‘Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes’ Is A Captivating Addition To The Franchise

Courtesy of 20th Century Studios.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

‘Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes’ is the latest instalment in the revamped 'Planet Of The Apes’ franchise, which kicked off back in 2011 with ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes.’ After completing a wildly acclaimed and box-office success of a trilogy, a brand new series of films is in the works, starting with the newly released ‘Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes.’

Synopsis: Many years after the reign of Caesar, a young ape goes on a journey that will lead him to question everything he's been taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

This film had some heavy lifting to do, as the past trilogy is still fresh on our minds. Yet, director Wes Ball succeeded in taking themes from previous instalments and finding new ways of exploring old concepts. It excels in conveying the message of how history can be altered throughout several generations and used to oppress and manipulate. Caesar’s presence is felt all the way through the runtime.

We discover these realizations through the eyes of Noa, our protagonist, played by Owen Teague. His story unexpectedly turns into one of revenge, with a grand goal of learning the truth about apes and humans alike. Owen Teague is without a doubt the highlight of this film — and rightfully so as he’s our new central lead. His motion capture performance beautifully embodies every shattered belief and expression of Noa, aided by stunning CGI. The physically behind his performance is astonishing.

Mae, played by Freya Allan (‘The Witcher’), is a unique character whom we learn about quickly, and start questioning her true intentions. You can never truly predict what Mae might do to ensure the survival of humans. This character is extremely intriguing — Allan can express so much with her eyes alone. With both lead actors, we want to know where their journey will go — which is exactly what you want for the first film of a trilogy.

Kevin Durand’s performance as the antagonist Proximus is nothing short of menacing, intellectual, and comes across as a power-hungry tyrant who twists the truth for personal gain. He comes in much later in the film than one might expect, but it works. We’re with Noa, seeing the world through his eyes, so having Proximus revealed later on is warranted and by no means feels rushed.

And that’s just it. The film takes its time with setting the foundation for which it can maneuver into uncharted territory as cathartically as possible.

Freya Allan as Mae, Courtesy of 20th Century Studios.

The most important thing here is that the characters work. That being said, some movie-goers may find that the pacing drags during the first act. However, spending time with Noa before the action truly kicks off is authentic and feels earned. Through this, we can sympathize and quickly latch on to him as our new protagonist.

No matter where you might expect the story to go, it diverts and sways constantly, leaving you wondering what the film’s conclusion might be. That being said, an issue does arise from a lack of consistent tone and overall goal, which does ever-so-slightly damage the pacing of an otherwise great summer sci-fi.

Courtesy of 20th Century Studios.

Though it may not be as deep or impactful as the previous trilogy, ‘Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes’ stands by itself as an impressive feat of visual display and emotional drive, making it a terrific first film of the new trilogy. This is a movie that will only get better with time.

Our score: ★★★½
(out of 5 stars)

“Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes” specifics: Many years after the reign of Caesar, a young ape goes on a journey that will lead him to question everything he's been taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

CREW: Director: Wes Ball | Screenplay: Josh Friedman | Cinematography: Gyula Pados | Editor: Dan Zimmerman | Music: John Paesano.

STARRING: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, William H. Macy.

PRODUCTION: Oddball Entertainment, Jason T. Reed Productions.

DISTRIBUTORS: 20th Century Studios.

2024 - Action/Sci-fi - 2h 25m