Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes - Movie Review

Jeremy Jahns

8 May 202405:35

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses the potential of a fourth installment in the 'Planet of the Apes' series, following the successful Caesar trilogy. Directed by Wes Ball, known for his work on 'The Maze Runner' films, 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' introduces a new protagonist ape named Noah, who embarks on a quest to rescue his tribe from antagonistic apes. The film is praised for its impressive CGI and the emotional depth of the new characters, particularly Noah and the antagonist Proximus. However, the script also points out some narrative challenges, such as the introduction of a human character named May, which may detract from the audience's connection with the apes. Despite some pacing issues, the movie offers engaging visuals and character dynamics, with a climax that is entertaining but preceded by a slower build-up. The script concludes by expressing curiosity about the direction of the series and suggesting that the film might be more enjoyable in a relaxed, social setting.

Takeaways

🎬 The fourth installment in the 'Planet of the Apes' series, directed by Wes Ball, is titled 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes'.
🌟 The film features a new protagonist ape named Noah, who embarks on a quest to retrieve his tribe from antagonistic apes.
📸 Visually, the movie is praised for its impressive CGI, contrasting with the 'incomplete CGI' seen in other films.
👑 The antagonist, Proximus, is a religious and cult-like leader, played by Kevin Duran, who makes a strong impression on the viewer.
🕰 The movie's runtime is approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, with a significant portion dedicated to character development.
🧍‍♀️ The inclusion of a human character named May raises questions about the narrative focus, as it shifts between her and Noah.
🤔 The film struggles with balancing the perspective of the apes and the humans, which can be frustrating for the audience.
👨‍👧‍👦 Noah's relationship with his friends is a highlight of the film, showcasing camaraderie and emotional depth.
🏞️ The movie relies on the audience's ability to recognize and connect with the post-apocalyptic world's remnants of human civilization.
🚶‍♂️ The film's pacing is described as a mix of engaging and slow, with some parts feeling like a 'snooze'.
🔥 The climax of the movie is entertaining, but the lead-up to it is criticized for not maintaining the same level of excitement.
🍻 The reviewer suggests that the film might be more enjoyable in a relaxed or social setting, hinting at its mixed reception.

Q & A

What is the title of the fourth movie in the new Caesar continuity of the Planet of the Apes series?
-The title of the fourth movie is 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes'.
Who is the director of the movie 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes'?
-The movie is directed by Wes Ball, who also directed the Maze Runner movies.
What is the name of the new protagonist ape in 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes'?
-The new protagonist ape is named Noah.
What is Noah's quest in the movie?
-Noah's quest is to retrieve his tribe from a group of hostile Apes who are misusing Caesar's name.
How does the visual quality of 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' compare to other CGI movies?
-The visual quality is described as remarkable and impressive, standing out from what the speaker refers to as 'trash' or 'incomplete' CGI in other movies.
Who are the main characters that the audience is expected to connect with in the movie?
-The audience is expected to connect with the protagonist ape Noah and his friends, as well as the antagonist Proximus.
What is the role of the human character May in the movie?
-May is a human character introduced to provide a human perspective, although the speaker found her story less engaging compared to Noah's.
How does the movie handle the theme of religion among the Apes?
-The movie introduces a religious and possibly cult-like aspect among the Apes, with Proximus as a menacing religious leader.
What is the duration of 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes'?
-The movie has a runtime of approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes.
What is the speaker's opinion on the pacing and engagement level of the movie?
-The speaker found the climax of the movie entertaining but felt that the lead-up to it was somewhat slow and unengaging.
How does the movie utilize the setting and environment to engage the audience?
-The movie relies on the audience's ability to recognize and connect with the ruined human structures, such as buildings and bridges, in the apocalyptic setting.
What is the speaker's suggestion for a more engaging plot?
-The speaker suggests that if Noah and his friends had remained together on their quest, similar to a Fellowship-style journey, it would have been more engaging.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes': A New Chapter in the Caesar Continuity

The first paragraph introduces the fourth installment in the 'Planet of the Apes' series, continuing the narrative from the previous Caesar trilogy. Directed by Wes Ball, known for 'The Maze Runner' films, this chapter presents a new protagonist, an ape named Noah, who embarks on a mission to reclaim his tribe from antagonistic apes misusing Caesar's name. The visual effects are praised for their high quality, a stark contrast to the 'incomplete CGI' often seen in the industry. The summary discusses the challenge of following the beloved character Caesar and introduces Noah's relatable and likable personality. Proximus, portrayed by Kevin Duran, is highlighted as a menacing and cult-like antagonist who introduces a religious conflict among the apes. The narrative explores the blurred lines between apes and humans, with apes now exhibiting human-like qualities such as religion and higher consciousness. The paragraph also touches on the inclusion of a human character, May, and the struggle to balance the perspectives between apes and humans within the story. The summary concludes with a mixed reception of the film's climax and pacing, suggesting that while the visuals are impressive, the narrative could have been more engaging if it focused more on Noah's journey and the dynamics within his group.

05:03

📢 Audience Reception and Reflections on the 'Planet of the Apes' Franchise

The second paragraph serves as a call to action for the audience, inviting them to share their thoughts on 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' and the broader 'Planet of the Apes' series, including the Caesar Trilogy and Tim Burton's version. The speaker expresses a willingness to engage with the audience's opinions and encourages interaction by asking viewers to comment below. Additionally, the paragraph includes a prompt for viewers to seek more content if they enjoyed the video, with a direct engagement to click for further viewing. However, the paragraph ends with the speaker humorously struggling to correctly state the film's title, highlighting a light-hearted and informal tone in the conclusion of the script.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Planet of the Apes

Planet of the Apes is a popular science fiction franchise that explores the concept of apes evolving to become the dominant species on Earth. In the context of this video, it refers to a new installment in the series, following the Caesar continuity which is a trilogy of films that depict the rise of apes led by the character Caesar.

💡Caesar Continuity

The Caesar Continuity refers to a specific storyline within the Planet of the Apes franchise that follows the character Caesar from his birth to his leadership of the ape community. This continuity is significant as it sets the stage for the narrative of the fourth movie discussed in the video.

💡Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

This is the title of the fourth movie in the Caesar continuity of the Planet of the Apes series. The film is mentioned as a continuation of the story established in the previous trilogy and introduces a new protagonist, Noah, and a new antagonist, Proximus.

💡West Ball

West Ball is the director of the movie 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes'. He is known for directing the Maze Runner movies and is now taking on the challenge of directing the next chapter in the Apes saga, which is a significant aspect as the director's vision shapes the film's narrative and style.

💡Noah

Noah is the new protagonist ape in 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes'. He embarks on a quest to retrieve his tribe from a group of antagonistic apes. Noah represents the new generation of apes and is central to the movie's plot, embodying themes of leadership and the struggle for family and community.

💡Proximus

Proximus is introduced as the antagonist in the movie. He is a religious and potentially cult-like leader among the apes. His character adds a layer of complexity to the story, bringing themes of faith and power dynamics into the narrative.

💡CGI

CGI, or Computer-Generated Imagery, is a technique used to create visual effects in films. The video discusses the quality of CGI in the movie, contrasting it with 'incomplete CGI' often seen in other films. High-quality CGI is crucial in bringing the world of apes to life and making the story believable.

💡Coming of Age

The term 'Coming of Age' refers to the transition from childhood to adulthood. In the context of the video, it describes the personal journey of the protagonist, Noah, as he faces challenges and matures throughout the film, which is a common theme in narratives that deal with character development.

💡Religion in Apes

The video mentions that the apes in the movie have found religion, which is a new element in the series. This introduces themes of belief systems, faith, and their impact on society, adding depth to the apes' characterization and the moral dilemmas they face.

💡Human Perspective

The video discusses the narrative choice of showing the story through the eyes of the apes, but also includes a human character, May. This creates a debate on perspective and connection, as the audience is used to seeing the apes' world from their viewpoint, but the inclusion of a human character challenges this approach.

💡Camaraderie

Camaraderie refers to the friendly relationship or bond between individuals. In the video, it is mentioned in relation to the relationship between Noah and his friends. This bond is important as it sets the stage for the emotional investment of the audience in the characters' journey and the stakes of the quest to retrieve the clan.

Highlights

A fourth movie in the Caesar continuity of Planet of the Apes could be a hit or miss.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is directed by Wes Ball, known for directing Maze Runner movies.

The film features a new protagonist ape named Noah on a quest to reclaim his tribe.

Visually, the movie is impressive with remarkable CGI, contrasting with common 'incomplete' CGI seen in other films.

The protagonist, Noah, is relatable and likable, going through a Coming of Age phase.

Proximus, played by Kevin Duran, is introduced as a menacing and cult-like antagonist.

The film explores themes of religion among the apes, leading to internal conflict.

The movie's narrative sometimes struggles with balancing the perspective between apes and humans.

The human character May is introduced, causing some confusion about the main character focus.

The film's climax is entertaining, but the lead-up to it is described as a bit of a snooze.

The movie heavily relies on the audience's ability to recognize and connect with the destroyed human landmarks.

The camaraderie between Noah and his friends is a highlight of the film.

The reviewer suggests that a fellowship-style quest with Noah and his friends could have been more engaging.

The film is considered 'hit and miss', with some parts being more enjoyable than others.

The reviewer is interested in the direction the series will take moving forward.

The movie might be more enjoyable in a social setting or when the viewer is relaxed.

The reviewer invites comments and thoughts on the movie and the Planet of the Apes series.