Ever since the release of War of the Planet of the Apes way back in 2017, The franchise of Planet of the Apes has been left in a sort of limbo, leaving fans wondering if the end of Caesar's story was also the end of the story of this world as well. Now, Planet of the Apes has returned with a new film taking place years after Caesar's journey ended with a new cast, and a promising new story to explore.
Several years after the death of Caesar, Ape society has grown and become divided all over the world. new tribes have formed and it seems that humans themselves have become nothing more than old myths. We focus on a new protagonist, an ape called Noa, as he struggles to try and earn his place in his tribe. everything changes when his tribe is attacked by a group of strange and dangerous apes, who kidnapped his entire tribe. Now he must venture off and chase after them to save his family from the dangers of a new menace who seems to use the name of Caesar in ways that the old legend could never have foreseen.
With a whole new storyline comes a whole new slew of characters. Our main character, Noa, played brilliantly by Owen Teague, is an ape who is not very strong in physical strength but makes up for it in intelligence. He has a true love and devotion to his tribe and the film does a great job in making you understand and sympathise with him on his journey. Joining him on his quest to save his tribe is an orangutan named Raka, and devoted follower of the original ways of Caesar. his kind personality and familiarity with the true ways of Caesar make him a pleasant addition to the cast. they are later joined by a mysterious human named Nova by Raka, whose real origins and intentions are left unknown.
Every Villain in the entries of the last trilogy was great, and this movie's villain joins them. Played expertly by Kevin Durand, Proxiumus Caesar is a truly devious and intelligent ape who seeks to use his advanced knowledge and power to conquer the whole world and unite all apes under one kingdom under his rule. He twists the words of Caesar to suit his own needs and manipulates all under him. He is a truly fantastic villain.
The special effects of the last trilogy were a source of great praise for many, utilizing fantastic effects, CGI and the great performance of the actors to give the audience an amazing performance. That legacy is translated here and remains just as brilliant as it was before. Utilizing motion capture and state of the art special effects, the immersion for this world of apes is just as amazing as it was over 6 years ago.
Overall, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a worthy continuation of the amazing legacy of performance, storytelling, and effects left behind by Andy Serkis, Matt Reeves, and the amazing team behind the last trilogy. and with the ending being so open-ended, we can look forward to even more amazing stories to be told in the Planet of the Apes. APES TOGETHER STRONG!!!