Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes — Review

KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF APES naturally met widespread trepidation after being announced, such was the strength of the previous trilogy and how Matt Reeves opted to conclude it. Wes Ball wisely doesn’t shake up the formula with KINGDOM, instead building off what came before by using the messianic legacy of Caesar as a thematic launching point. Wētā FX continues to do the impossible—making vibrant, dystopian environments and meticulously detailed CG characters appear as genuine as the human actors, blurring the lines between authentic in-camera artistry and immersive digital magic.

Aside from being a technical masterclass, KINGDOM proves it understands what makes the Apes movies tick, centring the story on the characters and the pervasive paranoia that hangs over this world. KINGDOM shines when it gets to delve into religious themes, looking at fanaticism and what happens when teachings become warped and misunderstood over time, but it doesn’t have the same grasp over character. Motion-capture performance remains an invaluable strength, but the new apes struggle to retain the same emotional pull that made Caesar and his clan so deeply compelling.