In 1963, French author Pierre Boulle (The Bridge Over the River Kwai) created a world where people were speechless slaves and apes ruled the planet, called La Planète des Singes or Planet of the Apes in the US/ Monkey Planet in the UK. Five years later, the novel was adapted into a film. What followed was a series of movies and a television series in the 1970s. In 2011, a reboot was made called Rise of the Planet of the Apes, followed by 2014's Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and then War For the Planet of the Apes three years later. This past May, the fourth installment of the reboot, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, premiered in theaters, and this week it heads to retailers for purchase in 4K.
Here is the synopsis: Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global, epic franchise set several generations in the future following Caesar's reign, in which apes are the dominant species living harmoniously and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.
From a visual standpoint, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 4K is very well done, though Disney+ subscribers can watch it in Dolby Vision. The 2160p resolution offers clean lines with superior color grading and fine details. The CGI apes are beautifully rendered down to every last strand of fur on their bodies, and the humans are represented well when mixed with the special effects.
The Dolby Atmos audio is also extremely well done. From the opening sequences as the eagle grabs its meal from the water, the surround sound, and ambient noises fill one's ears from every angle. The mix is solid and doesn't require the viewer to raise and lower the volume during quieter dialogue moments. The fight sequences amply depict the sounds of hitting and punching along with the occasional gunshot.
The combo pack includes the 4K disc, the Blu-ray Disc, which houses all the extras, and the digital download. The extras include: Inside the Forbidden Zone: Making Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Deleted Scenes/Extended Scenes w/ Optional Commentary (Noa, Soona, Anaya Climb First Ledge, Noa, Soona, Anaya Post-Egg Climb, Noa/Soona Hammock Talk Lightning & Sylva on Hunt, Eagle Clan Prisoners, Noa Dreams of Father, Noa Meets Raka in Temple, Raka Shows Him Out, Lightning & Sylva At Noa's Campfire, Noa & Raka Leave Airport, Noa Chases Down Mae, Encounters Marauders, Noa & Mae Talk About Dreams, Entering Silo, Anaya Stumbles, and Beach Walk - Ape Exodus), Inside the Lens: The Raw Cut, and Inside the Lens: The Raw Cut Audio Commentary featuring Wes Ball, Dan Zimmerman, and Erik Winquist.
I have never been a big fan of The Planet of the Apes, dating back to the 1974 television show and the later animated series, but I did like the reboot and its sequels. This time around, the plot seems somewhat recycled and didn't grab my interest easily, though I did enjoy Noa (Owen Teague; Bloodline) and his interactions with Nova (Freya Allan; The Witcher). While I found the story of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes aggravating and unnecessary, I see where the creators were going with it and want to continue with more films in the future. Based on the box office revenue, I'm sure they will, and fans would be wise to pick up this 4K combo pack before it is sold out.
Grade: B-
