Note: Minor spoilers are discussed during this interview.
I absolutely loved everything aboutWar for the Planet of the Apes. It’s one of those rare and special films that is not only a huge commercial Hollywood blockbuster but also a piece of art. As you watch the film – which opens this weekend in theaters- I promise you’ll feel like I did: like you’re watching real apes on screen. While I could go on and on aboutAndy Serkis’amazing performance as Caesar and how he absolutely needs to be recognized come Oscar season, I need to also point out that all the actors involved deserve special mention for delivering outstanding performances includingWoody Harrelsonas “The Colonel.” Unlike a lot of movies where the antagonist is an afterthought in the writing process, Harrelson delivers a fantastic performance and creates a three-dimensional character that isn’t a stereotypical villain. Trust me,War for the Planet of the Apesis easily one of the best films I’ve seen this year and it absolutely needs to be seen on a movie screen. For moreread Matt Golberg’s review.
Recently I got to talk with director Matt Reeves about the making of the film. During my extended interview Reeves, we talked about what he learned from early screenings, how the first people to see the film were J.J. Abrams and Drew Goddard, Andy Serkis’ amazing work as Caesar, how Woody Harrelson contributed a lot to his character, how his first cut of the film was a lot longer and he ended up with fifteen to twenty minutes of deleted scenes, futureApesmovies, and so much more.
As most of you know, the sequel finds Caesar (Serkis) on something of a revenge mission against The Colonel (Harrelson), who has amassed a human army at a compound deep in the snow. The film also starsSteve Zahn,Amiah Miller,Karin Konoval,Judy Greer, andTerry Notary.
Check out what Matt Reeves had to say in the player above and below is exactly what we talked about followed by the official synopsis and some images.
Matt Reeves:
Here’s the official synopsis forWar for the Planet of the Apes:
In War for the Planet of the Apes, the third chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster franchise, Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.
