After almost seven years, it’s time to go back to the Planet of the Apes.
Although the franchise has had its ups and downs over the years, the rebooted films that began with 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes were well-received critically for their insightful stories, strong characters and intense focus. As a result, when the House of Mouse decided to rev up the franchise again, the response was a blend of enthusiasm and fear. After all, Caesar’s story was so beautiful that fans didn’t want them to ruin their legacy.
But Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes doesn’t monkey around.
Directed by Wes Ball, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes takes place several generations after Caesar’s reign has ended. In this new world, apes have become the dominant species with humanity reduced to mere wild animals. When tragedy befalls his community, young ape Noa (Owen Teague) sets out on a mission for revenge. But, when he encounters a wise orangutan, his way of viewing the world is changed. But when he is caught in the crosshairs of the brutal Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand), Noa must decide what he believes is most important when building a new future.
Thankfully, Ball picks up the mantle of the beloved rebooted trilogy with vigor. Although people think of these films as sci-fi blockbusters, what makes them special is their emphasis on character development. This franchise isn’t (only) about spectacle. Instead, they’re meant to be explorations of our modern-day culture, using their otherworldly settings as metaphors for today. And, like its predecessors, Kingdom is a film that is willing to step into the darkness of the soul. Although there are admittedly moments where the script wanders, Ball brings its story together by the end with purpose and focus.
Featuring some truly dazzling environments, Kingdom looks absolutely stunning on the big screen. Featuring a world that’s entirely covered by lush greenery, each scene feels expansive in its natural (albeit, CGI) beauty. Even so, the visuals tease a world that has long been forgotten. The shape of former skyscrapers fills the skyline yet each one feels like an echo of a former era. We, as viewers, see the world of the past but understand that the apes see nothing but what they know. (This whisper of what came before is also shown through the apes referring to humanity as ‘Echoes’.) Having forgotten what came before, this is the ‘dark ages’ for these apes… but they want to remember.
And it’s this heart to remember that fuels the film.
Whereas the first trilogy was all about finding freedom, the new film seems to be about the power of reconnecting with the ‘story’. Now that Caesar’s death happened ‘many generations ago’, his legacy has become the stuff of legends. Although he was the central figure of the previous trilogy, his name is now nothing but a distant memory. For many apes, his name has been forgotten. For others, it either inspires either devotion or fierce brutality. This is a world where every ape lives for themselves (or their tribe), with few of them thinking about any larger purpose.
The loss of Caesar’s story has left this world spiritually adrift.
Still, these characters understand that they’re missing something important. Every one in this film is looking for some connection to history that might give them purpose. With motivations ranging from power to healing, their interest in the past causes conflict between sides as they move towards what’s next. But no matter what their reasons may be, they can feel that the building blocks for the future lie in the past.
While the film may have some bumps along the road, one can’t help but feel like this Kingdom is moving in the right direction. By the film’s end, Ball begins to reveal the course he’s charting for this Planet. He understands that this franchise is at its best when it’s dealing with the complexities of the contemporary world and he delves into the darkness that plagues our divided world.
In short, these apes (are still) ‘together strong’.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is available in theatres on Friday, May 10th, 2024.
