With Hollywood rebooting, readapting and extending movie franchises left and right, one might expect fatigue to have set in among viewers.
Indeed, while this may well be the case with, for instance, the Marvel universe, certain long-standing series are still proving they are capable of producing fresh entertainment.
The “Planet of the Apes” franchise is a good example, with “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” being the 10th movie entry – not counting the 1974 television show, animated series, and multiple video games!
If a good follow-up pays homage to the originals while engaging with new audiences, then “Kingdom” successfully strikes a balance between these goals.
The story starts with a funeral for original apeman Caesar from the previous films, before introducing Noa (Owen Teague), a chimpanzee from the Eagle Clan ape colony, generations later.
When his village is razed by followers of the aspiring ape tyrant Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand), Noa sets out on a rescue mission. Along the way, he befriends orangutan Raka (Peter Macon) and a human they call Nova (Freya Allan).
A road trip thus ensues for the unlikely trio and, as the inevitable clash with Proximus looms, Noa has to decide where he stands in the battle between humans and apes.
So, what works here? Teague’s Noa may not be as layered as Caesar (Andy Serkis) from the previous trilogy, but he’s still a likable and worthy protagonist. From being timid and soft-spoken, he matures into a resilient and determined leader bent on freeing his fellow apes.
Teague showcases his range in voice and motion-capture acting in a believable and organic way consistent with his character’s growth.
Meanwhile, as the main human character in this tale, Allan does a lot with Nova (real name Mae), towards whom Noa is initially cautious.
While Nova’s main purpose seems to be to examine whether humans and primates can coexist peacefully, the “Witcher” actress has some good interactions with Teague, both their characters having to work together to defeat Proximus while remaining wary of each other.
Speaking of whom, in the role of the villain, Durand is terrific – a far cry from his humorous but ill-fated character in “Abigail”. Twisting Caesar’s teachings that “apes together (are) strong”, his Proximus is a diabolical antagonist viewers will love to hate.
Of the supporting roles, Macon’s Raka, the oldest member of the trio, is a standout: he’s patient and wise, with his fair share of wisecracking jokes. You’ll probably be left on tenterhooks wondering if he’ll meet an untimely end, given that mentor figures often do.
The visuals and special effects here are solid; images of overgrown skyscrapers, rusted ships, abandoned planes and desolate industrial sites are striking without too much evidence of CGI or green-screen work at play.
Pacing wise, the film moves along at a satisfying rate, and the action sequences contain enough urgency and excitement to keep you engaged, even if some might consider the final showdown to be a bit underwhelming given the excellent build-up.
Overall, “Kingdom” might not be as emotionally complex as the previous trilogy, but it proves to be a worthy continuation of the post-Caesar era and, as to be expected, a sequel tease.
As of press time, ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.