Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a triumph. It has heart, and its creators have actual vision. The care and purpose are radiating from the screen. It’s the beginning of a new era, and I can tell that Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is just the start of a series where there will be even higher highs than this movie reached. 

After seven long years, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has brought audiences back to the world of apes. Last Friday, it was announced this would be the first of six more movies that will give the franchise a total of nine films. There’s a lot of pressure on the film considering it has a new director, writer, and characters that must usher in the new era. The film stars Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Peter Macon, Kevin Durand, Lydia Peckham, Sara Wiseman, Karin Konoval, Eka Darville, Travis Jeffrey, and William H. Macy. It’s directed by Wes Ball and written by Josh Friedman. 

I came to the film from a strange place: I had never seen the last trilogy. On one hand, I could potentially lack background information that would enrich the film experience but on the other, I can watch the film with clear eyes with no nostalgia and see how the film stands on its own. Somehow, audiences have been given the best of both worlds; it will satisfy previous fans and newcomers alike. Caesar is an invisible thread that links together the story. He has become a religious figure for the ape community. Some genuinely try to honor the perspective he had toward humanity and others twist his words for their gain. Our new protagonist is Noa, a member of the Eagle clan, who has no knowledge of Caesar at the start due to his isolated community. 

The film begins with Noa and his two friends, Soona and Anaya, searching for eggs for a bonding ceremony the next day. After lots of climbing, some falling, and a detour to the forbidden tunnel area after a blanket is stolen, they make their way back to the village. Noa meets with his mother and then his father, the leader of the Eagle clan. There are several instances of Noa interacting with his father’s bird, who clearly doesn’t like him. That night after hearing a sound from a tent, Noa’s egg is broken by a girl we learn later is named Mae. He must seek out another egg or else he will have to wait another year for the ceremony, so he takes a horse and sneaks out of camp. Upon his exit, he finds several members of his clan injured or dead. A group of apes led by a gorilla is hunting and burning the village down using electric weapons. After some fighting, Noa’s father has been killed and Noa has been left for dead in the ashes of their life. He awakes the next day alone. He buries his father, grabs some supplies and a horse, and heads out to bring his clan back home. 

Along the way, Noa encounters many things that challenge him. He meets Raka, who is essentially a monk who knows the true teachings of Caesar. Noa helps out Mae, who stays close to him after he gives her food and clothes. Unsurprisingly he comes face to face with the ape gang again. He learns they are working for Proximus, the self-proclaimed new “Caesar” who wants to usher in a new era of ape domination. He has many internal struggles during the movie that challenge his upbringing. This is a coming-of-age film for Noa. 

Director Wes Ball has been handed the baton from Matt Reeves, acclaimed director of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes. While he is no newcomer to the post-apocalyptic genre, this is Ball’s first foray outside of the Maze Runner films. He had big shoes to fill, and he filled them! Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is 2 hours and 25 minutes, but it flies by. The pacing is so specific and careful, and I was engrossed in the world. Unsurprisingly, the apes looked amazing, and the visual effects were great. Everything was so wholly realized. He knocked it out of the park, which is certainly helped by the strength of the script.

Upon research, I learned that writer Josh Friedman was also the writer for Avatar: The Way of Water (one of my favorites in recent years), and it makes a lot of sense as to why he would be chosen to write this film. Nobody thought an Avatar sequel was necessary, but upon release, everyone saw how much the world of Pandora could offer us. In the same way, the highly regarded Apes trilogy seemed to go out on a high note, but Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes showed us how the world can be expanded and have it mean something. I also clocked some plot similarities that play out perfectly in each world. He is so aware of what information needs to be relayed to the audience through dialogue versus what can be shown to us through image. Friedman and Ball were a great pairing. 

There are several aspects of the film I loved that we are only scratching the surface of. This includes the misconstruing of Caesar’s thoughts and beliefs to support Proximus’s vision as a way to claim moral superiority, if humans and apes can coexist, and the concern of artillery in the wrong hands. The one thing I wish was more fleshed out was Trevathan’s role. His position in the ape kingdom was interesting, but it felt a little peripheral, despite being so vital. 

One thing I was initially surprised about was the final action sequence. While it was cathartic, its stakes were lower than I expected. This is one specific story in one part of the planet, which I love because it’s so personal, but the title of “Kingdom” denotes a bigger situation. This is one of those times that my lack of knowledge of the original trilogy played in my favor since I wasn’t comparing it to the “War” aspect of the last movie. If anyone exited the film feeling even slightly unsatisfied, the fact that this is now the first of six new films should recontextualize it all. This is all set up to a larger story that’s now at play, yet we still get a beautiful, satisfying arc for Noa and interesting themes introduced. 

I had never heard of Owen Teague before this film, but he will be on my radar from now on. His portrayal of Noa was amazing, and I instantly felt a connection to the character. If he is to be the lead of the next few Apes films, we are in great hands. I will follow Noa wherever his journey goes. As for Freya Allan who plays Mae, I had seen her in The Witcher and knew she would be awesome. She is quite the badass here and kept the balance of making Mae likable and while also someone to be cautious of. Peter Macon has a rotund and robust voice that brings Raka to life. He was such a warm presence, especially after the devastation of the opening act. There are also a few funny moments that bring a touch of levity to the film. Finally, it’s so nice to see Kevin Durand back in theaters so soon after Abigail where he is an absolute delight. He is boisterous and terrifying as Proximus. The only issue is that there isn’t enough of him, especially considering the direction the story goes.  

Despite battling traffic, my theater’s projection issues, and coughing audience members, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes ended up being a huge triumph for me. I certainly plan to watch the first trilogy after seeing how awesome this entry is. I recognized early on in the movie that this blockbuster isn’t going for good enough, but for great. It has heart, and its creators have actual vision. I could feel the care and purpose radiating from the screen. It’s the beginning of a new era, and I can tell that Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is just the start of a series where there will be even higher highs than this movie reached. 

Grade: A-

Oscars Prospects:
Likely: Best Visual Effects
Should be Considered: Best Visual Effects

Where to Watch: In Theaters