Set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” continues the franchise. Our J.P. has his take on the science fiction action film, starring Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
20th Century Studios
- Directed by Wes Ball
- Written by Josh Friedman
- Based on Characters by Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver
- Premise from Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle
- Produced by Wes Ball, Joe Hartwick Jr., Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Jason T. Reed
- Starring Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, William H. Macy
Studio Synopsis:
An all-new action-adventure spectacle, 20th Century Studios’ “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” opens exclusively in theaters nationwide May 10, 2024. Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global, epic franchise set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, in which apes are the dominant species living harmoniously and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike. “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is directed by Wes Ball (the “Maze Runner” trilogy) and stars Owen Teague (“IT”), Freya Allan (“The Witcher”), Kevin Durand (“Locke & Key”), Peter Macon (“Shameless”), and William H. Macy (“Fargo”). The screenplay is by Josh Friedman (“War of the Worlds”) and Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (“Avatar: The Way of Water”) and Patrick Aison (“Prey”), based on characters created by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, and the producers are Wes Ball, Joe Hartwick, Jr., p.g.a. (“The Maze Runner”), Rick Jaffa, p.g.a., Amanda Silver, p.g.a., Jason Reed, p.g.a. (“Mulan”), with Peter Chernin (the “Planet of the Apes” trilogy) and Jenno Topping (“Ford v. Ferrari”) serving as executive producers.
J.P,’s Take:
“The Planet of the Apes” franchise is an enthralling excursion of sci-fi storytelling from the originals to the newly minted iterations of the late 2010s.
With this fourth installment, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” you’ll be immersed in a riveting parable that sets itself apart from its siblings while relying on the forerunners to complete the saga. In this exploration, the progression of a human-made virus continues to take its toll on the civilized savage, mainly represented by humans, as the advanced apes begin their journey to becoming the dominant species. Amidst the tug-of-war between humans and apes, both sides are driven by the common desire to seek a higher calling.
Director Wes Ball (“Maze Runner” film trilogy) and writer Josh Friedman (“War of the Worlds,” TV’s “Foundation”) take a peaceful approach to opening this tale — following three young apes named Noa (Owen Teague), Soona (Lydia Peckham), and Anaya (Travis Jeffery) — in coming of ages styled quest to become full-fledged members of the Eagle clan. There is a naturalistic atmosphere here, as it draws out the lives of different tribes of apes who become entangled in a war of factions. Amidst this struggle, both sides witness the reemergence of humans in such a way that causes them to question their placement in the world. It’s an intricate and rich narrative that makes for an enhanced allegory, deepening the plot.
The battle scenes involving the different clans in this tale are not only impactful but subtly displayed. Although nothing special, they are fiercely staged and given a polished. Yet, impactful sheen.
The apes, which are motion-captured, display such true-to-life emotions and facial expressions, that you’re led to believe these creatures are factual and real sentient beings. When the first human, Mae/Nova (Freya Allen), shows up on the screen the interactions between ape and human are tangible and genuine. Then there is Trevathan (William H. Macy), the second human to appear, who relinquishes his humanity to the clan of apes, ruled by the overly ambitious Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand). His decision adds another layer of complexity to the already complicated story of humans vying for their position in a world dominated by intelligent apes. His interactions add depth to an already complex story of the human standpoint in a world now ruled by intelligent apes. The last human to appear is Korina (Dichen Lachman), a leader of a group of underground humans, at a satellite base. She brings a light of hope to Mae, who believes she is the last of their kind.
This film also presents an eerie vision of a post-apocalyptic world, with familiar landmarks and cityscapes, that are dilapidated and nature reclaimed. In a biblical sense, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is a nicely nuanced parable of interspecies struggles, heightened by emotionally charged acting and frenzied battle scenes.
Best of all is the ending which not only provokes wonder but leaves the door open for another outing. “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” was a satisfying close to a long-running saga.
Official Site: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
