Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is an adventurous evolution for sci-fi's most enduring film franchise

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is out now in theaters! The tenth entry in the long-running science fiction movie franchise brings audiences into an era when clans of apes rule the wilds of the Earth, while humans have faded into history. Set 300 years after 2017's War for the Planet of the Apes, this latest movie introduces a whole new cast of characters, new cultures, and new locations. It's a fresh start, and a more adventurous Apes film than most.

It's also the debut for director Wes Ball in the Apes franchise. With how well-received the last trilogy of Apes movies starring Andy Serkis were, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes had a very high bar to clear. Did it manage to pull it off, or did it miss the mark?

I've seen Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and am happy to report that Ball and the rest of the Apes team did a spectacular job with this latest film. Read on for our SPOILER-FREE review of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes review

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a very different sort of Apes movie. Where many other Apes films can be brooding, dark affairs that balance spectacle with heavy introspection, Kingdom watches more like a lighter adventure movie. This is due in large part to its setting and cast of new characters, as well as the basic setup of the film, which prepares us for a travelogue quest fantasy.

At the heart of the story is Noa (Owen Teague), a young chimpanzee belonging to the Eagle Clan, which is so named because they train eagles as hunting companions. On the eve of his coming-of-age ceremony, Noa's village is attacked by a rival clan of apes who kidnap the rest of his people. And so he sets out into the wilds, tracking these aggressive apes in order to save those he loves.

Noa's journey brings him into contact with a wise orangutan named Raka, played by The Orville's Peter Macon, and a bedraggled human played by The Witcher's Freya Allan. The group dynamic is a lot of fun; Macon in particular really shines as Raka, putting a ton of personality into every line delivery and expression. Then there's Proximus Caesar, the villainous demagogue bonobo played by Lost's Kevin Durand. Durand disappears into the role, giving a riveting performance. The cast is one of the overall best ensembles in the entire franchise, and they all get plenty of focus.

This is also, by far, the best that the special effects for bringing the apes to life have ever looked on film. The films starring Andy Serkis brought sci-fi's longest-running movie franchise into the digital age, introducing new technologies that allowed the apes to be rendered in much more realistic detail. Kingdom takes that to a whole new level, and it's glorious. Combined with its sweeping vistas, beautiful sets and exciting action scenes, the movie warrants watching on the biggest screen you can find.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes also feels a bit more family-friendly than its predecessor, the exceedingly dark War for the Planet of the Apes (2017). It does have its share of violence. But perhaps partially due to the fact that all the apes talk much more than in the Serkis trilogy, Kingdom generally feels like it's aimed at a younger audience. This is also the first time that we've seen ape cultures at this level of development in the reboot series, and Kingdom takes plenty of time to instill audiences with a sense of just how wondrous that is.

That's not to say that there aren't moments of poignancy. A key ingredient for most Planet of the Apes movies is that they're not only filled with action, but also introspection. Kingdom does a solid job of exploring how the legacy of Caesar affects the world of the apes, with some apes drawing out the best of his teachings while others use them as an excuse to subjugate those around them. Add in to that an examination of how the cultures of individual clans clash with Proximus Caesar's ideology of creating a "kingdom" for apes, and it strikes that perfect Planet of the Apes balance.

It also does a very solid job with the many mysteries at play. That's especially true of Freya Allan's human character, Mae. I don't want to go too deep into spoilers, but the way the movie slowly unraveled who Mae is and why she's important was one of the delights of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. It gives the movie a lot of rewatch value. It's clear that Ball and his team have future films in mind, and after how good Kingdom is, I really hope they get the chance to tealize them.

If I have one criticism of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, it's that that lightness I mentioned can make it feel a little bit shallower than some of the other Apes movies. But ultimately that's easy to forgive, because it feels so fresh and is such a joy to watch.

Verdict

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a breathtaking new entry in one of science fiction's longest-running film franchises. It carries on the legacy of Andy Serkis' career-defining performance as Caesar without retreading any ground, and introduces an ensemble cast of great new characters to carry this next phase of the franchise. With its impressive visuals, sweeping score and string of mysteries which lay the groundwork for future movies, it's a perfect box office spectacle to kick off the summer.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and Twitter account, sign up for our exclusive newsletter and check out our YouTube channel.