‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ – A worthy successor

The original Planet of the Apes carries some formidable weight. A sci-fi classic that stands the test of time, and a tough act to follow. Yet followed it was by a series of prequels that bring forward their own emotionally charged stories, and groundbreaking visual effects. Now, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes must contend with not one, but two legacies, all while bringing something new to the table. Miraculously, it not only does so, but it makes it look easy while doing it.

The story begins with a short scene closing the book on the journey of Caesar, the ape leader from the previous films. Fast forward to an undefined future of many generations later, and a community of apes is shown thriving. Noa, the protagonist, climbs higher than a skyscraper with his two companions. Near instantly the film endears you to its characters, thanks in no small part to the continuously impressive motion capture technology on display.

It’s old hat to make mention of, but it can’t be understated just how staggering it is to see a photorealistic computer generated image have this level of pathos. Noa may be ape, yet he’s able to convey conflict, care, and curiosity. The detail in the characters is matched only by the design of the environment. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes features a post apocalyptic world reclaimed by nature. Noa’s travels take the audience on a trek through a new world with mere glimmers of what we know today.

The film is great to look at, and its story is solid as well. It’s an epic tale that’s a natural progression from where things left off. Caesar’s contemplations of what it means to be an ape in a world not meant for them are put to the test. As a liberator, Caesar’s place in this era is that of a messianic figure, one whose words may be twisted for political gain. The film’s antagonist, Proximus Caesar, is one such twister, whose charisma and silver tongue afford him a position as a tyrant. Kevin Durand plays the role well and brings to life a memorable villain.

The film is more of an action adventure than any of its predecessors. The plot plays out somewhat conventionally, yet the ideas the film plays with are far beyond that of your typical summer epic. It hits its emotional beats hard and manages to deliver stunning action as well. The year is still young, but for now, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is primed to be one of the most satisfying cinema experiences of 2024.

Rating: Big Screen Watch

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.