Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes | Full Movie | Movies Anywhere

Raka leaves a void when he is not on screen. Every other character, especially the humans, is flat in comparison. William H. Macy’s presence feels particularly baffling.

the Apes franchise distinguishes itself from other blockbusters by being severe enough so that the concept of Apes conquering the planet never feels corny or out of place

It smartly revives the themes of jingoism, war, and distrust, and updates the subtext to work in present day. The fact that much of it doesn’t need updating is a dire reminder of how slow humans (and, in this case, apes) are to change.

By the time its climax arrives, hinging on some thoughtful character work, <i>Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes</i>, has assured the audience that this not a perfunctory entry in extending an IP but a story rooted in the best qualities of storytelling.