Matt Reeves has received major public attention for directing The Batman, but he previously had directed several great films. Reeves was the director of Cloverfield and Let Me In, as well as two films in the Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes displayed the incredible scope of Matt Reeves' directing talents. Despite being a commercial success and receiving great reviews, the films have unfortunately fallen out of revelance.
The Planet of the Apes films starred Andy Serkis as Caesar, a chimpanzee leader to a group of intelligent apes. Serkis later went on to work with Matt Reeves again in The Batman, playing Alfred Pennyworth. Reeves' Planet of the Apes films told a story in a tragic, war-torn world ravaged by a deadly pandemic. More than that, it also told a story exploring who we are as human beings. Here are several reasons why Matt Reeves' Planet of the Apes films deserve more love.
A Story About Empathy, Understanding, and Love
Rise of the Planet of the Apes featured the genesis of Caesar's ape uprising, which led to war with the human race. However, Caesar did not start off as the revolutionary leader of an army of enhanced apes. He was the result of a test experiment involving a viral-based drug to cure Alzheimer's disease. Caesar inherited the intelligence of his chimpanzee mother and was taken home and raised by Dr. Will Rodman. Rather than raising Caesar as a pet, Rodman raised him more like a son. The two had a strong relationship, but Caesar eventually said his goodbyes so that he could set his fellow apes free.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes portrayed the tension between the apes and the humans. Finding each other on opposite sides, there was great distrust between the two factions. In an interview with Roger Ebert, Reeves mentioned he is drawn to films because of the "kind of empathic experience, where you can be in the shoes of characters who you are not." The main human characters in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes were able to connect with the apes. They found that they were not so different, allowing for a temporary fragile peace to be established.
Was Able to Tell a Serious Story With CG Apes
Some people never gave the Planet of the Apes films a chance due to the films prominently featuring CG apes. Those who were able to move past that however, experienced an incredible, emotionally resonant and impactful story. The films featured intelligent apes, but the films were not about them. With the apes having all the strengths and shortcomings of a human being, it was obvious that the apes were stand-ins for humans. Caesar initially believed that apes were inherently morally superior, but came to the realization that they were just as capable of making the same mistakes.
Consequently, the Planet of the Apes trilogy was actually about humans. It was a look into the psychological workings of the human race, showcasing both the ugly and the beautiful. When approached through that lens, the concept of intelligent CG apes doesn't sound so ridiculous. They were only used as a means of telling a more engaging story. Thanks to the hard work of Weta Digital, the apes even looked great.
Morally Complex and Realistic Villains
Both of Reeves' Planet of the Apes films had amazing villains. They were ruthless, aggressive leaders that wanted violence, but they had very believable reasons for seeking vengeance. Toby Kebbell played a scarred bonobo named Koba, who made things incredibly difficult for Caesar. In many ways, Koba served as a foil to Caesar's character. Both were apes connected to a lab experiment, but while Caesar was raised in a loving home, Koba endured a life of cruelty. Motivated by his past, Koba desired to take his anger out on all humans, who he viewed as the ultimate enemy. He did everything within his power to push the other apes into attacking humans.
War for the Planet of the Apes featured a new villain in the form of the Colonel, played by the fantastic Woody Harrelson. The Colonel was the leader of the paramilitary group, the Alpha-Omega, determined to keep humans as Earth's dominant species. When the Simian Flu mutated, it made humans who carried it become mute and lose their higher intelligence. The Colonel's son was one of those affected, and the Colonel decided to end his son's life. While he did not take pleasure in his drastic courses of action, the Colonel firmly believed he was doing what was necessary. He was viewed as an extremist and even became an enemy of the United States Army.
Theme of Legacy and the World You Leave Behind
Strong leaders are needed, but no human (or in this case, ape) is perfect. Caesar was intelligent, but had to learn many important lessons before he could become a proper leader. He made many mistakes along the way, learning from not only his own, but from those of other characters like Koba and the Colonel. Caesar understood how easily one's heart could be corrupted or one's mind could descend into madness. He learned about both ape and human vulnerability and the importance of empathy.
Although Caesar faced many enemies in his life, he also experienced friendship and love from both humans and apes. Maurice was Caesar's ape best friend who stuck by his side to the very end. In Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Caesar bonded with humans Malcolm, Ellie, and Alexander. The species someone was born into did not determine their heart or their values. Caesar acknowledged both the light and darkness within humanity and his own kind. Before Caesar died, Maurice promised him that the apes would continue to learn about what he stood and fought for. Caesar was never going to be able to solve every problem, but he inspired hope for a better world.