Rating:
Summary: A captivating first chapter of a new Planet of the Apes trilogy.
"Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" is a worthy entry into the Planet of the Apes reboot franchise, with a captivating story, interesting characters, and the seeds of an overarching storyline that will span multiple movies.
The movie opens with a scene that takes place directly after the last movie, "War for the Planet of the Apes", but most of the film takes place several generations after the events in the Andy Serkis trilogy. In that sense, the movie is very much a standalone sequel and this will help the movie reach a new audience (although there remain plenty of references for fans of the previous movies). Thankfully, there isn't a lot of time devoted to re-telling the stories of the previous trilogy, and so newcomers will only get tidbits of information, some inaccurate, about what has happened before - this actually fits well into the "lost history" vibe present in all the "Apes" movies.
First off, it has to be said that the special effects are superbly done. The apes have expressive faces that offer a very believable full range of emotions, and it's all immersive enough that you feel like the whole thing was done with practical effects. The hints of humanity's past are everywhere in the film, but done subtly enough to reinforce the notion that this is now finally a planet that belongs to the Apes.
Too many movies these days try to use convoluted plots to mask the emptiness of the actual story, but not here. The main story here is a simple one, a coming-of-age story for the movie's main protagonist, Noa, as he seeks to rescue his clan and seek revenge against ape king Proximus Caesar. There is a secondary plot, one which may be even more important to this potential new trilogy than the main storyline, but that's done less well and feels a bit rushed, especially towards the end.
The characters are written and portrayed well in this movie, with a relatable protagonist in Noa, and interesting and complex protagonists. The side characters don't get as much screen time, but they are all well done, with special mention going to Peter Macon's wise orangutan Raka, instantly reminding loyal "Apes" fans of Maurice from the earlier movies. Freya Allan's Mae, one of only two notable human characters in the film, offers a level of complexity that might escape you if you're not paying attention.
Legacy is the main theme of the film, in terms of Noa trying to step out of the shadow of his father's legacy, the legacy of Caesar's teachings on this current generation of apes, and the legacy of the former human masters of the world. In a way, it is also trying to live up to the legacy of the previous "Apes" film. And for the most part, "Kingdom" succeeds.
"Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" is in cinemas 9 May 2024.
