Matt Reeves to direct "War for the Planet of the Apes" - Part 1

[spider greg]

A movie with Batman AND Superman made pretty much the same as homecoming domestically.

That was my point. And WB was not happy with those numbers.

 

[spider greg]

Wow so with the talk about this movie and its disappointing boxoffice numbers I was just looking and the theater that is the clossest to me the movie is not playing there any more. Normally movies hear are in theaters for around a month and a half. Wonder woman just stopped playing today in comparison and that was 2 months and 8 days. So Apes didn't even last for a full month like 26 days instead. So lasted around 3 weeks less then most movies last in theaters around hear.

Yea, same here. Surprised me also.

Very unfortunate.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Great review Hunter. It's astonishing to me this movie isn't making more money, its incredible.

I think perhaps the fact it's a pretty heavy and bleak movie for the most part has hampered the box office a bit.

 

[Broseph44]

Saw it today, brilliant movie. The first half of the film actually plays like a revenge western, as Caesar goes on a tunnel visioned quest to avenge the death of his wife and son, this is an intimate journey within the large scope of a war movie. The second half of the movie is a POW drama, both halves form an engrossing and powerful whole.

Andy Serkis work as Caesar is truly incredible and groundbreaking, but you can connect with all the Apes as characters, not just CGI creations, I love Maurice and his dynamic with Nova and I thought Bad Ape was a great addition, he kind of reminded me a bit of Ben Gunn from Treasure Island, he brought some needed moments of levity. On the human side of things I thought Woody Harrelson did a great job as the Colonel, he was definitely biting off Colonel Kurtz but adds a tragic layer that makes his final scene so effective.

The film is full of wonderful and memorable moments like the first confrontation between Caesar and the Colonel, and their discussion over the war after Caesar led the Apes revolt against the lack of food and brutal treatment in the camp, another powerful scene in itself. Then there's the 2 heart warming exchanges between Luca and Nova with the flower, and of course when Nova gets inside the compound and gives Caesar her doll before getting him food and water, then Rocket sacrificing himself so she can get away, the moment where "Donkey" makes his stand (This scene delivers on one expectation and subverts another), and last but not least
the scene where Maurice names Nova, beautifully done.

The film isn't action packed but it is drama filled and the snowbound setting inbues the film with a lot of atmosphere. The few action scenes there are, are shot with a mixture of visceral energy and operatic style, Reeves gets some epic shots. I loved Caesar's escape from the base explosion and then the avalanche.

The ending is bittersweet but befitting of a franchise that has unexpectedly delivered one of the finest trilogies ever. 9/10

Good stuff Hunter, always look forward to your thoughts. Glad you loved the film as well

 

[Marvolo]

War has fallen out of the top 10 at the box office.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

I think perhaps the fact it's a pretty heavy and bleak movie for the most part has hampered the box office a bit.

Yeah I think a late summer release would have been better.

War has fallen out of the top 10 at the box office.

 

[Greens]

Oh, well. At least they got to finish the trilogy before the box office took a nosedive.

 

[Jekecy]

This better not affect the budget for Reeve's Batman.

 

[Roose Bolton]

Hopefully the combined Chinese and Japanese box office can get this thing over the line. It's a fantastic piece of filmmaking and really deserves better than this result.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

It's at $314 million WW now I believe. It should be doing more but that at least looks a it better with some big territories yet to receive it.

 

[terry78]

Dawn had kind of a better pace I confess. I applaud Reeves for making Caesar the star without having to have a human co-star constantly, but the box office kinda spoke.

 

[Marvolo]

This better not affect the budget for Reeve's Batman.

Why would it? War was a Fox production. Batman is a wB production. And War was a success with critics. The studio knows the Reeves is worth every penny. Plus Batman is pretty much a guaranteed success so WB isnt going to worry about Batman or think that it will perform like War did.

 

[#root]

Finally was able to catch this last week. Such an amazing movie. So incredibly well made. The ending was very bittersweet but very, very fitting for this trilogy. There was some very breathtakingly beautiful cinematography and CG in this movie. The snowy landscapes and the apes looked so good. Maurice has always looked the best of the apes to me since the first one but that first scene with Nova in bed looked flawless. Also loved how they used Bad Ape as comic relief. Steve Zahn did an amazing job with him.

 

[Golgo-13]

I think Fox knows the B.O is not the fault of the film itself, but the time in which it was released. The word of mouth of this is really strong. This will make a good amount on dvd.

 

[Smilodon]

You really can't fault Fox for being confident in Reeves and the film as well. The film was fantastic, and the studio deserves credit for allowing Reeves to create the film he wanted.

 

[scarlet-witch]

You really can't fault Fox for being confident in Reeves and the film as well. The film was fantastic, and the studio deserves credit for allowing Reeves to create the film he wanted.

I give Fox credit for that, but I still think they should've opened this in August.

 

[psylockolussus]

This better not affect the budget for Reeve's Batman.

Well Batman didn't show up in this movie, right?
Two different franchises.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Dawn had kind of a better pace I confess. I applaud Reeves for making Caesar the star without having to have a human co-star constantly, but the box office kinda spoke.

I love Dawn but I actually thought it had some slow moments. I was glued to the screen throughout War though.

 

[redhawk23]

Out of nowhere, a videogame set between Dawn and War is announced, out this fall. Serkis' mo-cap company was involved.

http://www.slashfilm.com/planet-of-the-apes-last-frontier-trailer/

Not gonna lie, this doesn't look great. From the graphics to the brown/grey color scheme, this looks like it was made in 2006.

 

[Consona]

That was my point. And WB was not happy with those numbers.

"Let's lighten up the Cyborgs story! "

Spoiler

WB

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Out of nowhere, a videogame set between Dawn and War is announced, out this fall. Serkis' mo-cap company was involved.

http://www.slashfilm.com/planet-of-the-apes-last-frontier-trailer/

Not gonna lie, this doesn't look great. From the graphics to the brown/grey color scheme, this looks like it was made in 2006.

I always thought an Apes game would be a great idea. But not sold on the story they chose for this one.

 

[scarlet-witch]

I don't want a video game, I want more of those prequel novels from the Ape's POV.

 

[Hunter Rider]

The videogame seems like a rushed cash-in.

Good stuff Hunter, always look forward to your thoughts. Glad you loved the film as well

I think this will a great trilogy to watch on back to back nights once War hits Blu Ray.

 

[Broseph44]

The videogame seems like a rushed cash-in.



I think this will a great trilogy to watch on back to back nights once War hits Blu Ray.

Very much so, especially watching Dawn and War back to back.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

You really can't fault Fox for being confident in Reeves and the film as well. The film was fantastic, and the studio deserves credit for allowing Reeves to create the film he wanted.

I haven't seen the movie but the consensus I've read online is that WFTPOTA is a really dark and bleak film. One that introduces and dabbles in themes that are not a good fit for major studio tentpoles (this is what I've read in different sites). FOX took a risk and they took the hit. FOX should be proud that they greenlit a blockbuster movie like this in the heart of the summer. It backfired in terms of BO potential but they produced quality cinema, so great respect to them.