Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (English) Review {2.5/5} and Review Rating
Star Cast: Owen Teague, Freya Allen, Peter Macon, Kevin Durand
Director: Wes Ball
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Movie Synopsis:
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes It is the story of a young monkey who fights for his clan. A few hundred years after Caesar’s death, the apes split into several clans. Noah (Owen Teague) is part of the Garuda Clan and is headed by his father Koro (Neil Sandilands). Noah, along with his friends Anaya (Travis Jeffery) and Suna (Lydia Peckham) go into the forest to collect eagle eggs as part of a ceremony. This is what happens when they meet a man. At night, the girl enters the Garuda clan village. Noah tries to chase after her and in the process his egg explodes. He goes to the forest to get another egg. He joins a rogue ape clan led by Proximus (Kevin Durand). He and his army claim to be devotees of Caesar but have twisted his teachings for their own agenda. They destroy the village of the Garuda clan, kill Koro and take all the monkeys. Noah is left behind because he is believed to be dead. Once Noah regains consciousness, he sets out to find his clan members. Along the way, he encounters an orangutan named Raka (Peter Macon). Raka educates Noah about Caesar and his real teachings. Soon, the girl named Mai (Freya Allen) also join them. What happens next sets up the rest of the film.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Movie Story Review:
Josh Friedman’s story is interesting and fresh. Josh Friedman’s screenplay is filled with some interesting dramatic and action-packed moments. However, it also falters in many places. The interactions are fine.
Wes Ball’s direction is fine. He and his team put their imaginations to good use, especially to depict how the world has changed centuries after the outbreak of simian flu. The abandoned structures, in particular, are spectacular. Raka’s track is a lot of fun and the best part of the enterprise. The tense moments in the climax will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Also, the film is 145 minutes long, but the pace is good.
On the other hand, one cannot help but miss Caesar, the iconic hero of the previous three episodes. A new hero is nowhere near. Secondly, some important questions remain unanswered such as when and why the apes were divided into clans, where did Proximus come from, etc. Raka and Trevathan (William H Massey) are compelling characters but the makers don’t do them justice. The climax is grand but the events leading up to the finale are silly.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Movie Performance:
Owen Teague does his best but the character doesn’t come off well, especially considering he’s the hero of the film. Freya Allen is very good and her silence speaks volumes. Peter McCann is likable and wishes he had more screen time. Kevin Durand is perfect as an opponent. William H Macy does not get much scope. Travis Jeffery, Lydia Peckham and Neil Sandilands are decent.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Music and Other Technical Aspects:
John Pesano’s music has a cinematic feel. Gyula Pados’ cinematography is powerful. The production design by Daniel T. Dorrance is creative and imaginative. The action is decent while the VFX are top notch. Dan Zimmerman’s editing is smooth.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Movie Conclusion:
Overall, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a grand, spectacular saga but suffers from an average script. At the box office, it might face a tough time due to limited buzz and limited following for the series in India.
