Cody's Movie Minute

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Review   A new beginning for the newest ‘Planet of the Apes’ trilogy, which spanned from 2011 to 2017. The story of Caesar, the main character from the previous trilogy, has been told. And so, this film ventures forward into many generations in the future. With the previous trilogy having incredible highs and amazing quality, does this new entry live up to expectations? ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ follows a young ape named Noa. Hundreds of years have passed since a virus eliminated most of human civilization. The virus also increased the intelligence of apes across the globe. Noa is tested, however, when worlds between apes and humans collide as a group of ruthless apes hunt a young human girl. This film was great. To preface, the ‘Planet of the Apes’ trilogy from the 2010’s is one of my favorite series of films, with the films ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ and ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ being two of the greatest films I have ever seen. Not only are the films always an outstanding achievement in special effects, but they are some of the most interesting blockbusters I have ever seen. The films tackle very interesting topics, with the morality of war and human nature being just a few that are center-stage in the first trilogy. Going into this film, I was skeptical that a new entry could live up to the quality of the other installments. While I would not put ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ up against the other two films I mentioned earlier, this is a fantastic movie. And while not perfect, it is such a great addition to the franchise. This film in particular tackles great themes of religion and legacy, in a way that pays such great homage to the trilogy that came before. Noa is a great protagonist, and his journey throughout the film is very compelling. Another ape, Raka, is a spiritual leader that joins Noa along his journey. He is an absolute star in the movie, and is wonderful. The villains of the film, a gorilla named Sylva and an ape obsessed with Roman culture named Proximus, are great. Another element of the ‘Planet of the Apes’ films that always stands out is the antagonists. And that is something else that this film does great. I thought both of these villains served a great role in the film, and easily stacked up against the previous foes. If you are a fan of the previous ‘Planet of the Apes’ films following Caesar, this film is an excellent follow-up. If you haven’t seen those films, there is still a chance that you would enjoy this film as a fun summer blockbuster. It is a unique jumping off point, but not an impossible one. If you go bananas for a good time at the movies, ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ is for you.   RATING: 4/5