Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Movie Review: Visually Arresting, Wes Ball's Film is a Promising New Beginning in the Primate-Verse! (LatestLY Exclusive)

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Movie Review: Wouldn't it have been simpler to name the film Kingdom of the Apes? I mean, 'planet' is already grander than a kingdom, isn't it? Will the next one be Empire of the Planet of the Apes? What comes after that - The United States of the Planet of the Apes? Fortunately, Wes Ball's film isn't as cumbersome as its lengthy title suggests. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes marks a promising new chapter in the franchise, even if it does tread on the glowing embers of the fantastic prequel/reboot trilogy. Kingdom of The Planet of The Apes Teaser Trailer: Conflict Between Simian and Man Is Renewed in Wes Ball’s Film! 

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes opens with the funeral of Caesar. Admittedly, this scene may appear unnecessary, serving mainly to link the film with its predecessor and thereby inviting inevitable comparisons. However, its underlying message resonates: even in death, Caesar remains a towering figure, his legacy twisted by megalomaniacs for their own ends. Dear Christ, now why does this sound all familiar?

Noa's Journey in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Fast-forward 300 years: Caesar is gone, and apes now reign supreme on Earth. They communicate in English, while humans, silenced by a virus, eke out a nomadic existence. In Caesar's absence, we meet Nova (Owen Teague), a young ape undergoing a transformative journey akin to Tom Holland's Peter Parker in the MCU. It's another matter that, like the MCU's Peter Parker, he is also responsible for most of the messes, if you come to think of it.

Watch the Trailer of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes:

When enemy forces attack Nova's clan, leaving his father dead, he embarks on a quest to rescue the survivors. Along the way, he encounters Raka (Peter Macon), an orangutan steeped in Caesar's lore, who condemns those who pervert his name for evil deeds. Despite Nova's initial reluctance, Raka extends his protection to a hungry human girl named Nova (Freya Allan), pursued by their adversaries for reasons unveiled later.

Where Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Loses Some Footing

In some of the international reviews I've seen of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, it's been unfairly compared to the previous trilogy as a whole. There's no denying that Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is uneven in places, particularly in its second act, and it feels a little too long. Some plot elements don't make sense, especially concerning Nova and her intentions, and they may need the sequels to clarify them. Additionally (SPOILERS ahead), it's a little hard to believe that human equipment like electricity and weapons would continue to work after 300 years (perhaps more) of disuse.

Furthermore, the plot definitely gives off a vibe of Assassin's Creed: Valhalla meets Children of Men meets... errr, KGF! Interestingly, another ape film released this year also had a subplot that shared semblance with the Yash-film. What's going on in this multiverse of primates?

As Good As Rise of the Planet of the Apes

However, I found Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes to be on the same level as the first film in the prequel trilogy in quality; both feel erratic yet flaunt their heart, technical excellence, and brilliant voice casting. The lead character, Noa, still has miles to catch up with the well-written, charismatic, and compelling Caesar, but he's still a likeable hero worth following into the new trilogy. Owen Teague does fine work in the role; considering he has to fill the large shoes of a certain Mr Andy Serkis, the king of mo-cap performances, he doesn't disappoint at all. Though I wish there was a scene like Caesar's in Rise of the Planet of the Apes ("NOOOOO!") that elevated Noa from good to "that's awesome!" — the eagle twist is something you can guess from their first interaction itself.

Others in the voicecast are also really good. Particularly, Kevin Durand is fantastic as the despotic King Proximus, who has turned his captives into part of his adoring cult. Now where have we seen this before? Also, Peter Macon steals the show as Raka with some funny lines mired with a sense of tenderness.

There are only two main human characters in the film. One is played by Freya Allan, who handles her part well, except that the mystery surrounding her character keeps her aloof from making us feel for her cause. The other is William H Macy, whose character represents those opportunistic people who find heaven in their capture. He would have been an interesting character had more screen-time been allotted to him or if the writing had been better for his arc.

Visual Effects in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Besides the mo-cap performances, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes can proudly boast its amazing visual effects. The technical excellence not only lies in rendering the apes feel absolutely realistic, but also in creating the environs around them, with due credit also deserving for Gyula Pados's effective cinematography. From The Batman to War of the Planet of the Apes, Ranking Matt Reeves' 5 Best Films!

The setpieces are eye-boggling particularly Proximus' sea-facing kingdom. The action scenes are well-shot, with the attack on Noa's camp and the final act.

Final Thoughts on Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes - which I believe is situated between the Caesar trilogy and the original Planet of the Apes trilogy in terms of timeline - gets off to a promising start in igniting a new trio of films. The movie exhibits unevenness in certain areas and presents questionable plot choices. However, it remains well-directed and entertaining. Noa may not quite match Caesar's stature, but he shows promise in establishing his own identity. The visual effects and motion-capture performances excel, accompanied by several enjoyable action set pieces. Let's hope it gets better from here and the franchise lives up to its war-cry, 'For Caeser!'

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 10, 2024 01:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).