Ape Dominion on the Celestial Ape World Delivers an Enjoyable, Slightly Imperfect Ape Expedition
A New Age of Ape Rule: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
In the capable hands of director Wes Ball and the masterminds behind the production, the latest installment in the long-lasting Planet of the Apes franchise promises and delivers. Far from being a letdown, Kingdom showcases a wider, intricately woven saga with numerous brain-tickling ideas scattered throughout. While it may not pack the same tight punch as its predecessors, it offers viewers a grander, sprawling adventure that keeps them on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
The story kicks off with an unexpected prologue, too tantalizing to discuss without spoiling the surprise. Set "many generations" after the previous films, we meet Noa (Owen Teague), a young ape who, alongside comrades Anaya and Soona, stumbles upon something peculiar in the woods. The elders, having never laid eyes on humans, are intrigued by the news, setting off a chain of events that culminates in Noa venturing into the unknown corners of the world in a desperate bid to save his friends and kin.
What makes Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes so intriguing is the fact that most characters have only known a world where apes have reigned supreme. The vestiges of humanity – abandoned buildings, graffiti, and the like – may as well be just leaves on the ground or branches on a tree to them. As Noa embarks on his journey, he learns that the world is much more than he thought, with each discovery revealing a little more of the history that has unfolded since the last film.
On the way, Noa encounters a young girl named Mae (Freya Allan), whose presence broadens his mind and, later, leaves him utterly befuddled when he discovers she harbors secrets. This enigmatic relationship, coupled with the teachings of an ape named Raka (Peter Macon) about a messianic ape figure named Caesar, brews a potent mix of confusion and fascination in Noa's thoughts. All of it comes to a head when he reaches Proximus Caesar's (Kevin Durand) kingdom. A powerful, charismatic, and ambitious ape, Proximus has his own set of secrets that intricately intertwine with Noa's and Mae's journey, revealing even more tantalizing revelations.
What's most impressive about the narrative of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is how the film's emotional stakes and narrative threads are communicated through Teague's performance and the tireless work of Weta. Weta has handled the VFX for the previous Apes films, so it's no surprise that they excel once again. However, the advancement of technology has made Weta's work even more breathtaking. Through Noa's facial expressions, body language, and movement, viewers can witness a young ape who evolves from confusion to emerging leadership as he faces harsh realities. The quality of the VFX carries over to all the apes, making each one a spectacle to behold, but Noa serves as our protagonist and entry point, so his transformation is of critical importance.
Ball and writer Josh Friedman (War of the Worlds) expand the world of Planet of the Apes with intricate details that give the film layers upon layers of interest. Noa's people, the Eagle Clan, pride themselves on keeping eagles as pets, a symbol of their large, close-knit community. Proximus dwells on a crashed cruise liner, utilizing items one might anticipate finding on such a vessel, like a library, to great effect. The world appears purposefully meticulous, each detail brimming with its own mystery.
While every on-screen detail is beautifully and meticulously crafted, the characters' ultimate destination is not particularly thrilling. Though Noa is exposed to a multitude of ideas and viewpoints along his journey, the film never clearly advocates for one over the other. The densely packed narrative ends up feeling somewhat hollow because it lacks a settled focus on the lessons the characters learn and take with them into the future.
That future remains vague, as the movie's conclusion is intertwined with hints for what's to come, leaving the audience with a few great destinations but not as much closure as one might desire. Despite these minor issues, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a wonderful film with a captivating story, stunning visuals, and characters you care about. It may not quite reach the heights of the previous trilogy, but it's fiercely competitive, and that's no small feat. Planet of the Apes devotees, and sci-fi adventure enthusiasts, will undoubtedly be pleased.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes hits theaters this Friday.
Note: An earlier version of this review misspelled Weta Workshop; the correct name is Weta.
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- The latest installment in the Planet of the Apes franchise, titled Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, presents a captivating and thought-provoking tale, showcased by the advancement of technology in Weta's VFX work.
- Many generations after the previous films, the story unfolds with the unexpected prologue of Noa, an ape who discovers clues about the world's human history, which has been veiled from his kind.
- While Noa's journey through the enigmatic world leaves him bewildered at times, he encounters a young girl named Mae, whose secrets and an ape named Raka's teachings about Caesar brew a mix of confusion and fascination in Noa's thoughts.
- With intricate details and a sprawling narrative, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a fascinating addition to the franchise, leaving viewers with tantalizing hints about the future while offering them a captivating story, striking visuals, and empathetic characters.
