Film Review: War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), Editorial Mentor Mr. Stan Salfas
Updated: Jun 29
I enjoyed this film and found myself quite familiar with the taste of the editing style. This film was originally a work of Mr. Stan Salfas, ACE! His editing is strictly based on the storytelling methodology of Robert McKee. His beautiful cuts in this film appeared in the sequence in which Caesar's family are killed by the Colonel. The close ups between Caesar and the Colonel are well managed in the most tragic moment.
On the other hand, it is when Caesar was suddenly shot after the death of the Colonel in silence. Caesar is a typical oppressed nation's leader, and the Colonel is a classical imperialist army officer. Mr. Salfas's reverse cutting reveals this core conflict. What I appreciate is that US films reveal the evilness of imperial acts - wars - taken by its politicians. Self-criticism is done by filmmaking.
Moreover, it successfully turned into a blockbuster entertainment. Individualism and anti-imperialism attitudes are quite strong, and others need more intelligence. Caesar and the Colonel are too big. I prefer more anti-imperialism, and more collectivism. Fortune is not religiously decided but it cannot individually be controlled. What we can do is to make our best efforts under difficulties. At least, the apes expressed this thought.
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