The franchise that I never thought would receive a continuation has just dropped the first entry in a new trilogy. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes picks up generations after the end of War for the Planet of the Apes, following a young ape on a journey that will define the future of humans and apes on Earth.
Considering the last three films make up one of my favourite trilogies of all time, with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes cracking my top films of all time, I had an inkling of hesitation going into this sequel. Without Matt Reeves, and with Wes Ball taking over, one question loomed – could it live up to its predecessors, offering a new experience that honoured what came before while forging an exciting path ahead? Having seen the film, the answer is yes. While this sequel doesn’t have the benefit of featuring Andy Serkis‘ Caesar, it’s just as character-focused, drama-heavy, emotional and action packed as those that did. The film is by no means a generic action/sci-fi film, it pushes the narrative in an interesting direction that not only delivers within this film, but adds to the legacy of prior films and builds excitement for what’s to come. The legacy Caesar left behind in WFTPOTA is an integral part of the world building in this film, and the parallels made to real-life situations and events make the story all the more stronger.
These lengthy 2.5-hour epics can sometimes run into pacing issues, dipping into slow patches or trying to cram in more than they can fit. To my surprise, Kingdom is impeccably well-paced from start to finish. The narrative is jam-packed with action and drama, knowing exactly when to ramp up the pace and when to focus in on character-centric moments. It ebbs and flows between these states in a way that’s intriguing and keeps you on your toes. At no point is it clear where things were heading – the story offers plenty of twists, turns and surprises, maintaining a state of unpredictability that’s an absolute joy. Kicking off with an all-new cast, the opening act does a great job at establishing new characters, relationships and the state of the world. It wonderfully sets up our new protagonist, Noa (Owen Teague), and introduces the hook that sets him on his journey. Along the way certain mysteries unfold, questions are answered and conflicts arise that promote growth and understanding in the characters. It’s a compelling journey that doesn’t miss a single beat, guaranteed to keep franchise fans and newcomers on their toes.
This may be tough to explain, but where the previous two films in the franchise were deeper and more complex in terms of their emotional content, this film is more complex in terms of the layers of its story. Both Dawn and War have a clear-cut human vs ape driven narrative – it’s a simple setup that breeds plenty of drama and emotion. This time around, the human vs ape idea isn’t quite as prevalent, which allows the story to stretch in multiple directions and touch on ideas that are new to the franchise. While I still love the approach of Dawn and War more, this film earns points for doing things I never expected and highlighting conflicts that are compelling from a world-building standpoint.
One thing the franchise has been renowned for is its exceptional use of performance capture and visual effects to bring the apes to life in the most photorealistic way possible. While Andy Serkis was and still is the best in the business, the actors on the cast sheet this time around do a brilliant job nonetheless. There’s absolutely no emotion lost in the performances – every subtle facial expression is picked up and conveyed flawlessly. The visual effects are so perfect, it’s sometimes tough to think these aren’t real apes. The fact that they look so real creates a stronger emotional connection to their wellbeing, enhancing the strength of the story and its biggest moments. The stunning visual effects also spreads to the landscapes and scenic shots, which all look incredible. Every cent of the $160 million budget has been put to good use, bringing the world to life in a way that’s stunning across every frame.
Performance-wise, the standout this time around is Kevin Durand as the villainous Proximus Caesar. He may be a relatively unknown and underrated actor to the general public, but Durand manages to transform himself into a deeply captivating and ruthless villain whose view on things you understand. There’s parallels to real life figures in his performance, and that makes him all the more intriguing. Owen Teague leads the film as Noa, and he’s tasked with heightening the emotional weight of the film and does a great job. He has a few great moments where he’s able to flex his acting chops and show some real strength, making him a interesting protagonist to follow. Freya Allan, despite benefitting from playing a human character, has one of the more difficult roles to pull off, but she does a fantastic job. There’s striking likeable qualities to her performance that instantly put you on the side of her character. She does a lot with her facial expressions to let us in on what the character is feeling, a sign of real talent.
In the end, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has turned what was an exceptional trilogy into one of the most promising and incredible reboot franchise to hit the big screen. It’s action-packed, thrilling, emotional and well paced the whole way through, ensuring every act is as gripping as the last. With plenty of surprises in store, it paves the way for a second trilogy that could rival the excellence of the first. It should also be known that if you are wishing to jump into the franchise at this point, you can. While it’s influenced by events of the past, and having that content is a plus, it’s still a great kick-off point.
9.2/10
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