Verdict: 4/5
Some movies are deserving of big screen status, and ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ is one of those movies.
The latest film in the hugely successful ‘Apes’ franchise is directed by Wes Ball of ‘Maze Runner’ fame and is set about 300 years after the conclusion of 2017’s ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’.
If you’re not familiar with the ‘Apes’ franchise or haven’t seen the previous trilogy from last decade, it’s highly recommended you fire up Disney+ this weekend and smash them all out before seeing this one.
Now, back to the movie.
In ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’, many apes societies have grown from when the Moses-like Caesar brought his people to an oasis, while humans have been reduced to a feral-like existence.
Some ape groups have never heard of Caesar, while others have contorted his teaching to build burgeoning empires.
In this setting, one ape leader begins to enslave other groups to find human technology, while another ape Noa, who watched his clan be taken, embarks on a journey to find freedom.
A young human woman named Mae, played by ‘The Witcher’ actress Freya Allan, becomes key to Noa’s quest, although she has big plans of her own.
This film has just about everything you want in an epic blockbuster, and it delivers in spades in my opinion.
From the incredible scenery to the world-class CGI technology and gripping storyline that fills you with an array of emotions from start to finish, ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ was worth the wait for fans of the franchise and will be one of the most talked about movies of 2024.
I’m expecting big things at the international Box Office as well, and don’t be surprised if it’s nominated for a few technical gongs come awards season. If you thought the ‘Apes’ franchise was over for good… it’s only just getting started!
See this movie at Hoyts Penrith.
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.