“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”
PG-13/Action/Sci-Fi/145 Mins
Director: Wes Ball
Written by: Josh Friedman
Starring: Owen Teague (“The Stand”), Freya Allan (“The Witcher”), Kevin Durand (“Abigail”), Peter Macon (“The Orville”) and William H. Macy (“Shameless”)
Synopsis: Generations have passed since the events of “War for the Planet of the Apes” and the world has since changed along with the apes and humans that inhabit it. The film follows young chimpanzee, Noa, who goes on a journey to uncover the past of the world he thought he once knew alongside his allies, a young woman named Mae, and orangutan, Raka.
Review: I’m not alone when I say that the reboot trilogy of Planet of the Apes (“Rise”, “War” and “Dawn”) are some of the most innovative, complex, mature blockbusters to hit cinemas in the last twenty years but are also a part of one of the best trilogies of all time. As well as being a lifelong fan of the original pentology, my love for the “Apes” series runs deep. My biggest question was, “could this new installment live up to its highly regarded legacy?” I mean, this is the first film since 2011’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” where we are without the series main ape, Caesar (portrayed brilliantly by Andy Serkis) and the first in the series where previous filmmaker, Matt Reeves, did not return to direct since he took the franchise to new heights with “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” and “War for the Planet of the Apes.” Entering the franchise is “The Maze Runner” trilogy director, Wes Ball and writer Josh Friedman along with a set of new characters and a story set hundreds of years after the previous film. This film can either be a new beginning for the series or the beginning of the end.
Hands down, the aspect of this film that steals the show is the motion capture work. Wētā FX once again has done the visual effects for these films and like the previous films, they have shown their increasing level of artistry that just gets better and better with each installment, further revolutionizing visual effects. The fact that these films have yet to win an Oscar for best visual effects is criminal. However, no matter how good the fur looks in a certain light or how lifelike the wrinkles on the apes’ faces come across, it all comes down to the performances of the actors portraying them that can make or break the believability of the apes we see on screen.
Owen Teague who plays our new series lead, Noa, had some pretty big arm stilts (look up Planet of the Apes motion capture stilts for reference) to fill, taking over Andy Serkis’s Caesar. Taking on such a legacy is sure to be a daunting task, yet Teague as Noa, captivates the audience with such heart and soft spoken nobility that feels like a more naive, young Caesar who is still growing into a potential leader. Freya Allan’s Mae, is also a strong human character whose arc is best described as complex and someone who has their own personal agenda that sets themselves apart from the journey of the apes even though she aids them for most of the story. Her performance is affecting in ways where you understand her beliefs on certain issues/conflicts even though you’re rooting for Noa and his clan. Peter Macon as Raka, makes such an impact in the time he appears in the film, while I wished for more of this character, the wisdom and emotional heft they give in the short amount of screen time is a huge highlight of this film. Lastly, Kevin Durand as Proximus Caesar is menacing and strong as the villian. However, compared to Koba and The Colonel from the previous films, this character felt a little thin in terms of backstory. It’s an interesting character, being the antithesis to Caesar, as he twisted and molded Caesar’s beliefs into everything that character stood against. Yet, it felt like he wasn’t given enough to do except be intimidating and an obstacle in Noa’s way.
Setting this story generations after the previous three films, gives this film so much room to go in a new direction that feels fresh. You’re entering a world where intelligent apes rule the world and humans have regressed back to a primitive state. Similar to Noa, the audience is unfamiliar with the world that goes past his village, so when he ventures out on his quest, the viewer sees the world through his eyes and the sense of wonder and awe sets in. I won’t indulge in plot details since the marketing has done an excellent job keeping the true narrative under wraps. This film feels like the most epic film in the “Apes” series. Wes Ball and cinematographer Gyula Pados did a great job showing the scale of the world, showing the audience grand sweeping shots of Proximus’s beach side kingdom, wide views of a ruined city or the tall heights of Noa’s treetop village. In a film of such scale, it’s incredible we’re able to get this narrative that feels layered and emotionally complex that respects not just the previous trilogy but everything that’s come before.
Last thing I’ll mention is the incredible score composed by John Paesano. Unlike previous films, which were scored by Patrick Doyle (“Rise”) and Michael Giacchino (“Dawn” & “War”), Parsano takes the reins reuniting with Ball after scoring the “Maze Runner” series. It had some familiarity more so with Giacchino’s scores, to the point where I had to check to see if Giacchino returned. Like the film itself, the score echoes previous music beats, respecting what came before, giving homage to the soundtrack of the 1968 original and the previous trilogy while also going in a new direction, making it its own. Another thing to note is how it increased the tension and emotional beats. Working hand in hand with the intimate and visceral camera work, it truly made the suspenseful moments very effective that had me on the edge of my seat. The emotional scenes had more weight (teared up once or twice), and shots of grand landscapes paired with the soaring score, reminded me of why I love the movies.
I can definitely say that “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is a new beginning for the franchise. In what I assume another trilogy will follow, this first installment is a strong introduction to this new world and characters that tells a complete story yet plants the seeds for what’s to come. I overheard one audience member who was worried that the conclusion could lead into a retread of plot lines from “War for the Planet of the Apes” having the story go around in circles. I think it’s intentional to hint at this possibility. One of the major themes is how history can be twisted and misconstrued over time and it’s inevitable for history to repeat itself. However, like Noa, I think this trilogy will take a different path and both sides can correct the mistakes their ancestors made, one that can lead to a hopeful future between apes and humans.
Score: 9/10
