This film’s predecessor, _War for the Planet of the Apes_, was a very unambiguous conclusion to the saga. [Spoiler]Caesar’s martyrdom would usher in a new era for apes as mankind succumbed to the neurodegenerative effects of the virus.[/Spoiler] However, money talks in Hollywood, and it seems that an attempt at a blockbuster sequel was made anyway.

There’s certainly something to love here if you’re willing to overlook the shallow motivations of the characters and the boiler plate narrative structure. Our new simian cast and the landscapes they occupy have never looked this incredible and it is clear the special effects team did their part. Owen Teague and Peter Macon also voice their parts to great effect. However, once the glamour fades and the brain starts asking the most basic of questions, the disenchantment is swift and the frustration inconsolable.