Kingdom: Planet of the Apes Starts a New Epic

“I’m back home. We finally really did it. You maniacs, you blew it up. God Damn you, God Damn you all to hell.” George Taylor’s (Charlton Heston) anguish in 1968 concluded the first chapter of The Planet of the Apes. The planet with talking apes as the intelligent dominant species was Earth all along. Based on the novel by French author, Pierre Boulle, the first film was brilliant with its portrayal of complicated sociological themes cloaked in an intriguing sci-fi fantasy. Beneath… was a worthy follow up and Escape… another highpoint of the early films with its setting in 20th century Los Angeles. But after Conquest…, and particularly Battle… in 1973, the series had lost its way. I don’t remember seeing the last two, but they were the least successful, both critically and at the box office.

In 2001, Tim Burton re-imagined the original Planet of the Apes, with Mark Wahlberg in the lead role. Despite a good look and cutting visual effects, the film’s cheesy dialog inhibited its dramatic effect. It was disappointing and failed to become a lasting addition to the film’s franchise.

So, it was exciting in 2011 when a new era arrived with Rise of the Planet of the Apes. It was both a prequel and reboot, as well as the first of a trilogy. Andy Serkis (Gollum in The Lord of the Rings) was Caesar, a genetically enhanced chimpanzee raised in a human household by William Rodman (James Franco). In 2014’s Dawn… the “simian” flu, a side effect of the drug that magnified the apes’ intelligence, has killed most humans. The trilogy concluded in 2017 with War… ; the defining battle between Caesar’s apes and the soldiers under the villainous Colonel (Woody Harrelson).

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is the 10th film overall and a series re-launch and sequel to War… It’s about 300 years later and Noa (Owen Teague) and his clan are living harmoniously in a community of skyscraper skeletons overgrown with vegetation. Humans have regressed to a feral state, but not all of them. Ape King Proximus Caesar leads a band of masked gorillas that have perverted Caesar’s teaching to enslave chimp clans, including Noa’s. Noa goes on a harrowing rescue journey accompanied by a young human woman (Mae, played by Freya Allan) and a wise old orangutan, Raka, who is faithful to Caesar’s legend.

The film looks so real. The computer-generated primates with motion-capture effects are captivating. Natural scenery mixed with CGI equals exhilarating visuals. The opening scene of Noa and his friends scampering to dizzying heights to snatch eagle eggs is thrilling. Decaying remnants of human infrastructure abound, railroad tracks, bridges, tunnels, and the iconic Griffith Park Observatory and the Space Age LAX Theme Building.

With an unheralded director (Wes Ball, Maze Runner) and unknown actors, Kingdom’s… cast exceeds expectations and embraces their demanding roles. Despite the inevitable comparisons to the incomparable Serkis, Teague shines as the endearing and sympathetic Noa. Noa’s sheltered, ideal world has been shattered by the narcissistic Proximus and Mae. The humans are quietly rebuilding their society. Conflict between apes and humans is on the horizon.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is an entertaining and thought-provoking saga. See it in the theater as soon as you can. We can anticipate another entry into this enthralling and still evolving epic.

D² Rating: ◼◼◼◩☐

Trivia: Who wrote the original script for the 1968 first Planet of the Apes film.

Answer below

Answer: Rod Serling

(The twist ending of the original film is one for the ages, #1 in my book (see Movies That Blew Us Away: The Top Ten Twists)