about it. Excellent Blu-ray transfer, crisp picture and sound. It's so lovely, I'm sorry I didn't spend a few extra bucks for the 4K version. Highly recommended.

If someone from the past had told me back in the day when Roddy McDowell was scampering about in a monkey suit that the "Planet of the Apes" material would make a gripping, thoroughly satisfying trilogy in the future, I'd have said they were full of bananas. But this series has soared on the talents of director Matt Reeves and actor Andy Serkis. The story arc over three movies has been cleverly constructed, and it all comes to a conclusion that is almost Shakespearean in its depth and complexity, as ape leader Caesar (Serkis) must fight for the future of his tribe against a maniacal military officer (well played by Woody Harrelson) who is out for revenge and will do anything to realize it. This is a series, beginning with "Dawn" and continuing with "Rise," that is worth revisiting more than once.

I'll start by saying that I am a fan of all the Planet of the Apes films. They've had their highs and lows throughout the franchise, but I have truly loved this new trilogy, and this latest installment was remarkable. I know that most of the film's characters are digital creations, but the story and performances are so engrossing that I don't catch myself thinking about the digital aspect while I watch. Also, I've been saying since the second Lord of the Rings film that Andy Serkis deserves more recognition for his CGI roles, and I feel that his portrayal of Caesar in this movie is Oscar-worthy. As for the blu-ray itself, the digital copy includes an iTunes file. If you're looking to expand your Apple movie library, this blu-ray will work for you!

The third of the" Planet of the Apes" movies with Andy Serkis providing a motion capture performance as Caesar, the leader of the apes. The movie continues the premise that all 3 of these films are pointing toward the civilization that Charlton Heston discovers in the 1968 movie and this one is packed with lots of small references and tie-ins that are fun to discover. The virus that wiped out most of humanity on Earth has mutated and threatens to remove man from his position of superiority once and for all. This movie is about survival, both for the apes and for man, but it is a personal story for Caesar as he wrestles with his conscience over good vs. evil. Is it justice he seeks, or merely vengeance?

If you like the Planet of the Apes movies, this one is a good one. We wanted to watch it in 4K HDR using our XBox One S, so we bought the DVD. The DVD would not play. I examined the disk and you could see the printing from the one side through the bottom side. No wonder it wouldn’t play. That’s a defect. We ended up buying the movie on iTunes for the 4K Apple TV (also a great purchase!). When we went to return the DVD at Best Buy, we showed them the DVD was defective, and they gave us a replacement. Unfortunately, we had paid $20 for it on iTunes so we didn’t need the DVD anymore and they wouldn’t exchange for a different movie. Don’t repeat our mistake! I should have just added the digital copy to iTunes and saved the $20.

The Caesar trilogy ends with a bang (literally) in this final installment of the new Apes films. Even more than the excellent Dawn, lots of suspense is generated because you care about the characters, even if most of them are not human. Lots of interesting developments, and is heading in the same direction as the original Charlton Hestorn film, with an explanation of why humans cannot speak. The 3-D is well-used, providing an excellent sense of depth in the quieter scenes, and spectacle on a scale unimaginable in 2-D during the large set pieces. It is the format the film should be viewed in. A must have.