Film Fridays: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
A thrilling sci-fi adventure story!
Today I’m trying out something new here on Pageturning — Film Fridays!
I’ve loved watching movies for as long as I can remember. I saw Jurassic Park in the theater when I was five and it rocked my world! For a while, my dream for when I grew up was to make movies for a living. When I got a little bit older, I even made some silly little home movies using the equipment and props I had on hand. But that’s a story for another time.
In these posts, tentatively planned for every other Friday, or twice a month, I’d like to share a brief reflection on a movie I enjoy, or on my love of films and filmmaking in general.
So, let’s kick things off with a new movie I just saw in theaters this week: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
I remember watching the original Planet of the Apes (1968) on TV when I was a kid. In fact I seem to recall that there was a whole-day marathon of the entire original Apes film series. I remember being drawn into the epic scale of the ‘68 film, and the drama of the hero’s (played by Charlton Heston) quest for freedom and search for answers. It’s a terrific sci-fi premise and one that made an instant connection with me.
The 2001 remake was a disappointment, but the new reboot series, which began with Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), was exactly what I wanted it to be: a grounded retelling that was also faithful to the spirit of the original film. In my opinion each installment in this series has been better than the last, from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes to the grim and emotionally powerful War for the Planet of the Apes.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes may be my favorite entry in the series to-date, and will certainly be the film in the reboot saga that I return to experience again and again. Kingdom perfectly captures the grandeur and sense of wonder and discovery that was sorely missing from its three predecessors (as excellent as they were in other ways).
The scale of Kingdom is epic, the worldbuilding is superb, the action is engrossing, the characters are relatable and complex and make you root for them. It was a splendid afternoon at the movies! This film represents exactly the kind of classic adventure sci-fi that I enjoy to watch and to read and which I one day hope to write myself.
This movie has a sort of Edgar Rice Burroughs feel to it, if you know what I mean. Almost like a “Golden Age” pulp science fiction novel brought to life on screen. And with Planet of the Apes, that’s exactly how it should be.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes inspired my imagination in a way that few films have done recently. I walked out of that theater creatively refreshed, buzzing with ideas. Any movie that can do that earns an instant spot on my favorites list.
That’s all for this first edition of Film Fridays. If you enjoyed it, leave a comment down below! Have you seen Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes? What’s your favorite film in the Apes series? Let me know and let’s get a conversation started!
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Until next time, take care, God bless, and have fun at the movies!