Literally Gorilla Warfare in Planet of the Apes

Hold on to your butts, homo sapiens. A war is coming. A war between apes and humans to determine which species will survive. This is the War for the Planet of the Apes, the third installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot series. An emotionally charged blockbuster so powerful it could be one of the best movies of 2017.

Official synopsis:

In War for the Planet of the Apes, the third chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster franchise, Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.

An upcoming sci-fi film directed by Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) and written by Matt Reeves and Mark Bomback. Sequel to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. It stars Andy Serkis returning as the majestic Caesar, Karin Konoval returning as Caesar's trusted advisor Maurice, Judy Greer returning as Cornelia, Caesar's wife, Terry Notary as Rocket, Caesar's right-hand man, and Toby Kebbel as Koba. New to the series are Woody Harrelson as The Colonel, Steve Zahn as Bad Ape, and Amiah Miller in her first major motion picture role as Nova, the human child who becomes an unexpected link between the apes and humanity. Michael Giachinno returns to compose the score for this film. Visual effects are provided once again by Weta Digital.

This is the sequel to 2014's Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Let us recap what has happened so far in this trilogy reboot.

The first movie in this reboot series is called Rise of the Planet of the Apes, released in 2011. In the movie, at a facility called Gen-Sys labs, we see the birth of an intelligent species of apes created by a virus called ALZ 113, or the Simian Flu as it became to be called afterwards. This virus is a result of scientific experiment gone wrong and it nearly caused the extinction of the human race. The intelligent apes escape into the wilderness led by alpha chimp Caesar.

In the second movie called Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, a decade has passed. The human population is nearing extinction due to the virus while the ape population has thrived and grown. A small band of human survivors encountered tribe of apes. Led by Caesar, there seemed to be hope towards a way to peace between apes and humans. But then an ape named Koba wanted revenge against his human captors from Gen-Sys labs and shattered this little hope for peace.

Summary of the two preceding movies prior to War.

In this third movie, War for the Planet of the Apes, human soldiers have been searching for Caesar and his tribe for 2 years and fate has brought them to him. It is the final showdown between Caesar and The Colonel, the leader of the human army. Will you cheer for the apes if they win the war? Will you sympathize with the humans if they lose? Witness the pivotal moments that determine the fate of the human civilization.

 Two-time Oscar® nominee Woody Harrelson is The Colonel, the main antagonist in this War for the Planet of the Apes.

12-year old Amiah Miller is Nova, an orphaned child living with the apes.

Also new in this movie is Nova, a mute young girl afflicted by the Simian Flu. She is "adopted" by orangutan Maurice and follows on the apes on their journey to a new home. Ironically Nova becomes the silent human amidst talking primates like in atypical animated fairy-tale of talking animals.

Actor & comedian Steve Zhan portrays Bad Ape, a product of the Simian Virus spreading to other parts of the world.

One unique and intriguing character introduced in this movie is an ape called Bad Ape, voiced and motion captured by Steve Zahn. He is.... let's just say, not like the other apes of the tribe. Caesar's encounter with him will play a very important role in the war against the human army.

Watch this video above and stand a chance to win movie merchandise from our Facebook & YouTube Contest (see below for Terms & Conditions, closing Tuesday 18 July, 11.59pm).

Background on some of the recurring apes are available at the Official Planet of the Apes website.

The war action has moved from forests to rugged mountains and snow.

Reviews are now out from those that have seen the early screenings. The results are overwhelmingly positive. (some of the reviews have SPOILERS so don't click on them if you don't want to be spoiled)

Here are feedback from reviewers:

• "An exquisitely filmed, emotionally stunning film that challenges what a big-budget, summer blockbuster is supposed to be. And it’s about a planet of apes."- Germain Lussier, io9.com

• "It’s one of my favorite films of the year so far, and it deepens a little bit every time I think about it, which is always a good sign of its staying power." -Todd VanDerWerff, Vox.com

• "Director Matt Reeves and co-writer Mark Bomback display a fantastic ability for both spectacle and restraint in delivering one of the best blockbusters in years."- Scott Collura, IGN (warning, lot of SPOILERS!)

• "This movie is like having sex with a hot chick without getting an orgasm: still bloody awesome." - Dashran "Dedpewl" Yohan, The Hyped Geek.

New Zealand's Weta Digital provides leading edge motion capture technology allowing apes to emote better than Star Trek stoic Vulcans.

This motion picture values emotion very highly. And its shows very clearly when you look at the faces of the apes and realize how realistic they look like. It is amazing how motion capture has evolved to allow the emotions and subtle facial movements of the actors to be conveyed even through all those layers of digital effects. Weta Digital has really done an amazing job. And Andy Serkis really deserves an Oscar for his motion capture performance during the whole trilogy. You really want to watch this movie on the biggest and largest screen you can find: TGV's IMAX, GSC's Maxx or MBO's Big Screen.

Andy Serkis transformation into Caesar by the magic of Weta Workshop

One of the great things about this trilogy using motion capture is that it shows to the world that there is no need to utilize actual great apes and chimpanzees in entertainment. For many years, these primates have been taken as pets or as attractions. They are being threatened by wildlife trafficking and hunting. This trilogy proves that there are alternatives that are morally correct. In honor of the upcoming release of War for the Planet of the Apes, 20th Century Fox has partnered with the Jane Goodall Institute in Virginia, US, to provide care for rescued chimpanzees.

Gentle orangutan Maurice with orphaned girl Nova.

Expect a lot of emotional drama as well in the conflict between Caesar and The Colonel. Both are self-righteously defending their own species from destruction in a world gone wild.

Woody Harrelson and Andy Serkis were highly moved by each others performance.

Take a selfie or wefie with Caesar at Starling Mall, Damansara Uptown.

Typically the Outpost Movie Recon Team (M.R.T. ) will be sharing valuable intel on where to find movie stuff locally with tips on where to win merchandise. Well this time thanks to the nice people at 20th Century Fox Malaysia, we will the ones giving away the following goodies: Survival Gear to make it through this War for the Planet of the Apes!

PLEASE SCROLL BELOW FOR CURRENT ON-GOING CONTESTS

(BLOG CONTEST CLOSED)

Follow these instructions below for a chance to win these official movie merchandise and maybe even some in-season movie passes to War for the Planet of the Apes:

1. Like our Facebook Page, Outpost Productions, and this article post.

2. Share this Blog post on Facebook and/or Twitter (set your post privacy to Public). 

3. Submit your personal details and answer 3 questions plus write creative caption in the online form below.

Make sure your entries reach us by Sunday 16 July 2017, 11.59pm and stay tuned to our Facebook Page for announcement of winners.

Terms and Conditions for Outpost War for Planet of the Apes Blog Contest (CLOSED):

• Participation only for residents in Malaysia.
• Only 1 entry per person. Multiple entries after the first entry will be automatically rejected.
• Selection of winners will be based on answering all 3 questions correctly and our selection of the most creative captions.
• Winners will announced on our Facebook Page anytime from Monday 17 July 2017 onwards. It is the winners' own responsibility to lookout for the announcement and respond accordingly to the redemption instructions given.
• Prizes may be collected in person at Visual Arts Expo on 22-23 July 2017 at Shah Alam Convention Centre, or alternative locations at dates & times to be advised. Prizes that remain uncollected by 31 July 2017 will be deemed forfeit.
• We reserve the right to revise these terms and conditions at any time without prior notice.

We are also giving away an exclusive USB thumbdrive loaded with Gen-Sys research on apes via Instagram.

(INSTAGRAM CONTEST CLOSED)

Teams and Conditions for Instagram contest (13-16 July - CLOSED):

• Participation only for residents in Malaysia.
• To participate, Follow OutpostMY on Instagram and Like the contest post.
• Comment with your vote of either #TeamMan or #TeamApe
• Tag 3 friends on Instagram
• All entries to be posted by Sunday 16 July, 11.59pm.
• Only 1 entry per person. Multiple entries after the first entry will be automatically rejected.
• Winner will be selected amongst entries from the most number of either #TeamMan or #TeamApe.
• Selected winner will be contacted by direct message for collection instructions.
• Prizes uncollected by 31 July will be forfeited.
• Just kidding on the Gen-Sys research!
• We reserve the right to revise these terms and conditions at any time without prior notice.

Teams and Conditions for Facebook & YouTube contest (15-18 July) ONGOING:

• Participation only for residents in Malaysia.
• To participate, first Like Outpost Productions / OutpostMY Facebook Page and the contest post.
• Then share the post with hashtags #WarforthePlanetMY and #OutpostGiveaway.
• Open the YouTube video "Bad Ape" on new browser (click YouTube on the lower right portion of this video to automatically open in new browser window) and Subscribe to our YouTube channel myscififanoutpost.
• Watch the video for answer to this question: “Where did Bad Ape come from?”
• Send Message to our Facebook Page Outpost Productions / OutpostMY with the following info: Name & NRIC, YouTube subscriber name, Email, Mobile Tel, Answer to Question.
• All entries to be posted by Tuesday 18 July, 11.59pm.
• Only 1 entry per person.
• Prizes consist  of 1 Cap and 1 Torchlight from War for the Planet of the Apes.
• Winner will be selected from entries with the correct answer.
• Selected winner will be contacted by direct message for collection instructions.
• Prizes uncollected by 31 July will be forfeited.
• We reserve the right to revise these terms and conditions at any time without prior notice.

Now especially for you folks who have watched War for the Planet of the Apes, we seek your movie review to share with friends to stand a chance to win this official merchandise:

Watch with compass and dogtags to help survive the Planet of the Apes.

Follow us on Twitter at OutpostMY and retweet / RT our contest post with your creative captions of the movie by words and hashtags ending with #OutpostGiveaway, e.g. #WarforthePlanet dramatic masterpiece worthy of Ape #Oscar #TeamApe #Caesar #FTW #mustsee. Contest closes Monday 24 July, 11.59pm (Malaysian time)

For chance to #WIN #WarforthePlanetMY #OutpostGiveaway, FOLLOW us + RT your movie review w creative hashtags. TNC: https://t.co/pl1Bisf0BD pic.twitter.com/5nJt19WvzB

— OutpostHoloNet (@OutpostMY) July 18, 2017

Terms and Conditions for Twitter contest (18-23 July) ONGOING:

• Participation only for residents in Malaysia.
• To participate, Follow OutpostHolonet @OutpostMY on Twitter.
• Retweet the Contest Tweet (link above).
• In retweet add Comment with your review of War for the Planet of the Apes in most creative caption and hashtags, e.g. #TheEndIsNear #PlanetoftheApes #ApeSmart #ManStupid
• End tweet with hashtag #OutpostGiveaway
• All entries to be posted by Tuesday 24 July, 11.59pm.
• Only 1 entry per person. Multiple entries after the first entry will be automatically rejected.
• Selected winner will be contacted by direct message.
• We reserve the right to revise these terms and conditions at any time without prior notice.

Also Follow us on all our social media channels for the latest geek intel and chance to win more cool stuff:  OuptostMy on Twitter, MySciFiFanOutpost on YouTube.

War for the Planet of the Apes is roaring into theaters in Malaysia on 13 July 2017. Follow 20th Century Fox Malaysia on Facebook to stay tuned to the latest monkey business and grab your tickets not for this climactic chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster trilogy.  

Disclaimer: Planet of the Apes and other trademarks are copyright 20th Century Fox, referenced here for fan service engagements without intent to infringe.