Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Starring: Owen Teague, Freya Allen, Peter Macon, William H. Macey
Directed By: Wes Ball
Planet of the Apes fans, we are back. 7 years after the ending to Caesar’s trilogy, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes looks to continue the story several generations later. The film follows Noa, an ape who lives in a peaceful community that raises eagles. (This world is severely lacking peaceful Eagle-raising communities, in my opinion.) When the community is brutally attacked by a tyrannical group of apes, Noa goes on a quest to save them. This journey changes everything about the world as he knows it.
I said this before in my reviews for Dawn and War for the Planet of the Apes but this is one of, if not the most underrated movie franchise running right now. With the introduction of Caesar in 2011, Planet of the Apes introduced truly incredible motion capture technology, worldbuilding, and enthralling character development that keeps viewers intrigued. Also, did I mention that monkeys ride horses? Because that is something that no other movies are offering viewers right now.
Is it weird to say I kind of want to see a Planet of the Apes movie where the apes get to experience a normal day? I’m thinking a spin-off movie to fill in some time where we get to watch the apes have fun together. Potential ideas include:
Dinner with the Planet of the Apes
Christmas for the Planet of the Apes. (A holiday special streaming exclusively on Peacock)
Backstage with the Musicians of the Planet of the Apes (This is a documentary following musicians in the ape community)
Beach Day with the Planet of the Apes
Obviously, I have more suggestions. My mind is full of potential Planet of the Apes movies and little else right now. I think the movies should continue the exciting sci-fi theme because it’s working but imagine if we got to see an interim movie where the apes have fun? There are a million spin-offs here.
Director Wes Bell does a great job picking up where War left off paving a new path for the Apes franchise. It’s difficult to introduce a whole new storyline after the previous trilogy, but it works well with Noa, the innocent young ape finding his way juxtaposed with Proximus, the villainous ape set on domination.
The screenwriters weave political and religious themes throughout the film in a genuinely fascinating way. You wouldn’t expect a series about apes to get very deep but I’ve always admired the series ability to tackle complex issues.
On a political scale, the film deals with the apes building elaborate civilizations. While Noa’s tribe is peaceful and lives off of the land, Proximus is a dictator, modeling the ways of the Roman Empire to create his kingdom. He will kill anyone in his path for absolute power.
The film also deals deeply with religious toxicity. Ceasar served as a Moses-type figure for the apes, but many have twisted his teachings and skewed his words in the worst ways. This becomes a fascinating dynamic as Noa must differentiate what is considered the right vs. wrong way to interpret Caesar’s teachings in a world he barely understands himself.
”I need wise orangutan representation or else I’m literally not going to see this.” - someone out there reading this review on the fence about seeing Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
It’s okay, I understand and have EXCEPTIONAL NEWS! If you were a fan of Maurice in the recent trilogy or you just love orangutans (because they are generally awesome) this movie has you covered. There is an orangutan named Rakka who is the MVP. Played wonderfully by Peter Macon, Rakka is an instant fan-favorite. Rakka is wise, compassionate, and humorous. He helps Noa to navigate the world and understand how deeply important Ceasar is to the apes.
It’s amazing to me how these movies can utilize a combination of motion capture, CGI, and actors to make the apes feel so real and empathetic (or terrifying depending on the character.) The effects in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes are another impressive step forward. The film immerses you in the world immediately and makes you feel like you are watching real apes. This is also a testament to the actors performing in the motion capture suits. Owen Teague is an excellent lead as Noa, making the viewer immediately care about the central character arc. Kevan Durand is unnerving as Proximus, and Freya Allen is mysterious as Nova, the central human character in the film. Her goal is uncertain until the final moments.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is an impressive continuation of the franchise with immersive worldbuilding, compelling themes, and incredible effects.
My Rating: 8/10