Originally published to 8 News Now on May 8, 2024.

When “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” begins, connecting to the main characters can be difficult. Narrowing down precisely why this is the case is a challenging task. It could be the CG nature of the protagonists and the suspension of disbelief needed to believe these apes are real.

This statement is not a knock on what are no doubt armies of computer graphic artists tasked with the impossibility of creating relatable primate characters who, for a large amount of screen time, are required to carry the film. While the results are mixed, sometimes the apes who inhabit this planet look stunning and photorealistic, and other times, they look definitively like artists’ interpretations of primates. Clearly, the animators took pride in their work here and should receive praise for it.

Analyzing the early detachment from the characters is not as simple as saying, “The things we’re seeing are fake.” Instead, “Kingdom” starts with the energy of a nature documentary. While nature documentaries can be enthralling and magnetic, those feelings usually result from the reality-based nature of what we see onscreen rather than as a byproduct of stakes built through attachment to characters. The first hour of “Kingdom” exhibits few of those stakes. 

Early on, we’re introduced to a clan of anthropomorphized primates and our lead, an ape named Noa, portrayed by Owen Teague. After an initial violent attack, he is sent on his own on a nearly dialogue-free adventure to find what is left of his family. It’s not until we meet Raka, played by Peter Macon, that “Kingdom” starts to find its character. Introduced shortly after that is Freya Allan’s Mae, the film’s first encountered human character, and “Kingdom” starts to find its footing. The titular “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” appears not long after, and stakes are established. From there on out, the film is a tense, action-packed ride. It just takes a while to get there.

“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is a slow-burn, something that audiences might find unappealing, but as the film finds its footing and makes its stakes clear, the compelling continuation of the “Apes” franchise hits a pleasing groove. Indeed, the film is enough of an acquittal to elicit more “Rise of the Dawn of the War for the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” sequels in the future, depending on the box office share “Kingdom” claims.