Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Review

Despite the amusingly awkward titles, the revamped Planet of the Apes series has consistently impressed me in various ways. Starting from the inaugural film, 2011’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”, the series has delivered thematically rich and emotionally resonant narratives complemented by cutting-edge motion capture and visual effects. Therefore, I anticipated a similar experience with the much-anticipated fourth chapter, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”.

Helmed by Wes Ball, “Kingdom” serves as a standalone continuation of 2017’s “War for the Planet of the Apes”. Set 300 years post-“War”, the essence of the preceding three films permeates throughout. Regrettably, the execution falls short of its predecessors. While “Kingdom” boasts impressive visuals and some poignant moments, it struggles to capture the grand vision and narrative depth of the Caesar trilogy.

The shortcomings of “Kingdom” become increasingly apparent over time. Firstly, its pacing is sluggish, taking a while for the story to gain momentum, exacerbated by its unnecessary length. The arduous 145 minutes cover familiar ground, leading to another issue – “Kingdom” struggles to differentiate itself not only from the previous three Apes films but also from other dystopian sci-fi adventures. It forges its own path but relies too heavily on established formulas.

Set in a future where apes have risen as the dominant species and humans are viewed as wild and untamed, the story follows a young chimpanzee named Noa (Owen Teague) who witnesses his village under attack by raiders led by the menacing gorilla Sylva (Eka Danville). Left for dead, Noa embarks on a quest to rescue his abducted clan, guided by the wise orangutan Raka (Peter Macon) and accompanied by the human girl Nova (Freya Allan).

As they journey towards a coastal settlement ruled by the ape monarch Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand), they uncover his obsession with a sealed vault believed to house ancient human technology. Noa’s confrontation with Proximus is inevitable yet lacks impact.

“Kingdom” is best described as unremarkable. While not inherently flawed, it fails to reach the emotional and thrilling heights of its predecessors. The characters of Noa and Nova lack depth, and the film appears overly focused on setting up another Apes trilogy. Its dull moments could have been trimmed for a more engaging experience. Ultimately, “Kingdom” stands as a passable yet uninspired early summer release.

What did you think of the movie? Leave a comment.