In the new movie Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes, the world looks very different from what we’ve seen before. Set three centuries after the last film in the franchise, it’s a soft reboot that introduces us to a new generation of intelligent apes and their evolving society. Humans, on the other hand, have been reduced to living in the shadows and scrounging for survival.
Director Wes Ball ensures that the movie is visually stunning, with a vast army of CGI apes who are more expressive than many human actors. But the film starts off slowly, with a peaceful chimp community that’s suddenly attacked by outsiders. Young Noa (Owen Teague) sets out to find his captured family, joined by an orangutan named Raka (Peter Macon) who reminds him of the benevolent legacy of Caesar, the original ape leader. They’re also helped by Mae (Freya Allan), a human who’s not as primitive as she first appears.
As they travel towards a coastal colony, Proximus Caesar (played by Kevin Durand), they realize that he’s intent on using brute force to gain access to a sealed vault containing advanced human technology. The apes can’t read books yet, but they’re starting to understand their value. Humans are still seen as the enemy, but Mae isn’t so sure they can’t find a way to coexist.
The climax is tense and satisfying, with enough cute comic moments to provide some relief from the action. Writer Josh Friedman’s script keeps the franchise moving forward, with plenty of hints about what’s to come. Fans of the series will be pleased to know that there’s still life in the world of intelligent simians and their lesser human counterparts. While not a masterpiece, Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes delivers enough to keep audiences engaged and looking forward to the next installment.
The film stars Owen Teague as Noa, Peter Macon as Raka, and Freya Allan as Mae, a character who may become a hero of the franchise. Director Wes Ball is best known for the Maze Runner trilogy, and he brings his experience in creating visually stunning worlds to this latest installment. The CGI apes are an impressive feat, with faces and expressions that are truly captivating. While it takes a while to get going, the film delivers a satisfying conclusion that will leave audiences eager for more
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