Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" sets the bar high with its impeccable visual quality. Utilizing a native 4K Digital Intermediate (DI) and encoded in HEVC (H.265), the disc offers a 3840x2160/24p BT.2020 image within a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The disc features HDR10, delivering a wide color gamut and high dynamic range that elevates the viewing experience. The rich, vibrant palette is especially remarkable, from fiery tones bursting against inky black backdrops to the luscious greens of forest environments. The detail is stunningly sharp, bringing out intricate textures and making CGI apes look nearly lifelike. Moreover, black levels are pristine, ensuring that night scenes retain their depth without succumbing to crush or artifact issues.

In terms of visual impact, the 4K presentation delineates shadows and highlights with precision, enhancing depth and dimension across all scenes. The movie's visual effects are integrated seamlessly, highlighting the impressive CGI work that defines individual hairs on the apes and leaves on trees. Scenes captured with Arri Alexa LF, Mini LF, and Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro cameras are virtually free from noise or artificial artifacts, sustaining clarity even in dim lighting conditions. Although the disc lacks Dolby Vision HDR, its HDR10 implementation performs remarkably well, providing a nuanced contrast that competes closely with high-end streaming options but surpasses them in overall fidelity and cleanliness.

The decision to use a BD-66 dual-layer disc for this over two-hour-long film does not hamper its quality. With bitrates often peaking in the mid-to-upper 60mbps range, the data is spread out efficiently, ensuring no visible compression anomalies. The lack of additional features on the disc diverts all available space to optimize image quality. While streaming platforms like Disney+ offer this title in Dolby Vision HDR, this physical release demonstrates a clearer, crisper image quality that truly capitalizes on 4K UHD capabilities. Whether it's depicting intense sunlight or capturing minute details in low light, "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" on 4K UHD Blu-ray is a superior visual feast worthy of any high-definition collection.

The Dolby Atmos audio track for the 4K UHD Blu Ray of "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" stands as a significant upgrade over its streaming counterpart, delivering a demo-worthy mix that immerses viewers in its rich soundscape. Notably, the dialogue is pristinely clear and effectively positioned in the frontal array, ensuring that even the throaty and accentuated Ape speech remains comprehensible. The surround channels exceptionally capture and distribute ambient environment noises, enveloping the listener in the overgrown landscapes depicted onscreen. Complementary low-frequency effects (LFE) provide a profound, room-shaking presence during action sequences, though some subtle volume leveling may be necessary to match other recent high-caliber releases.

The Atmos mix uses upward-firing speakers to great effect, particularly in outdoor sequences where rustling leaves and birds create a lifelike overhead presence. This attention to height adds an extra dimension to scenes involving falcons or when elements like ocean waves audibly crash and spray overhead. The soundtrack balances atmospherics and panning fills seamlessly, with nothing being missed in terms of movement or placement, resulting in a natural and engaging auditory experience. John Paesano's elegiac score sounds expansive and resonant, enhancing the emotional depth of the film.

Explosions, falcon flights, and even minor movements are captured with impeccable imaging and range. Intense scenes such as Noa’s colony attack are presented with potent LFE support that grows more intense as the action escalates. Sound design elements, from Proximus' smashing strikes to vertical audio movements when apes zip through the brush, are precisely rendered, reinforcing the narrative through auditory means. This immersion extends beyond clarity, making the mix not just effective but exemplary, capitalizing on every audio channel to create an encompassing and vivid listening experience.

The "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" 4K UHD Blu-ray release is rich with engaging extras on the accompanying Blu-ray disc, though the 4K disc itself lacks supplementary material. The standout feature is "Inside the Lens: The Raw Cut," offering a split-screen showing the final film alongside unfinished VFX and live mo-cap footage, complete with audio commentary by Wes Ball, Dan Zimmerman, and Erik Winquist. Additionally, "Inside the Forbidden Zone: Making Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" is a comprehensive making-of documentary, complemented by 14 deleted/extended scenes with optional commentary by Wes Ball, providing further insight into the film's creation.

Extras included in this disc:

• Inside the Lens: The Raw Cut: Split-screen view of finished film with unfinished VFX.
• Inside the Forbidden Zone: Making Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: Comprehensive making-of documentary.
• 14 Deleted/Extended Scenes with Optional Commentary: Extra scenes featuring director commentary.

"Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" reinvigorates the franchise with a fresh narrative set generations after Caesar's reign. Directed by Wes Ball, the film skillfully navigates new terrain, showcasing apes living in harmony as the dominant species while humans are reduced to shadows in society. Utilizing cutting-edge VFX technology, the film delivers visually stunning representations of primate characters, surpassing any of its predecessors in terms of digital realism. The storyline focuses on Noa (Owen Teague), a young ape who journeys through a divided world to discover historical truths and challenge a tyrannical leader, Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand). This tale breaks away from the traditional human versus ape conflict, opting instead for inter-ape rivalries and a battle for ideological dominance.

The thematic depth is vibrant and compelling, offering more than just spectacular visuals. Ball's direction capitalizes on showing different ape cultures and their societal structures, each distinct yet interconnected by legends of Caesar. In particular, the character of Mae (Freya Allan) introduces an unpredictable human element steeped in mystery, setting the stage for future story arcs. The screenplay, penned by Josh Friedman, Amanda Silver, and Rick Jaffa, provides a thoughtful exploration of power dynamics and identity within and between species. While the human subplots sometimes feel underdeveloped, they still add layers to the enfolding drama.

Despite its occasional flaws, "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" stands as a strong inaugural chapter in this potential new trilogy. The film's ability to blend thought-provoking themes with riveting action sequences without relying overly on visual effects makes it a robust continuation of the franchise. It sets a promising foundation for future installments, offering both longtime fans and new viewers a fresh perspective on this enduring saga.

Wes Ball's "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" attempts to rejuvenate the franchise, providing an exciting adventure distinct from the previous trilogy. Despite being set in the familiar universe, the film introduces fresh narratives and characters, particularly with Noa replacing Caesar effectively. The human characters have minor stumbles, but they do not detract significantly from the overall experience. This installment proves there is still vitality in the Apes saga and lays a promising foundation for future explorations.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release by Century Studios/Elevation stands out with its impressive visual and audio fidelity. Equipped with an HDR10 transfer and Atmos audio, the film delivers a superior home viewing experience compared to its streaming counterpart on Disney Plus. While the absence of Dolby Vision and BD-100 discs is noted, the disc still surpasses streaming quality. An intriguing feature of this release is the Raw Cut version, showcasing a blend of finished and rough edits, offering a fascinating behind-the-scenes insight. The presentation is technically first-rate, enhancing the vivid imagery and powerful soundtrack that complements the film's storyline.

In conclusion, "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" is a commendable continuation of the franchise, successfully engaging audiences with its new direction while retaining echoes of its predecessors. The 4K UHD Blu-ray edition is a must-have for enthusiasts, delivering outstanding AV quality and valuable bonus content. Though it has minor flaws, the film holds promise for future installments and remains a highly recommended addition to any collection.