by by Harmony Joy
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes movie poster: IMDB.com
The latest addition to the Planet of the Apes franchise, “Rise of the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” dazzles with its stunning visuals and impressive motion-capture technology. While visually captivating, the film lacks the emotional depth and character connection that made its predecessors so impactful.
(L-R): Noa (played by Owen Teague), Soona (played by Lydia Peckham), and Anaya (played by Travis Jeffery) in 20th Century Studios’ KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
A New Generation, A Familiar Struggle
Set years after the events of “War for the Planet of the Apes,” the film introduces us to a new generation of apes navigating a world where their kind has become the dominant species. The narrative follows the journey of young ape leader, Noa, as he seeks to rescue his clan from an oppressive gorilla army, drawing interesting parallels to the biblical story of Moses. Both leaders rise from adversity to guide their people towards liberation, facing challenges and making difficult choices along the way. However, echoing the Old Testament narrative of generational amnesia, these apes seem to have forgotten the struggles and sacrifices of their predecessors like Caesar. This forgetfulness manifests in their more human-like behavior and a detachment from the values that once defined their community.
Although the intention of the film is not a religious one nor is it a Christian film, it does manage to nudge us to consider the necessity of rehearsing our testimonies and history with God to our younger generations lest we forget our spiritual legacy. As the scriptures warn, “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts,” and “Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.” Consequently, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof risks creating a generational curse instead of a blessing. Imagine descending from those who undeniably experienced God’s hand, whose trials, tribulations, miracles, and victories paved the way for the life you now enjoy. Yet, by neglecting your spiritual heritage, you drift from God, opening the door for the enemy to wreak havoc on your mind, body, and soul. This ignorance of one’s spiritual legacy, or the failure of previous generations to pass the torch, can lead to war, disease, confusion, and a diminished quality of life.
(L-R): Noa (played by Owen Teague) and Koro (played by Neil Sandilands) in 20th Century Studios’ KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Mixed Feelings on Ape Performances
While the performances are undeniably excellent from a technical standpoint, they may evoke mixed feelings depending on your expectations. The apes, despite their impressive intelligence, often behave more like humans than anthropomorphized animals. This creates a sense of detachment, making it difficult to fully invest in the characters and their struggles.
Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2017 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
A Franchise That Perhaps Should Have Ended
Personally, I found myself wishing the franchise had concluded with Caesar’s poignant death, leaving the fate of the ape society to our imaginations. While “Rise of the Kingdom” is visually captivating, it feels like an unnecessary continuation that doesn’t add significant value to the overall story.
A scene still from 20th Century Studios’ KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
To Stream or Not to Stream?
If you’re a die-hard fan of the franchise and can overlook the emotional distance and somewhat humanized ape behavior, then by all means, see it on the big screen. However, for those who are less invested, I recommend waiting for its release on streaming platforms. This way, you can enjoy the visual spectacle without the financial commitment.
As for me…
Overall, “Rise of the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is a visually captivating film with a compelling narrative and interesting echoes of the Moses story, but it lacks the emotional depth and character connection that made its predecessors so impactful. Whether it’s worth seeing in theaters depends on your personal connection to the franchise and tolerance for a more human-like ape society that seems to have forgotten its past. For me, I wish I had waited for this to arrive on Amazon Prime. This film serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of generational amnesia and the importance of remembering our roots, even as we strive for progress. It also subtly reminds us of the biblical warnings against forgetting our spiritual heritage and the importance of passing on our faith traditions to future generations.
The review insightfully captures the dual themes of legacy and amnesia in ‘Rise of the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.’ I appreciate the biblical comparisons and the critical view on how these narratives play out with the new generation of apes. However, I think there’s a deeper emotional undertone that could be appreciated in the context of the apes’ struggles and evolution, which echoes our own societal shifts. It’s an interesting juxtaposition of past legacies impacting futuristic societies.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I don’t think we disagree about the emotional context; however, the execution failed to reach me. For me, the emotional punch was non existent for me.
Thanks! I’ll keep this in mind.
Thanks for stopping by Vanessa!