War For The Planet Of The Apes Review: 10 Ups & 1 Down

Ups...

10. Andy Serkis Gives Another Oscar-Worthy Performance

War For The Planet Of The Apes
20th Century Fox

Ever since Rise of the Planet of the Apes, critics, audiences and Oscar voters alike have pondered where Weta Digital's work ends and Andy Serkis' begins when it comes to the character of Caesar.

It almost seems rude to even ask the question by the end of War, which wrings so much emotion out of the marriage between Serkis' mo-cap work and Weta's digital sorcery that there clearly needs to be some sort of Honorary Oscar recognition if the Academy won't straight-up nominate Serkis for Best Actor.

At the end of these three movies, his spectacular work absolutely deserves to be singled out, and doing so would be a landmark moment for both the medium and performance capture as a craft. Award or not, though, it does nothing to diminish the intense power he has brought to this character, who receives his most complex and nuanced treatment in this third film.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.