Capping off the Planet of the Apes trilogy reboot in impressive fashion, War for the Planet of the Apes proves to be a stirring example of how a VFX driven genre film can present an intellectually and emotionally stimulating exploration on not only the ethics of war, but the nature of humanity.

When the Planet of the Apes franchise was rebooted in 2011, no one really knew what kind of direction the franchise was headed in. The 2001 remake directed by Tim Burton and starring Mark Wahlberg angered fans of the 1968 original and failed to win over any new converts. Some 10 years later with the sci-fi genre undergoing a new resurgence aided by top of the line visual effects, Rise of the Planet of the Apes stunned many not only with its visual pedigree, but the emotional and ethically rich sci-fi storytelling on display.

War for the Planet of the Apes (as well as its predecessor Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the best in the series) continues to do the same. While many are ready to decry big budget films as nothing more than bombastic nonsense, it is films like War for the Planet of the Apes that are the antidote to such snobby statements. Directed by Matt Reeves (who also helmed Dawn…), this is a film that hits many different levels, a stirring thinking man’s sci-fi action thriller, that still wows in its ability to bring to life its cast of primate characters through ground breaking motion-capture visual effects work and the performances of those who portray these creatures.

Chief among them is Andy Serkis. He reprises his role of Caesar, the charismatic chimpanzee revolutionary leader who after the events of Dawn… has his ever-growing tribe of intelligent and dangerous apes living in seclusion from a human race steadfast in their mission to hunt them down. When the iron fisted and battle hardened “Colonel” (Woody Harrelson) and his rogue paramilitary unit make their presence known with a devastating attack on Caesar and his tribe, Caesar’s quest for revenge results in a journey through the heart of darkness of a human species facing extinction, a quest that will test his resolve and his leadership.

One of the main joys of watching the Planet of the Apes franchise reboot is witnessing the evolution of Caesar, and indeed Serkis’s portrayal of him through three movies. This critic has consistently labelled Serkis as the “Marlon Brando of motion capture” due to his masterful approach to this revolutionary brand of acting. While there are some who still decry motion-capture as some sort of high-tech parlour trick, Serkis’s performance proves beyond a measure of a doubt that there is indeed heart, intelligence and soul behind the awe inspiring visual effects seen on the screen. War for the Planet of the Apes especially brings that to the fore, with Serkis going beyond and digging deep in his portrayal of a being undergoing a major transition of soul and identity. Caesar is a character tested, and Serkis portrays that internal, even painful inspection of self with astounding clarity.

Great too is Woody Harrelson as the man on the other end of the dynamic between chip and human, his Colonel knowing exactly who he is and what he wants, as dictated through madness induced reasoning. Harrelson has portrayed some very nasty characters of late (Out of the Furnace, Rampart), yet this villain is one driven by a demented ideology that feels his every being. If it is true that nothing has more power over a man than fear (especially fear of change), than the Colonel is one powerful man indeed.       

Reeves successfully brings all of these ideas – identity, change, fear, extinction – within an incredibly well-made genre film where all technical facets match its high value intelligence. Where Dawn... was more of an action movie in which the fight for power was won on the battlefield, War… is about the battle of ideals between a rising species and another on the brink of destruction. The spectacle is incredibly impressive. But its ideas are even more so.