"War" has some interesting turnabouts. Red is a donkey traitor but in the end saves Caesar; Preacher, the human Caesar lets live in the beginning, is the one who determines Caesar's fate in the end.

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I never thought it would come to this but War 4 the POTA's box office role model is the >pee-yew!< inducing "The Mummy". Exhibitor Relations just congratulated "The Mummy" for passing the "magic sequelizer number" of $400 million worldwide, thanx to it's friends in China.

$400 million? "War" can do that with one Tom Cruise tied behind it's back. If $400 million means a sequel, we've got this one in the bag. Plus "War" has been acclaimed, while critics had to hold their nose reviewing "The Mummy".

Sequel? Done!

Fun fact: the last time POTA went up against the Mummy was in 2001; "The Mummy Returns" got $433 million worldwide to POTA2001's $362 million.

collider.com/the-mummy-box-office-worldwide/

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What's to understand? Both Red and Winter want to end up on the winning side, even if it's as slaves.

Red doesn't have a fascination with human technology, he just thinks that will allow the humans to win.

Both Red and Winter are motivated by fear, as are most of the Ape villains. Not because they are "bad", "evil", whatever. That's always been the asset of the POTA villains. We can identify with them.

"You're doing it out of fear, remember that. Remember that!... What are you afraid of, doctoooor?"

The director said the donkeys are the apes that sided with Koba. Not necessarily gorillas.

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I thought they all ate meat since they hunt in "Dawn". Growing brains need protein.

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That would be "POTA and Philosophy".

opencourtbooks.com/books_n/planet_apes.htm

I still say we need a "The Science of POTA" book. That is a natural.

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Book arrived today and cannot be happier.  A book dedicated to the whole storyline.

When these things are published there is always conjecture on whether they should be published as per the original comic, each comic page for page. This is a taste thing, depends what you prefer.

It’s well put together, pleased to see it has sewn binding too..

For me, this is fantastic and it will be resting on my chest as I read it in bed tonight.

I hope there’s a Vol 3, 4 …

Will "War 4 the POTA" become the first sci-fi Best Picture winner ever? Yes, if Fox and producer Peter Chernin have anything to do with it. They are planning to mount an Oscar campaign like nothing POTA has ever seen before (just in time 4 the 50^th anniversary of the original).

"War" has a lot going for it, including the common feeling the other movies were robbed for Best FX and the perennial question of whether Andy Serkis deserves an Oscar. The Academy has just added many new members who are younger, minorities, etc. to get more viewpoints. The traditional view that the Oscars are old and stodgy might no longer apply. Will Apes pull a "Lord of the Rings" (a great trilogy that didn't get the Oscar love it deserved until # 3 won Best Picture)?

There's a reason no sci-fi movie has won (they are looked down upon) and so it is a long shot. But even a nomination(s) would rock.

Chernin: "I'm incredibly proud of this movie… (it's) an extraordinary movie… I believe that if people take the time to really look at the quality of filmmaking, this is an extraordinary achievement".

Despite it's box office woes, Fox is proud of "War" and Chernin sez it is "likely" there will be more.

deadline.com/2017/08/Oscars-fox-best-picture-war-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-1202158378/

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Michael Giacchino (composer of "Dawn", "War") is living the dream, doing music for new movies based on his childhood favorites. He's done the new "Star Trek" movies, the new Spiderman, Apes of course, and wuz the first composer not named John Williams to do a "Star Wars" movie score ("Rogue One"). There's also his relationship with Pixar, which led to his Oscar for "Inside Out".

The video below is just Giacchino taking a break and buying comics, including "POTA Archive: Vol. 1".

collider.com/michael-giacchino-interview-incredibles-2/

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Not so fast, cheerleader. A Best Pic nom didn't do much for another Mad Max.

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Labor Day tends to be considered the end of summer, so it's time to tally up the summer movies. It was a disappointing summer for pretty much everyone except the superheroes.

As has been said, "War 4" underperformed compared to "Rise" and "Dawn" and the expectation that the momentum would keep going up, not down. But with almost everybody down and the tricky subject matter, it may survive.

But it was Fox's top movie at the box office this summer (by far). That's not saying much but it did better than popular franchises like "Alien" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" (not taking into consideration cost vs. result).

Fox is set for the superhero era with 3 "X-Men" movies in 2018. Good luck to them and God have mercy on us.

collider.com/summer-movies-box-office-explained-2017/

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Nickel and diming it isn't the answer. Keep the quality up and make POTA a good time at the movies.

Fox should try a different time of the year than at the tail end of summer when people have been blockbustered out. They give "X-Men" the choice release dates and that's not even their property.

It's time for a scenario like the original where there's a human protagonist people can relate to and the apes rule and have clothes. That's what people expect from POTA. They did their art film and now it's time for good adventures with social commentary. But still well written.

The POTA people have been waiting for.

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Both previous movies hit video in December so I'd take that with a grain of salt until the official announcement.

But I'd definitely prefer an October release.

I wonder if they'll provide any extras for those willing to buy all 3 again in a "trilogy" set?

And if Fox has any plans for the 50^th anniversary?

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"War 4 the POTA" added about $6 million worldwide to it's box office for a total of $366 million.

That's pretty much it until China makes or breaks it in 2 weeks ("Dunkirk" hit their beaches this weekend).

Now that North Korea has the H-bomb an ape-ocalypse might play well there.

The "War" is over 4 now.

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That ape-pears to be the case but it's still not official. When does it arrive on digital download, smarty? Huh?

How many extras? Huh? Huh?

Will there be a version inside a Woody Harrelson head? Huh?

People have jumped the gun before. If 10/24 is the date I'm delighted. But as George Bush Sr. probably said, "Prudence is required at this juncture".

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But it would be a good idea to release it in October to get a head start on Xmas gifts.

So the receiver can say, "Oh, thank you! You know, I meant to see this in the theater but I never did".

You and the whole world, Bozo!

We should all write to Fox and tell them to release it in October.

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Fox has already lost to whatever pirates there are. It's available as soon as someone can film it off a screen.

October sounds too soon but we'll see.

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Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle!

Seems early to me but I'm not complaining.

Some of those special feature titles sound like we're going to get our 50^th anniversary stuff on "War".

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Yahoo has posted an exclusive deleted scene from "War" as Fox officially announces a n October 24 release date 4 "War 4".

yahoo.com/movies/war-planet-apes-exclusive-watch-deleted-scene-home-release-coming-october-130029524.html

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Another groaner of a week as the "War 4 the POTA" box office clicked up another couple notches.

An estimated $369 million worldwide (it didn't even have the dignity of hitting $370).

BUT next week is China and we should be seeing some action. "Dawn" did $107 million there and we have to assume "War" will do less like it has mostly everywhere else (perhaps "Dawn" just had more eye candy in the trailers and that's what sold it?).

So China should push it past $400 million next week. If it doesn't, "War" is in big trouble (in Little China?).

$500 million is grasping at straws but on the off chance that "War" is even bigger than "Dawn" in China and also does well in Japan next month, eh…maybe.

Once again "War" will be following Spidey, who swung in this week (he's over $800 million worldwide so he's doing swell). Spidey does whatever a spider can but Caesar can go mano a mano with Woody Harrelson so there's still a chance.

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Apes and China together strong!

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Apes dug it's way to China and I dig it. With an estimated $60 + million opening it is now at $433 million worldwide, wrapping up Tom Cruise's "The Mummy". Will it get to $500 million and make "Boss Baby" cry, becoming Fox's #2 of the year (behind "Logan")?

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More needed good news for War's box office: it is Fox's all-time best China opening ever with $62 million.

Who's having Chinese for dinner tonight?

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Home video is a different thing. Only movie going counts 4 box office.

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I think between China and Japan it will reach $500 million.

China made it the #1 movie worldwide of the week.

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Here's a handy dandy list of how movies have opened in China. They haven't added "War" yet but it was Fox's #1 opening there ever with $62 million so that puts it at # 27 all-time.

The best opening there ever wuz this year's "Fate of the Furious" with $185 million opening. Boy, "War" could've used that. They need to get the apes into some fast cars, no more horses.

"Dawn" opened to $47 million and ultimately did $107 million there. Maybe that's a gauge.

boxofficemojo.com/intl/china/opening

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To celebrate "War 4 the POTA" beating Tom Cruise's "The Mummy" at the worldwide box office, here's the Mummies performing their smash hit (maybe?) "You Must Fight To Live On the POTA".

Hit it, boys!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5ZuIU99wrw

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Variety spoke with Stacy Snider on her first anniversary running Fox.

Though she didn't bring up Apes, they are still high on their franchises (even the underperforming "Alien") as long as they stay fresh: "The franchises we make still need to be original" (so the next "Predator" is set in suburbia). So Apes should be safe, just fresh.

variety.com/2017/film/features/stacey-snider-21^st-century-fox-first-year-1202563799/

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"Planet of the Apes: The Last Frontier", a video game from Andy Serkis and his Imaginarium company, hits this fall. Just sayin'.

Takes place between "Dawn" and "War" with a new set of characters.

In this interview from yesterday (9/20) at a game convention he wuz asked if there will be more Ape movies and he said there's lots of room before the original movie for more stories and he still loves the franchise so he'd be interested.

He still wants to direct a movie based on the classic "Animal Farm" but updated with modern concerns. And his "Jungle Book" movie finally hits next year.

Asked what movie role he would've loved to play, he picked Travis Bickle (De Niro in "Taxi Driver").

eurogamer.net/articles/2017-09-21-watch-andy-serkis-talks-acting-and-his-planet-of-the-apes-game

planetoftheapesgame.com

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If Fox's nefarious plot to get "War 4 the POTA" a seat at the Oscars works, might it be joined by an acclaimed new documentary about Jane Goodall? "Jane" uses unseen footage thought lost to tell about Goodall's early days teaching us about chimpanzees (around the time the original POTA wuz being developed).

Oscar talk is already happening for it so it might be a good time for the Oscars to go ape, on the double!

deadline.com/2017/09/jane-trailer-jane-goodall-documentary-brett-morgen-video-1202175201/

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With China's help, "War" is just $10 million away from passing the "Rise" worldwide total of $481 million. So it won't be the lowest Nu Ape movie.

Oh, are you smiling? Well, cut it out. Even the new horror movie "It" has passed "War", because Americans have no taste (they did elect Donald Trump, after all). "War" is a disappointment but thanx to the Chinese it will save face and the Apes will live to fight another day.

Now go back to your Kardashian news, Americans.

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If they ever find the "pregnant Nova" scene and put it back in, that can be your cut.

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You should be obsessed with making money too if you get a cut!

Considering "It" has already passed "War" worldwide, maybe the mutants would be a good idea.

Horror, bro! I've got one word for you: plastic.

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On 10/20/17 Michael Giacchino will throw a concert/50^th birthday party at Abbey Road Studios (think the Beatles walking across the street). He's also inviting a few of his friends, like "Apes" director Matt Reeves, "Alias"/"Star Trek" director J.J. Abrams, a "Lost" producer and more Pixar directors than you can shake a stick at (he won the Oscar for "Inside Out").

There'll be a whole lot of going Ape 4 daze before the "War 4" blu ray hits.

ew.com/movies/2017/09/25/jj-abrams-matt-reeves-michael-giacchino-birthday-concert/

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Fun fact:

Matt Reeves and J.J. Abrams started out together, from repairing Spielberg's home movies as teenagers to creating the show "Felicity" to Abrams producing Matt's first 2 movies ("The Pallbearer", "Cloverfield").

In the last decade they've done the lion share of 3 trilogies bringing the sci-fi biggies of the 60's/70's back to the big screen.

2009 – "Star Trek" (J.J.) - Giacchino

2011 – "Rise of the POTA" (Rupert Wyatt) – Patrick Doyle

2013 – "Star Trek Into Darkness" (J.J.) - Giacchino

2014 – "Dawn of the POTA" (Matt) - Giachinno

2015 – "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (J.J.) – John Williams

2016 – "Star Trek Beyond" (Justin Lin) - Giacchino

2017 – "War For the POTA" (Matt) - Giacchino

2017 – "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (Rian Johnson) – John Williams

2019 – "Star Wars Episode 9" (J.J.) – John Williams (hopefully)

They did two movies for each of the trilogies. As Sesame Street would say: "Two!"

Both "Dawn" and "Force Awakens" feature the main villain with an injured left side in the final fight.

Well, I'll be! Quite a decade.

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OK. So China lifted "War" to $474 million worldwide. With Japan it should pass "Rise of the POTA"'s $481 million and not be the lowest of the NU Apes. $500 million is possible, making it Fox's #2 of the year after "Logan" (and I don't think they have anything coming up to surpass it).

A disappointing total but a tough movie to be popular and still one of Fox's biggest franchises.

From what I understand, the first week of October is a holiday in China and the movies are full of Chinese big guns so it's assumed "War" won't do much more there. We'll see.

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Ooops! "War 4 the POTA" actually did reach $481 million worldwide. It is now tied with "Rise of the POTA" and will definitely pass it when the final accounting is done.

"War" will definitely not pass "Dawn" so it is the middle child in the Caesar trilogy.

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Good or bad, Trek has no legs overseas (unlike Apes) so I think the features are done. It's back on TV.

I see J.J. as an entertainer like Spielberg. I enjoyed his first Trek, the second was bad and the third was just more of the same. A big reason for J.J.'s success is his eye for casting. The cast lifts up his movies and TV shows. He also has a go for broke attitude about stories. Some dislike that but it makes for compulsive watching ("Lost", etc.). He didn't really have a big hit until "Star Wars".

Reeves needs to have a little more meat on the bone of his stories. With Apes and now Batman he turned it down unless he could do it his way. "War" is paying for that at the box office but I'm glad Apes had him.

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"War" is a downer for people, especially the ending. Even if they like it it's not a movie they want to see again right away.

The big suck-cesses are the rides people want to climb back on again.

Reeves stuck to his guns and made a piece of art but that hurts the bottom line.

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These days sequels are supposed to make more.

"War" could still surpass $521 million if Japan does good.

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Today would have been Charlton Heston's 94^th birthday and 50 years ago, on his 44^th birthday, he had lunch with Franklin Schaffner. The director told him he was almost done with his cut of "Apes" and would show it to Arthur Jacobs the next week.

On that day, Heston mused about birthdays: "they're now occasions I try to ignore as long as possible".

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Michael Giacchino tweeted that he will premiere a "War 4 the POTA" suite at his 50^th birthday concert Oct. 20 at Royal Albert Hall. Sounds like a great bash.

Hopefully it will be filmed (there's going to be a lot of talented filmmakers there) and released somehow.

royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2017/michael-giacchino-at-50/

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