The latest installment, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, has captured significant attention for its ambitious scenes and storytelling. Released in theaters on May 10, 2024, it serves as the fourth movie in the rebooted series following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. This sequel to 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes explores new territories, displaying a world where apes have built an empire, while humans have become feral.
A Closer Look at Noa’s Journey
The storyline is enriched by Noa’s journey, a young chimpanzee played by Owen Teague. Teague took over the motion-capture lead role from Andy Serkis and brought new dimensions to the character. When asked about preparing for this challenging role, Teague shared, I read some comics as well as some scripts, and just kind of pulling different pieces from that.
Unpacking The Telescope Scene
The memorable telescope scene has become a focal point of discussions among fans and critics alike. Producers conferred that the scene was intricately designed to symbolize discovery and expansion within the ape society. According to Joe Letteri, a visual effects artist, balancing realism with fiction was crucial, stating, You know a piece of fur, and you dump snow on it in the real world, that’s a very easy thing to do.
Visuals That Stun
The film dazzles with stunning visuals and richly textured landscapes that culminate in an authentic portrayal of an established ape empire juxtaposed against human ruin. These elements have earned acclaim even though the film has had mixed reviews regarding its pacing and narrative.
Critical Reception
The critical reception for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has reflected a spectrum of opinions. While its visuals have been praised, the film struggled with pacing issues as evident from some critical reviews like that of Bilge Ebiri who noted, “The filmmakers provide just enough of a narrative to keep things going, but not necessarily enough to matter
.” This sentiment was echoed across many quarters highlighting how about 40 minutes felt engaging out of its nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime.
Box Office Performance
Kingdom‘s financial success mirrored its predecessors moderately well. Opening to $56.5 million slightly above pre-release projections positioned it as one of the highest-grossing films so far this year despite overall challenges in 2024’s box office landscape.
Anxious Fans Await Digital Release
The much-anticipated digital release is set for July 9 on platforms such as Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home. However, those waiting for streaming might have to hold on longer as Disney tends to wait a month or two post-digital release before moving films to streaming services like Disney+.
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