Film Preview: War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

Page Revisions:

(December 11, 2016) Original
(April 2, 2017) New Trailer (#2) / New Poster (#2)
(May 21, 2017) New Trailer (#3) / New Poster (#3)
(July 2, 2017) New Trailer (#4) / New Posters (#4-#6)

Release Date:

July 14, 2017

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “A nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar become embroiled in a battle with an army of humans. ”

Poster Rating: C / C+ / B- / C+ / C- / D+

Review: (#1) Good god, y’all. What is it good for? While it is clear that this is a continuation of the Planet of the Apes rebooted franchise, limiting your poster to a single word from the title is something of a disservice to it. That there’s not much to the design doesn’t help.

(#2) An ape protecting a little girl. It says all it needs to about the film’s premise and potential, without having the visual grace or passion it warrants.

(#3) A lot is going on in this poster design, which makes for something eye-catching, but the drab colors and cheap-looking background effects don’t do the film many favors.

(#4) It has a tacit beauty that is wholly out of place for this series, but it fits well within the humanistic approach the franchise has taken. (#5) Is this supposed to be an artist’s interpretation of what pro-ape graffiti might look like in this near-futuristic society? If so, it’s not particularly great. If not, then I have no idea what they are trying to accomplish with it. (#6) Destined for foreign markets, this poster is as dull as several of the other for this film, so I suppose it fits in well even if it feels even more bland than previous offerings.

Trailer Rating: B- / B / B / B

SEE ALL TRAILERS BELOW
Review: (#1) The biggest concern one can have about this film is that the trailer depicts a film that may just be one long series of battle sequences. Where’s the plot? Where’s the impetus for the audience to root for the characters. Building your entire sales technique on a reliance that audiences will have seen or remembered the first two films is folly.

(#2) One of the daring and fascinating elements of the prior two films is the reliance on humanity as a comparative tool between humans and apes. That exploration of morality and what forms the basis of the human experience are compelling ideas that have been woefully underrepresented with these trailers. This latest does a much better job of conveying that, but perhaps not with sufficient immediacy.

(#3) This franchise continues to convey a compelling sense of self, survival, and humanity, but not from the humans, which is how it really should be.

(#4) Showing the audience more of the film without giving away too much of the plot has been a winning strategy, but at some point, they need to stop making trailers that don’t improve upon what has already been done.