The Planet of the Apes franchise has left a lasting impression on generations of movie-lovers and a strong legacy in the film industry. The reboots, from the early to late 2010s, were worthy successors which related the story of Caesar in exhilarating and thoughtful ways.
It was a satisfying trilogy, but with Disney acquiring the franchise back in 2019, another sequel was only matter of time. And fortunately for us, that time is here with the “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.” After years of waiting, we finally get to see how the film carries on Caesar’s legacy, generations after his death, and how apes live out their lives as the dominant species on the planet. The question is, will this film kick off a new trilogy for us to enjoy, or will this kingdom crumble under its own weight?
The story is set 300 years after the events of the War for the Planet of the Apes. “Kingdom” tells the story of Noa (played by Owen Teague), who ventures off to rescue his clan from the ape tyrant Proxima Caesar (played by Kevin Durand). In this quest, Noa is accompanied by the orangutan Raka (played by Peter Macon) and a human woman who is dubbed Nova (played by Freya Allan; whose name is a reference only fans of the franchise will understand).
Right off the bat, I just need to emphasise how the CGI used is utterly stunning. If “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” was credited with having ground-breaking motion capture for its time, then “Kingdom” is several steps above that; from the digital apes’ wet fur to the light peeking through the cracks of a ruined building, this film is able to seamlessly blend the real with the digital.
Alongside their dazzling CGI, the rebooted trilogy is also known for its complex characters, amazing scripts and dialogue, and well-rounded character interactions. What primarily drew me into the world was how complex the character Caesar of the original trilogy is. Unfortunately, Noa is quite a straightforward character who just follows a typical hero’s journey. There’s not really an emotional or moral gut punch like “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” or “War for the Planet of the Apes,” which is a bit unfortunate, as that’s how this franchise leaves a lasting impression on those who view it, but it’s not a total loss.
Despite this, the character is still likeable and easy to root for, as Teague does an excellent job portraying the character’s eagerness, wariness, and other emotions needed for the story. The two other ape leads, Raka and Proxima, are also exceptional in their roles in reasoning and explaining the story of Caesar to Noa; one tells the story of a benevolent leader and carries on this legendary ape’s teaching, while the other seeks to pervert and twist said teachings for personal gain.
Alongside the main plot of rescuing his family, the scriptwriters have also been fiddling with another subplot where Noa is constantly conflicted and has an internal struggle the more he learns about life on earth before the Simian Flu. At the end, we can still see him struggle with what he has learned, but continue to live a normal life despite what has happened, something that I’d love to see explored in the future.
The screenwriters made the smart move of advancing the time far into the future, which gives them plenty of breathing room to expand the world and make it as rich as possible without touching the established narrative of the previous films. This was a safe move, but it feels as though the scriptwriters were playing too safe, as they were more focused on opening potential sequel entries than actually properly wrapping up the film that they are currently making. This leads me to a few glaring problems I had with the film.
Looking back at the original reboot trilogy, I remember that though there was a sequel intended for them, each film has a cohesive story with a very satisfying ending, which makes them a great stopping point for those who don’t want to proceed with the franchise, or if ever the sequels are cancelled for some reason. Unfortunately, “Kingdom” does the exact opposite and prioritises setting up for a potential sequel that we don’t know will see the light of day, which made me both curious and frustrated. I lean towards the frustrated side of the spectrum even more, however, as the film ends and the big bad guy was defeated without substantial moral or narrative consequences or poetic justice – something that the previous films were masters of.
Setting up for a sequel isn’t bad; in fact, it’s quite intriguing, as they open plenty of narrative threads partway through the film that I do like to see in future installments. However, they are opening several more plot lines than they are closing by the film’s end, which is frustrating not because the film is not giving us answers, but because the answers they are providing are unsatisfactory, to say the least.
There are also instances where the film is giving us too much unnecessary information, such as the gratuitous opening scene that tries to link this entry to its predecessors, something that has no lasting effect or payoff for the rest of the film. The closest payoff you’re ever going to get from this scene is something Raka essentially mentions in passing that you’d already know if you’ve watched the previous movies.
Another part that is unnecessary is the inclusion of another human character whose role could literally be described as someone who preaches the exact opposite of one hero’s beliefs. This idea would have been great and may even be a better plot thread if only they had handled it with more finesse.
Overall, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” does not carry as much emotionally complex weight as the previous entries do, and it’s not trying to, as it establishes a new series of events that will hopefully offer a new but still equally deep narrative complexity on its own. There are a few problems in this film in a narrative sense, but it still deserves due respect for dipping into something we’re familiar with, but attempting to bring us something new for us to chew on.
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” opens in cinemas nationwide today
The Review
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Overall, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes does not carry as much emotionally complex weight as the previous entries did, and it is not trying to, as it establishes a new series of events that will hopefully offer a new but still equally deep narrative complexity on its own. There are a few problems in this film in a narrative sense, but it still deserves due respect for dipping into something we’re familiar with but attempting to bring us something new for us to chew on.
Review Breakdown
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
