A brilliant action blockbuster that completely blew away author Benjamin Hecht in theaters is currently available on Disney+ as a streaming subscription. “Planet of the Apes: Survival” is for him the strongest conclusion of a trilogy since “The Lord of the Rings”.
The “Planet of the Apes” reboot series, which was followed in 2011 by “Planet of the Apes: Prevolution” by Rupert Wyatt and later expanded by two more parts by Matt Reeves, is for me a very special highlight of recent cinema history.
Honestly, I had zero expectations for the series, which is why I left it on the left for a long time. However, “Prevolution” really impressed me because of its emotional origin story of ape domination and the second part “Planet of the Apes: Revolution” has even become one of the best war movies of all time for me. So when I saw the conclusion of the Caesar trilogy “Planet of the Apes: Survival” in the cinema, I was blown away again.
I could hardly believe how this series, which will soon even be continued by a fourth part, thrilled me. Be it because of its bombastic visuals, the heartbreaking storyline, or the emotions of its computer-created main character that seemed so real. “Planet of the Apes: Survival” is so much more than just a blockbuster where apes and humans butt heads.
All three previous installments of the series are currently available in the streaming subscription of Disney+ and so you can easily get an idea of the great “Planet of the Apes: Survival” yourself:
THIS IS WHAT “PLANET OF THE APES 3: SURVIVAL “
IS ABOUT.
The third installment in the reboot series takes place two years after the events of its predecessor, “Planet of the Apes: Revolution”, which led to humans and apes fighting each other. Yet the leader of the primates Caesar (Andy Serkis) is anything but a warmonger. The righteous ape would like nothing better than to live in peace with his family.
But the fronts are hardened. When one day the unit of the martial Colonel (Woody Harrelson) attacks his tribe, even the usually so level-headed Caesar blows a fuse. He swears revenge and sets out to meet his new enemy, who runs an entire prison camp full of apes and uses brutal measures.
THIS IS WHY “PLANET OF THE APES: SURVIVAL” IS AN EXTREMELY GOOD BLOCKBUSTER
Personally, “Planet of the Apes” thrilled me on many levels. Especially noticeable are the insanely strong visual effects. The apes don’t just look believable and realistic from a distance. Caesar in particular looks as real as a real human being in his close-ups.
Andy Serkis manages to convey an incredible facet of human (or ape?) emotions despite his CGI visage and would have deserved an Oscar nomination for this performance (as he did for Gollum in “Lord of the Rings”).
Caesar’s eyes reflect nuanced feelings of remorse, hope and longing, giving “Planet of the Apes: Survival” great emotional depth. The trilogy’s finale goes to the heart, whether it’s when Caesar mourns his fallen fellow apes or when he feels firsthand the full extent of enslavement in Colonel’s labor camp.
All the better that we get this inherently strong story served up in the form of a gigantic spectacle that showcases every blockbuster quality imaginable. “Planet of the Apes: Survival” is not only something for the heart, but also for the eyes and ears.
In the middle of the deepest snow, we are greeted by a cherry tree blooming pink, shining like a beacon of life amidst all the death and suffering. And when composer Michael Giacchino underscores the warlike confrontations with booming drums, this reinforces the brute action scenes, which already inspire with their great mixed soundscape.
However, whether you can enjoy these qualities as much as I did, who saw the film in the cinema on a huge screen and with Dolby Atmos sound, also depends on whether you have a good soundbar and a big TV.
But even without the full blockbuster feel, “Planet of the Apes: Survival” is an extremely strong representative of a franchise that has positively surprised me each time from part to part. I am convinced: With the exception of “Lord of the Rings”, there has been no film series in the past 20 years that has been able to maintain such a consistently high level from beginning to end.
