Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes shows a corner of earth run by a ruthless gang of apes as the dominant species. Sadly, humans have been reduced in numbers and nature is starting to reclaim the land.
We are introduced to several characters in a chimpanzee’s peaceful village. They share the fish bounty and communicate with eagles. However, our chimp hero, Noa (Owen Teague)’s village is ambushed, destroyed, and burnt. As a result, he gets on his horse and goes in search of revenge.
Along the way, he is joined by two odd companions, an older and wiser orangutan Raka (Peter Macon) and a mute female (Freya Allan).
An apex chimpanzee Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand) rules the lands with a group of thugs. He has trapped his monkey prisoners and forces them to work on his big project. What is behind the two gates of human technology built into the cliffs?
KOTPOTA is a sequel to the trilogy of films made from 2011 to 2017. With the original film made in 1968.
“Story-wise, these films resonate with people because they have sci-fi concepts, and they tackle issues of humanity,” filmmaker Wes Ball said. “They deal with issues like class and race, about what it means to be human, and allow us to look at, analyze, and pinpoint deep issues about ourselves. They hold a mirror up to society and compel us to look at problems we as humans face through the lens of this fantastical world.”
You might have a strange feeling of familiarity with the trees and landscape shots. Yes, that’s right, it was shot on location in rural New South Wales, and at Disney Studios in Sydney.
Some of the scenes are graphic. You’ll need to remember that these are fictional CGI characters, but they are so lifelike and believable that some people might find it too violent.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a spectacular apocalyptic world with great character development and an engaging storyline. I left the cinema pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.
About Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
An all-new action-adventure spectacle, 20th Century Studios’ “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” opens exclusively in Australian cinemas on 9 May 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. #KingdomOfThePlanetOfTheApes
Director: Wes Ball
Screenplay by Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver and Patrick Aison
Cast: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, William H. Macy
By: Studio 20th Century Studios
Release Date: 9 May 2024
Rating: (M)
Consumer advice: Science fiction themes and violence
Final Runtime: 145 minutes (2hrs 25 minutes)