Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, directed by Wes Ball, is a decent follow-up to War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) that neither raises the bar nor diminishes the reputation of the beloved franchise.
Many centuries after the events of Caesar’s death, apes have emerged as the dominant species and have been divided into different societies. One such society is Eagle-Clan, a peaceful community in which Noa (Owen Teague), a young chimpanzee, resides happily with his family. However, one day, their idyllic existence is disrupted when members of a rogue clan loyal to the ambitious tyrant, Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand), attack their community, killing Noa’s father and abducting the rest of the inhabitants. As a result, Noa embarks on a journey to free his people from the oppressive Proximus. Along the way, he is joined by an orangutan named Raka (Peter Macon) and a young human named Mae (Freya Allan), who plays a crucial role in Noa’s escape plan but harbors her own hidden agenda.
Some of the film’s plot is strikingly similar to that of its predecessor, in which a protagonist’s home is attacked by the villain, resulting in the death of a close family member and the abduction of the rest of his clan, forcing him to embark on a journey to avenge his loved one’s death while also rescuing his fellow apes. Unfortunately, the film lacks the emotional depth of the previous installment. For instance, in the War for the Planet of the Apes, Caesar and his team find a young, lonely girl in an abandoned house and decide to take her along with them; the bond they form with her throughout the film is quite endearing and the film’s high point. The scene in which she enters the quarantine facility where all the apes are held captive and feeds the severely tortured Caesar water and food was incredibly emotional, and the addition of Michael Giacchino’s heart-stringing tune will make you cry. In this film, the makers strive to create a comparable emotional connection with characters like Noa, Raka, and Mae, but they fall short.
Another underwhelming aspect of this film is its lack of tension. In War of the Planet of the Apes, director Matt Reeves and cinematographer Michael Seresin create a cold, brutal world, particularly the quarantine facility, which is as gloomy as it gets and resembles hell on earth. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Auschwitz concentration camp served as a major inspiration in designing that facility, where all the apes were enslaved and escaping seemed impossible, heightening the film’s stakes throughout their escape attempt and enhancing the audience’s dread. In Kingdom, similar levels of attention to detail in establishing the prison world (located along a sunlit coastal region) and the escape strategy are lacking, thus not achieving the same degree of intensity as its predecessor.
In the Apes vs. Apes battle (in which the humans take a back seat), the film features a formidable antagonist in the form of Proximus, an aspiring tyrannical leader who twists the teachings and ideology of Caesar to justify his violent actions. In his quest for supremacy, he longs to acquire human technology and establish a kingdom where he can exercise control and authority over the Apes, with the goal of reaching the same stature as Caesar. It’s a twisted character, and Kevin Durand delivers a compelling performance as Proximus. Noa’s character, while not as complex and layered as Caesar’s, is still well-written by Josh Friedman and nicely performed by Owen Teague. It seems fitting that his coming-of-age storyline, in which he discovers his true identity and emerges as the head of the clan, mirrors Caesar’s personality as a strong and compassionate leader.
The Visual effects in this film are top-notch, as they are throughout the series, particularly in depicting the dystopian Los Angeles area, the Eagle clan’s homes, etc. The action sequences are also well-executed, with the climax scene, in particular, standing out for its rapid pacing and sense of urgency, which is achieved through excellent camerawork, making for an intense viewing experience—all of which will bring to mind the thrilling action scene from Avatar: The Way of Water (2022). The film also raises some unanswered questions about whether humans and apes can coexist, making for a satisfying finish that piques interest for the next part of this saga. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will satisfy fans of the series but may not leave the same lasting impact as the earlier entries in the franchise.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes movie links: Letterboxd, Wikipedia
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