Each Thursday we look at what is going to be coming out in theaters this weekend, show you the trailers for the big releases, predict the box office winner and just generally give you enough of a carrot to pull you through the rest of the work week. July 14th brings another blockbuster as those damn, dirty apes swing into theaters once again!
The only major release this week is a big one: the conclusion of Matt Reeves’ and Andy Serkis’ revival of The Planet of the Apes franchise. Dead after Tim Burton’s disastrous attempt with Mark Wahlberg, Reeves and Serkis breathed new life into the venerable institution, making each film better and better. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes left viewers on a cliffhanger, with full-on war between the remaining humans and the evolved apes ready to erupt. As much as I’m dying to see how the story ends, I’m also looking forward to seeing what Serkis does with Caesar. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: we need a Best Mo-Cap/Voiceover Performance category at the Oscars. Andy Serkis created an entirely new way to act and the level of performance from him and those who have also embraced this new technology needs recognition. At the very least, Serkis needs some kind of special achievement Oscar. Who else has created an entirely new way to act?
War for the Planet of the Apes (Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, PG-13 2hr 20min)
HOW DID WE DO LAST WEEK?
KT made the BOLD call that people were going to like a well-reviewed MCU reboot of Spider-Man, and-by golly-we have our finger on the pulse of humanity. Spider-Man: Homecoming opened with a resounding $117.1 million displacing Despicable Me 3, which fell to #2 with $33.2 million.
(2017 Prediction Record: 24-4; Lifetime prediction record 62-9).
WHO WILL WIN THE WEEKEND?
This is going to be close. I expect Spider-Man to stay strong with good word-of-mouth, but Apes is also highly anticipated with a 92% rating on RT at time of writing. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes opened in the $70 million range, and if War can repeat that, it should be able to edge out Spidey.
War is going to be GREAT. Pretty much the only time I trust critics is when they lavish praise on a movie like Spider-Man or this one, because while the critics tend to not understand science fiction, they can recognize good acting, exemplary special effects, really exciting epic action, and technical wizardry when they see it, and if those elements are contained in a pulpy potboiler, it’s ahead of the curve. Caesar is the greatest film character ever created using special effects, he’s better than Gollum, better than ESB Yoda, and it’s because he’s the main character, and you totally accept him, and are fascinated by him, and let’s face it, he’s the reason to see the new one, to see how his story finishes.
The academy will come around, but it is going to take more films with characters like Caesar, and it’s going to take more experts like Serkis in the field. A category will happen, but it’s at least a decade away.
Back in 1980, Lucas wanted Frank Oz nominated for Yoda BTW. And Oz deserved it.
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Oz deserved it and Serkis should have already gotten the kind of special Oscar that Toy Story got when it changed animation forever. I’m hoping to see War today, but tomorrow at the latest. I agree that Caesar has passed even Gollum in the nuance and depth of acting, besides, as you rightly pointed out, he IS the lead of the film. I thought Serkis should have been flat out nominated for Best Actor for Dawn. We’re so lucky that the right man came together with WETA to create Gollum and saw it for what it was: not a one-off, but an entirely new way to bring impossible characters to life in a way no one ever had.
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