Oddball Entertainment and Jason T. Reed Productions’ Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes (dubbed from the Hollywood film of the same name; UA) is a sequel to War For The Planet Of The Apes and the fourth in the Planet Of The Apes franchise.
Caesar has died and the apes have been divided into various clans. Noa, a chimpanzee of an eagle-oriented clan, is very friendly to Anaya and Soona. He is also infatuated with Soona. One day, Noa discovers members of a rogue clan, who serve Proximus Caesar, an ape with a twisted version of the original Caesar’s teachings. The clan members kill Noa’s father, Koro. They also take away Noa’s mother and others of his clan.
During his search for his family and clan members, Noa encounters an orangutan, named Raka, who tells Noa the real teachings of Caesar. Noa notices a human being, Mae (Freya Allan), stalking nearby and rescues her from Proximus’ clan. Mae tells Noa where Proximus had taken his clan, an old human bunker (settlement). On their way to the settlement, Raka dies while trying to save Mae. Noa and Mae are then taken to Proximus’ camp, where Noa reunites with Soona and his mother.
Mae reveals to Noa that she knows a secret entry to the bunker, and she’s looking for a book which could bring speech back to humanity. Noa hopes to destroy the bunker following this and lead his clan back home. Noa, Mae, Soona and Anaya head to the hidden entrance of the bunker, which is on top of a cliff. Once inside, Mae discovers her book, which is, in fact, a decipher key, while the apes discover an old children’s book which shows apes in cages and humans as the dominant species.
What happens thereafter? Do Noa and Mae succeed in their ultimate missions?
Josh Friedman has written a story which engages the public after interval only. The screenplay in the first half is so slow-paced that it bores the viewers. The pace as well as the drama pick up after interval, because of which the interest level of the audience increases. Overall, since the drama is more about apes and less about human beings, it engages the viewers less. Emotions fail to touch the heart at many places. Dialogues are okay.
The computer-generated apes (made using advanced motion-capture technology) have acted very well. Freya Allan is alright as Mae. William H. Macy is so-so as Trevathan. Dichen Lachman lends routine support as Korina, the woman in the human shelter.
Wes Ball’s direction is average. He has not succeeded in making a moving drama with emotions which can tug at the heart strings. John Paesano’s background music is appropriate. Gyula Pados’ cinematography is nice. Daniel T. Dorrance’s production designing is proper. Dirk Westervelt and Dan Zimmerman’s editing ought to have been sharper. Dubbing is well done.
On the whole, Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes is interesting in parts only and boring otherwise. As such, it cannot hope to do much, at least as far as the dubbed Hindi version is concerned. The original English version will fare better.
Released on 10-5-’24 at Maratha Mandir (daily 3 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru UTV Software Communications Ltd. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was below the mark at most of the places.
