Best of 2017 Summer Blockbusters - "War at Dunkirk and a War for Apes" (Film Review)

Stills from Dunkirk (2017) and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

It's a good year for summer blockbusters! Two of the most highly anticipated movies of the season came out in back-to-back weekends this July; War for the Planet of the Apes and Dunkirk. Both movies are holding strong with a 93% Rotten Tomatoes rating, and deservedly so! Though each may have some flaws, both of these films achieve a certain level of greatness. These days, many films have been receiving positive Rotten Tomatoes reviews from both critics and audiences, but that wasn't always the case. While TV has been putting out some exceptional content lately that has been overshadowing cinema, it's clear that there's still a lot of solid content coming out in theaters.

 War for the Planet of the Apes

The Apes franchise has been one of the most successful in recent years, delivering three strong movies that can stand on their own. We started with Rise of the Planet of the Apes in 2012, which introduced Caesar and his evolution into becoming a leader. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes takes place years later in a world where the Simian Flu wipes out a most of humanity, apart from those who were genetically immune. A battle for power turns into a war between apes and humans, which leads us into War for the Planet of the Apes.
 

Still from War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

War for the Planet of the Apes is the finale to this prequel trilogy. The film takes place two years after the last. Military forces are on the hunt for Caesar and his crew. A small group of apes that are against Caesar have become military allies, and are helping them track down the elusive colony of apes. The mission is being led by Colonel Mcculough (played by Woody Harrelson), a "no mercy" kind of man. We see how the passing of time has further enhanced the apes' verbal skills. We also see how the Simian Flu has evolved. This film continues to focus on the challenges and decisions Caesar is faced with as a leader. Throughout the series, Caesar has tried to keep the peace. But, setbacks in this film test his ability to hold on to civility towards humans. One of the best things about this film is the introduction of a new ape character, Bad Ape (played by Steve Zahn). This character is incredibly endearing and provides comic relief in an otherwise gloomy atmosphere.

Still from War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

What sets this franchise apart from many is the exceptional character development, particularly with the main ape characters. The special effects are, once again, spectacular and the apes look more realistic than ever. But, it's easy to give all the credit to the special effects. In reality, the actors in this film are outstanding. The brilliance of Andy Serkis is not praised enough. He is exceptional, and entirely deserving of an Oscar® for his performance. So few can do what he does, and he is the best in the game. The performances from all of the ape actors deserve a massive round of applause, and here's to hoping they are recognized come awards season. Overall, the movie was strong. Some may criticize the overly human nature of the apes in this film, particularly with their highly developed ability to speak. Others may say that there isn't enough "war" in this film, and that the action in Dawn is more intense. At the end of the day, it's a good finale to a great trilogy.

Behind the Scenes - Andy Serkis as Caesar in War for the Apes (2017) 

Dunkirk

Dunkirk is yet another example of the epic film-making capabilities of the very talented Christopher Nolan. Shot almost entirely on 70mm film, this movie puts the viewer in the epicenter of chaos from the very first scene all the way through to the end. It's an experience that is more on par with being on a ride or attraction, rather than that of a normal movie-going experience. This is largely due to an intense soundtrack by Hans Zimmer, a man who is no stranger to Nolan films. The soundtrack is incredibly effective in making sure every propeller rotation and every explosion reverberates through each viewers seat, immersing the viewer further into the experience of the film.

Still of Fionn Whitehead in Dunkirk (2017)

The plot, based on actual historic events, is quite simple. And though most Americans may not have been familiar with it, the events of the film were quite familiar to folks overseas. The film takes place in Dunkirk, France during World War II. It focuses on a specific event where 400,000 British and French soldiers were stranded on a beach, standing ducks for the German soldiers approaching by land, sea and air. 

Still of Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard and Fionn Whitehead in Dunkirk (2017)

As numerous small-scale rescue attempts arrive only to end in tragic outcomes, the soldiers await their fate. The film is shown from three different perspectives over the same period of time: land, sea and air. On land, the audience is taken on a journey through the experiences of a small group of soldiers in their attempt at escaping the beach. The group is led by two young soldiers, played by impressive newcomers Fionn Whitehead and Harry Styles, both in their first feature film. In terms of dialogue, the film relies very little on verbal exchanges. For that reason, the success of the film was largely dependent on the performances of the primary actors, and the film succeeded from that standpoint. That being said, it seems that Tom Hardy has recently had a string of roles that hardly require him to speak, which seems odd for an actors as talented as him. The additional two perspectives of sea and air did not feel quite as developed as the other two. The film didn't give you as much reason to be invested in those characters' journeys; though they weren't fully a let down.

Still from Dunkirk (2017)

Here's where the film needed some work. The setup of the film from the start disregarded the fact that the audience may not have already been familiar with the story. Even a brief introduction at the start of the film as to what was about to take place would have made the film easier to follow. Beyond that, with three separate perspectives from land, sea, and air the film had a somewhat complicated timeline, or what appeared to be so due to editing that made the timeline difficult to follow. 
 

Still from Dunkirk (2017)

All in all, it was a good film; one that was reminiscent of a classic war movie for which hundreds or thousands of extras were recruited and actual explosions took place, rather than relying fully on modern-day special effects. It's a film that you would have an entirely different experience watching on a true IMAX® screen, rather than a small screen or at home. Is it Nolan's best work? Perhaps not. The Dark Knight still stands at a certain level of excellence that is the bar that needs to be met. But, it's still pretty darn impressive.

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