Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes – Movie Review
In October 2012, it was announced by 20th Century Fox that director Matt Reeves would be taking over for Rupert Wyatt in the sequel to Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes known as Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes. In January 2014, Reeves was said to return for the final film of his trilogy in War Of The Planet Of The Apes. Both sequels have quickly been met with praise amongst critics and audiences worldwide, and have even gone as far as being called some of the best films to come within the last decade. Now Director Wes Ball best known for the Maze Runner Trilogy has taken on the helm to continue the epic saga started and laid out by Reeves in the latest film Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes. I must say this newly created chapter is from what I have gathered, a beautiful & faithful love letter to the franchise in itself. Deeply honoring all the amazing work that has come before it. Fans will be blown away by the sheer scope of it all, and will be left in awe with this newly incredible universe created by Wes Ball.
For many of those who have yet to watch the previous two films, humanity as a whole has been decimated over the last few years due to a pandemic known as the Simian Flu. This virus went on in decreasing humanity’s intelligence. While later on making them feral in nature. Becoming almost obsolete to the mutated Apes who have gone on in now ruling over a fallen society. Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes takes us 300 years into the future, and showcases to us what has become of our world since the aftermath of the virus.
Leading this new story is an chimpanzee named Noa (Owen Teague). A young hunter who aspires to be the best of his clan. While yearning to earn the respect of his father. A human by the name of Mae (Freya Allan), finds her way to Noa in hopes of fighting against a warlike tribe of apes led by an ambitious war figure named Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand) who’s goal is wanting to obtain and control humanity’s technologies. Throughout the film, Mae and Noa’s alliance is strained due to the broken relationship between man and ape. Noa who wants the best for his clan can’t seem to trust Mae, but overtime changes his mindset and fights alongside her in wanting to save his loved ones. Mae who’s rooted in secrets is scarred from the aftermath of the virus, and in the end wants to save what’s left of humanity. Both characters in reality wants freedom for their people, but are faced against obstacles along the way that challenge their morality.
This is a film I believe most audiences can and most likely will appreciate overtime. Not because of just the morals led by man and ape throughout the story, but also the deeply rooted metaphors that accompany this new installment. How we as people treat one another, and the damage we may cause each other day by day through violence and hate. Both of these messages represent how destructive we can be in nature and showcase that we as humanity must do better in the way we go about evolving over time. It is our responsibility to live out our lives not just in freedom, but also by the love we hold for one another. Within these incredible films we see the apes mirror these same exact actions. Displaying what we as people can become if left by the choice of moving past our primitive ways and accepting our flaws as individuals. Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes is a unique path forward from the original trilogy. While giving viewers something different in the process to engage in as well. It is a story that truly stands out in its own right, and quietly opens the door for much more to be explored for the future.
One of the reasons The Planet Of The Apes franchise continues to thrive in this day & age is due to how grounded and realistic the world is at its core. Each new installment isn’t only refreshing from the last, but also distinct in the messages it tries to reflect on screen. Both directors Wes Ball and Matt Reeves have expanded past what the original films have started back in the 1960s. Creating not only an amazingly well crafted saga of films, but also establishing heartfelt stories that audiences can invest in, and enjoy as time goes by.
Trust when I say, you will not be left disappointed, but instead craving for more. If you enjoyed this article, send us a comment through our youtube and twitter pages, and let us know your thoughts on the film as well. We’d love to hear from you all. Until next time, take care.
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