Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Review

[embed]Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Official Trailer

May officially marks the end of “Monkey Movie Spring” as it is the third consecutive month to feature a monkey-themed film: *Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Unlike [Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14539740/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_Godzilla%2520x%2520King%2520) and [Monkey Man](https://medium.com/@cinemapersonified/monkey-man-review-0633c3567027), Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has the luxury of being a part of a critically and commercially successful franchise, continuing the critically [Planet of the Apes* reboot series](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_of_the_Apes#Reboot_film_series).

I was a huge fan of *War for the Planet of the Apes because it was visually stunning and the perfect conclusion to the franchise. I even named it my favorite movie of 2017. However, when I heard they were making another film seven years later, I was skeptical. I didn’t think another Planet of the Apes* movie was necessary and thought it would just be a cash grab by Disney.

Synopsis

Set generations after War for the Planet of the Apes, we follow the chimp Noa as he navigates through this world overtaken by apes and where Caesar is only a legend.

Stunning Visuals

Kingdom for the Planet of the Apes reaffirms the Planet of the Apes reboot franchise’s reputation as a pioneer in motion-capture and visual effects by delivering a visually stunning experience.

The motion-capture for the apes is incredibly realistic, with meticulously detailed character designs. The performances further elevate these characters by bringing them to life. While it’s hard to follow up Andy Serkis’ Caesar as the leader of the franchise, Owen Teague’s Noa does a pretty good job holding his own as he carries the story forward in a unique way. However, it’s Kevin Durand’s Proximous Caesar who really steals the show as the antagonist because his commanding presence instills fear in all who surround him. The synergy between the realistic character designs and these compelling performances effectively conveys a crucial story point: how these apes have evolved over time to be the dominant species.

The visual effects also contribute to how stunning this movie is as it helps build the world and create captivating action sequences. CGI is an important tool in building this world as it beautifully illustrates the natural overgrowth that has taken over this collapsed human society, more than 300 years after *Rise of the Planet of the Apes*. Moreover, the action sequences are well executed as they show how these apes fight and move through their environment.

The Story: A Tale of Two Species

My opinions on the story are conflicted because I enjoyed the overall concept but I dislike where it seems to be leading the franchise.

The overall concept was compelling as it explores themes that tie Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes to its predecessors. As a distant continuation, the events of this movie are far removed from Caesar’s trilogy. This distance is central to the film’s major theme: how a prophet’s words can be misconstrued and abused the longer time decays their philosophies. Caesar’s legacy displays this, with apes like Proximus Caesar twisting his words, apes like Raka striving to preserve his truth, and apes like Noa who don’t even know who Caesar is. The way this movie handles these conflicting ideologies propels the narrative forward as Noa’s faith in Caesar during his fight against Proximus Caesar feels like a symbolic passing of the torch between protagonists in this franchise.

While I enjoyed the overall concept regarding the apes, I thought what they are building towards with the humans is very stupid. The human character Mae feels really shallow, and her importance feels forced in a way that detracts from the plot. These issues become especially glaring towards the end as her character’s importance is mishandled. Additionally, the movie’s ending is very bad as it feels disconnected from the rest of the film and sets up a sequel that doesn’t connect with this one.

This poorly executed ending, along with the forced human storyline, makes me wonder if this movie was really necessary. While I did enjoy most of the story, the ending really left a sour taste as it just feels like they are forcing to continue this franchise just for another payday.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is an entertaining installment that reaffirms why the Planet of the Apes reboot franchise is a pioneer in motion-capture and visual effects, but its mishandled ending and the questionable direction for future sequels make me wonder if this movie was really necessary.

Despite my skepticism about the franchise’s future, I would love to be proven wrong. Another great Planet of the Apes that pushes the boundaries of visual effects would help turn this underrated franchise into one of cinema’s best.

Rating

7.5 / 10 — Pretty Good