Marx_Bros_Fan86

Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk is making headlines as the best war movie in years, and arguably Nolan's best film. The former I can understand and I don't agree with the latter, but that's not really important. I think most people will agree that Christopher Nolan's gripping direction as well as the film's cinematography, sound, and special effects all amount to one of the most impressive technical marvels in years. Dunkirk takes the war genre to a new level, similar to the way Saving Private Ryan did about twenty years ago, with absorbing action scenes that create an authentic war feel. Saving Private Ryan is not the best analogy to this movie though. To me, the best comparison is Gravity (2013), - both gripping stories about survival under insurmountable odds that keeps the audience invested with its technical wizardry.

Dunkirk follows three stories at different times during the ill-fated battle. One story follows a British air force pilot played by Tom Hardy in what are the best dog fight scenes scenes in years. Hardy is once again covered by a mask, but it makes no difference. The second story is about a British infantryman trying to get off the beaches of Dunkirk at any cost. The third story is about a group of civilians (one played by Mark Rylance) who assist with the rescue effort in their ordinary boat. The chronological narrative tricks will remind Nolan fans of his first film, Memento, but it's no where near as complicated. Eventually the stories intersect. The one element uniting all of these stories is the struggle for survival. While some characters are paralyzed with fear, others manage to stay brave and fight the good fight. You barely see the Nazis, and the violence is never graphic, but you feel the horror of war through the sound of the bombs, the sound of the bullets hitting metal near the soldiers, and the sheer desperation in the eyes of the soldiers.

The technical features of the film have deservedly received the most acclaim, but the cast's performances are all commendable. Hans Zimmer's score is also his best in years. The music will get your heart pumping.

Of all the praises I have heaped on this film, I do have some reservations. I am not sure how well this film will hold up on a small screen. Without the big screen to take in the picture, and the speaker system of a movie theater, I don't know how gripping the movie will be. It may be just fine, but I think the film will lose something on DVD. The lack of a traditional story and developed characters may harm the film's repeat value.

Still, if you're going to see one action spectacle this summer, see Dunkirk in IMAX. You must see this movie on the biggest screen you can. The sounds and the sights will make you feel like you are really there.

War for the Planet of the Apes Matt Reeves' conclusion to his Apes trilogy is a surprisingly emotional story of the last stand between the humans and the apes. The war that started in the previous film is still raging on, as the humans have become increasingly desperate. The virus that made the apes highly intelligent has mutated and the humans have not discovered a cure. The virus now degrades humans' intelligence and abilities, destroying their ability to speak. Caesar (Andy Serkis), our protagonist from the last two films, simply wants peace, but the mad Colonel McCullough, played by Woody Harrelson, has different ideas. He goes on an ape-murdering rampage that sends Caesar on a revenge trip. Caesar and a few choice friends, including the orangutan Maurice, decide to kill McCullough for justice and for their own safety.

It would have been easy for War for the Planet of the Apes to fall into a generic revenge flick or war movie formula, but instead, Reeves delivers a complex, emotional conflict between two desperate species that are struggling to survive. Caesar's conflict with Koba from the last movie still lingers as Caesar struggles between the paths of peace and war. Just how far will his hate take him? McCullough, on the other hand, desperately wants to contain the spread of the virus and decides to kill all humans that exhibit symptoms, all while imprisoning the apes that threaten the human race's position on the top of the food chain. You can almost understand where McCullough is coming from. Threat of extinction is a scary thing. What would humanity do if ever faced with such a problem? You can bet there would be people like McCullough. Perhaps that is what made the experience hit home for me – as fantastical as the plot is, the despicable way humans behave rings true. What leaves the viewer on the side of the apes is their general dislike of violence, their acceptance of humans with the virus, and the value they place on preserving their own kind, traits the humans do not seem to share.

The movie is deliberately paced and isn't really action packed. It takes its time exploring moral conflicts and developing the story. The action scenes it does have are high caliber and it goes out with a real bang. The special effects are among the best you will see in theaters this year. If they don't get a visual effects Oscar, nobody deserves it.

The performances are excellent. Andy Serkis mimics ape movement perfectly and his voice is freakishly ape like. Woody Harrelson proves once again that he can do no wrong – he's always a pleasure to see, and he excels in the Colonel Kurtz like role. Also noteworthy is the child actress Amiah Miller as Nova, a mute girl, and she doesn't disappoint.

I was most impressed with just how emotional the whole experience was. Deaths in the movie really hit you, and the musical score really tugs at your heart strings. Perhaps the saddest thing for this viewer was observing how the human race more or less turned on itself so easily. All too easy to believe.

With War for the Planet of the Apes, I believe Reeves delivered the most consistently good trilogy since the Lord of the Rings. I think if you like sci-fi movies that take time to tell a story, develop characters, and explore themes, you will like this movie. If you expect a conventional action movie, you will be disappointed. I'm glad we got the former. Who needs more conventional action movies? Not me.