Overview and Context
Wes Ball, as the director, undertakes the fourth installment of the modern rebooted series of the classic Planet of the Apes film franchise. The new movie is set about three hundred years after the events of War for the Planet of the Apes released in 2017. This film looks at a world where apes have fully established their dominance over the planet and humans have been reduced into tiny, almost fabled creatures. This film starts a new narrative arc while paying tribute to Caesar, the great leader from the previous trilogy.
Plot and Themes
The plot revolves around a young chimpanzee from a peaceable clan which specializes in falconry, called Noa. He is undergoing a rite of passage where he must bond with an eagle and assist in the sustenance of his community. In this journey, he meets Mae, a human scavenger, and due to a misunderstanding or two, Mae’s eagle meets its end. In the effort to make things right, Noa ends up doing something that sets off a chain reaction which threatens the safety of his entire clan.
Proximus Caesar, the antagonist, is a warlord who enslaves other apes in his quest for ancient human technology. He seeks to use the knowledge hidden within human ruins to rewrite history in a way that cements his power. A wise orangutan called Raka, along with Noa and Mae, goes on a journey to fight rising tyranny.
The film explores themes legacy, knowledge, and the cyclical nature of power. Previous installments focused on the collapse of human civilization and the rise of Caesar. In contrast, Kingdom focuses on the aftermath. It ponders how societies interpret and possibly distort history to serve their own agendas. What transpires when peace is supplanted by conquest? When revered legacies are turned into instruments of oppression?
Main Cast and Characters
Owen Teague voices Noa and portrays him via performance capture. As a young chimp, Noa is thoughtful and brave, but needs to mature into a leader through hardship and self-discovery.
One of the few humans capable of speech and critical thought, Mae is portrayed by Freya Allan. As Mae, she brings quiet strength and mystery, playing an important role in the conflict between apes and the remnants of humanity.
Proximus Caesar, who inherits a colossal empire from misusing the teachings of Caesar, is played by Kevin Durand. Kevin’s performance dials the charm while still retaining an ominous presence.
Raka is a gentle orangutan scholar, portrayed by Peter Macon. He serves as one of the last custodians of Caesar’s real teachings, making him a profound figure in the story. Raka adds wisdom, humor, and emotional resonance to the story.
Actors like William H. Macy contribute from supporting roles to construct a rich world filled with different viewpoints on surviving, loyalty, and memory.
Visual Design and Direction
Wes ball, who is known for the Maze Runner series, directs the film giving it an epic spatial visual scope. The natural world has reclaimed human cities with ruins covered in vines and the past decaying relics of civilization serving as a backdrop for the new ape civilization. They apes now live in tree dwellings, cliffside settlements, and jungles which show their deep connection to nature and distance from the human technological world.
As with the previous movies, the visual effects are once again a standout. Led by Wētā FX, the realism in the apes’ facial expressions, movements, and even the way they physically interact with their environments is jaw dropping. Blending cutting-edge technology with emotionally grounded storytelling has been the trademark of this franchise, and this film upholds that tradition.
John Paesano’s score intertwines organic elements, tribal percussion, and solemn melodies, evoking a distinct sense of wonder. It maintains the spirit of the original trilogy, albeit with new musical themes to signal a change in setting and character.
As of May 2024, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has earned over 58 million in sales domestically, becoming the second-largest debut of the rebooted franchise. The film also broke 400 million total sales globally, doing exceptionally well both in North America and overseas.
Though the film was critiqued for its pacing, many modern reviewers commended the film for its ambition, visuals, and overall intrigue. Critics and fans alike highlighted the performances from Owen Teague and Peter Macon stating they were emotionally engaging. Throughout the franchise, critics had commented on how slower films created a more philosophical approach to storytelling.
Critics noted how the film lacked dynamic action, resulting in a more plodding purposeful pace that many different forms of media were accustomed to. The film’s ability to create a richly detailed world was praised in tandem creating an intense atmosphere.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The strengths of Kingdom include its visual effects, script, and thematics, which are arguably at the film’s core. It constructs new mythos while respecting the groundwork established in the previous trilogy. The film incorporates history and the development of distorted belief systems as its focus, which works to contrast the nature of most blockbusters.
Slower paced films tend to draw the ire of audiences, and in this case, the human character portion of the film would have suffered immensely. While the human cast is an improvement from previous films, they are still outnumbered in terms of screen time and emotional arcs by the apes. Some elements of the plot are lifted from earlier in the series, leading to much of the narrative feeling stale and easy to predict.
Future of the Franchise
The film suggests the premise for a new trilogy as the final segment of the original plot initiated the timeline for the later plot developments involving the ‘ape civilization’. It removes the story from Caesar’s era into the far future of the civilization, granting new leaders, ideologies, and antagonists. Wes Ball has plans to cover the emerging conflicts between the ape factions and a potential resurgence of organized human resistance. There is potential for further sequels discussing themes like power, morality, and what it means to inherit a world shaped by a predecessor’s ideals.
Conclusion
Continuing one of the most famous science fiction franchises, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a striking and sophisticated addition. The film continues to explore the emotional depth and moral nuances of the previous films while adding new characters and advancing the story. It powerfully portrays the enduring burdens of leadership, distortions of a given legacy, and the strong spirit of both apes and humans, inviting contemplation with striking visuals and deep symbolism.
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