For me, the recent “Planet of the Apes” trilogy ranks among the best blockbuster movies of the past decades. The last two films by Matt Reeves were particularly impressive, and the task facing director Wes Ball, who is continuing the series with “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," was accordingly huge.
However, I actually had a pretty good feeling about Ball, who until now was only known for the “Maze Runner” films. Although these were not outstanding, the director demonstrated that he can work very effectively with CGI, even on a limited budget. In other words, perfect conditions for “Planet of the Apes”.
And ultimately, he certainly didn't drop the ball. The visual effects in the movie are fantastic throughout. As in the previous installments, the apes look as alive as possible, so the emotions can be fully conveyed by the motion-capture actors. It should also be mentioned that, apart from Freya Allan's Mae, there are hardly any other human characters. But that's precisely why it's so good that the apes are very effective as substitutes for humans.
In terms of the plot, I would say the first half of the movie is much stronger than the second. A lot of time is initially spent establishing the world and the main characters. This allows you to really get to know them, which is often neglected in other blockbuster films. In the second half, however, too many new plot threads are opened up for my taste, many of which will probably only become relevant in a possible sequel. This makes the movie seem somewhat incomplete at the end.
But if there were to be a sequel, I would definitely be back at the movies without hesitation. And I really hope that Allan will be back as well. Because her character gets a few rough edges in the course of “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” that I wouldn't necessarily have expected. Another encounter between her and main ape Noa (Owen Teague) should definitely be exciting.
All that remains is the verdict: the “Planet of the Apes” series remains blockbuster cinema at its finest with "Kingdom." I hope that this will be properly rewarded at the box office.
Review by ToralfVIP 3BlockedParent2024-05-09T21:04:45Z
For me, the recent “Planet of the Apes” trilogy ranks among the best blockbuster movies of the past decades. The last two films by Matt Reeves were particularly impressive, and the task facing director Wes Ball, who is continuing the series with “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," was accordingly huge.
However, I actually had a pretty good feeling about Ball, who until now was only known for the “Maze Runner” films. Although these were not outstanding, the director demonstrated that he can work very effectively with CGI, even on a limited budget. In other words, perfect conditions for “Planet of the Apes”.
And ultimately, he certainly didn't drop the ball. The visual effects in the movie are fantastic throughout. As in the previous installments, the apes look as alive as possible, so the emotions can be fully conveyed by the motion-capture actors. It should also be mentioned that, apart from Freya Allan's Mae, there are hardly any other human characters. But that's precisely why it's so good that the apes are very effective as substitutes for humans.
In terms of the plot, I would say the first half of the movie is much stronger than the second. A lot of time is initially spent establishing the world and the main characters. This allows you to really get to know them, which is often neglected in other blockbuster films. In the second half, however, too many new plot threads are opened up for my taste, many of which will probably only become relevant in a possible sequel. This makes the movie seem somewhat incomplete at the end.
But if there were to be a sequel, I would definitely be back at the movies without hesitation. And I really hope that Allan will be back as well. Because her character gets a few rough edges in the course of “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” that I wouldn't necessarily have expected. Another encounter between her and main ape Noa (Owen Teague) should definitely be exciting.
All that remains is the verdict: the “Planet of the Apes” series remains blockbuster cinema at its finest with "Kingdom." I hope that this will be properly rewarded at the box office.