This movie is so good. Just so good. I think it has just enough of everything I like. It has the cheese factor when they have apes with guns riding horses into battle. I've already sold you on the movie, haven't I? But believe it or not, there's also a lot of heart in the movie too. There's some genuine drama. All the characters are balanced and their motivations are clear. Even the felt a level of sympathy for the story's villain.
This is also a movie that got me thinking. I always love that. It's enriching. There's things the movie brings up that require discussion. What is the nature of conflict? What does it mean to be a human versus an animal? At what point did humans stop being animals? Did we ever stop being animals? Can we stop conflicts before they get out of hand? Can any society be built on utopian idealism? How does one learn to stop hating? What is it about human nature that yearns for peace but is compelled to war? In one way this movie gives us an answer but it's not one many will like. The answer might just be that conflict is unavoidable. As long as people have differences, there will always be conflicts. And is that such a bad thing?
I have a bit of a soft spot for this series. Rise of the Planet of the Apes was one of my first reviews for this site. I absolutely loved that movie. I called it the best movie I'd seen all year. This one is in good running for that same honor. The acting was brilliant. The writing was again just top notch. I just love a movie that can be a bit ambiguous and gives us some room to think for ourselves. The villain of the movie is wonderful. Just like Magneto in X-Men: First Class it's easy to understand why he thinks the way he thinks and does the things he does. It's not just some character in a black hat reveling in his own evil. It's a guy (ape) that was systematically tortured by humans and has a very rational distrust and hatred for humans because of it.
Caesar's motivations are very understandable as well. He's desperately trying to create a new society. One built on peace, love, and understanding. His society seems to only have one written law. Apes don't kill apes. He's not trying to be some gallant warrior. He just wants his little piece of the world and to not be bothered by outsiders into his society. I'm sure that has to ring a few bells in our own culture.
I could go into spoilers here but I think it's clear where this is going. Prejudice and hatred lead to conflict. It's not hard to figure out what happens.
But this movie is just so good.
Luckily they are already working on the third installment. Expect me to gush over another Planet of the Apes movie in 2016.
Hope to see you then.
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