Review: "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" Refreshes the Franchise with a Survival Saga, Finally Set in the Ape-Dominated Future

 Featuring Owen Teague as a youthful ape ensnared within a cultic realm, this installment could mark the series' first genuine connection with the essence of 'Planet of the Apes.'

    Provided by 20th Century Studios

"Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" begins with a solemn scene: Caesar lies in state, surrounded by a grieving horde of chimps, his body adorned with flowers and ceremonially set ablaze. The film then transitions to the jungle, where a caption indicates that it's "many generations later." Essentially, the narrative we've followed in the previous three "Apes" films — "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (2011), "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" (2014), and "War for the Planet of the Apes" (2017) — now belongs to the annals of ancient franchise lore. I belong to the minority of viewers who would respond to this revelation with a resounding, "Thank goodness."

The apes ravage the village, leaving Noa to fend for himself. Following numerous trials testing his survival abilities, he eventually stumbles upon a foreboding coastal kingdom ruled by apes, reminiscent of the autocratic apes from the original "Planet of the Apes" film in 1968, where they reign over the land and any human survivors.

Whenever classic intellectual property undergoes a remake, there's a dual purpose: attracting a new audience while also catering to those who hold fond memories of the original. In "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," the focus of the narrative shifts from Caesar to Noa (Owen Teague), a young chimpanzee possessing many traits akin to Caesar's. Noa has been raised within the Eagle Clan, a flourishing community of highly evolved apes whose tribal elders share a symbiotic relationship with predatory birds. The film's opening sequence depicts Noa and his companions navigating treacherous heights to retrieve eggs from eagle nests perched atop cliffs. Noa demonstrates his prowess as a fearless acrobat but soon finds himself confronting a group of formidable apes led by an armored gorilla mounted on horseback, reminiscent of the menacing King Kong from the 1933 classic."

Alternatively, one could argue that it has taken the franchise an entire trilogy, totaling six hours of screen time, to reach a point that it arguably should have begun with. However, I make this assertion primarily because I've found the origin story of Caesar, and the narrative of how the apes attained intelligence, along with all the moral ponderings along the way, to be an overblown blockbuster bore. While Andy Serkis undoubtedly delivered a remarkable motion-capture performance as Caesar (striking and brooding, his portrayal akin to the Daniel Craig of hairy primates), the films themselves felt bloated, saturated with didactic allegory yet overly reliant on their action sequences. While some of the action was indeed thrilling, the films lacked the whimsical dystopian essence, and the playful enjoyment of the "Planet of the Apes" series (admittedly, most of its sequels were lackluster).

"Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" marks a reboot within its own franchise. However, I'm uncertain whether this film will achieve greater success than its predecessors, if not equal success. Essentially, it's a two-and-a-half-hour wilderness adventure featuring chimpanzees, directed by Wes Ball (known for the "Maze Runner" films) in a deliberately paced, "classic" style reminiscent of episodic Hollywood sagas from half a century ago. Lacking a cast of A-list stars, the film relies on the astonishingly lifelike facial expressions made possible by cutting-edge motion capture technology. While the film's length may be excessive, I found its relatively old-fashioned dramatic restraint to be quite satisfying."

Separated from his village, Noa encounters a wise old orangutan named Raka (played by Peter Macon), with mischievous eyes and an amusing habit of pursing his lips. Raka clings to the teachings of Caesar as a relic of the past. Noa also encounters a human wild child (portrayed by Freya Allan), whose innocence belies her true nature. Owen Teague delivers a compelling performance as Noa, displaying not only intelligence and nobility but also raw fear, a refreshing quality in a protagonist.

The trio bands together, but Noa is eventually dragged into the ape kingdom, ruled by a menacing cult leader named Proximus Caesar (played by Kevin Durand), who has usurped the authority—though not the morality—of his namesake. Proximus takes a keen interest in Noa, who becomes essentially a prisoner, reunited with his mother and friends and compelled to overthrow the empire from within. Despite glimpses of the human civilization's ruins, such as decaying buildings and overgrown infrastructure, human technology remains highly coveted. The ape kingdom revolves around a silo containing various wonders, including weapons, locked behind a sealed vault that Proximus is determined to open at any cost, even sacrificing his own kind in the process."

Kevin Durand's portrayal of Proximus, the scheming bonobo ruler, is captivating—he embodies a leader consumed by self-importance. The supporting cast, including Sarah Wiseman as Noa's resilient mother, Peter Macon as the world-weary Raka, and William H. Macy as a resourceful scavenger, leave their mark on the film. "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" invites viewers to immerse themselves in the drama of ape-on-ape conflict. However, by the conclusion, which serves as a teaser for the next sequel, it appears that the franchise's overbearing depiction of humanity may make a return, potentially prompting viewers to yearn for an escape from the planet of the apes.