In 4K Ultra HD is KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K Ultra HD, Bluray and Digital from director Wes Ball and 20^th Century Studios Home Entertainment is the KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES.

The young ape Noa (Owen Teague) is living with his community in the lush forest. Noa and his friends are out climbing when they discover something unusual. Taking it to his father, he hears about those called the Echoes and how they are to be dealt with. Noa also knows that something is following him and one night goes looking only to discover apes wearing masks that are vicious. Frightened he returns to his village only to find it in flames and everyone being captured.

Managing to escape, Noa begins to follow the trail that would lead him to his people. Along the way he meets Raka (Peter Macon) who explains that the Echoes are, in fact, humans. The thing following them on the road is Nova (Freya Allan) and, to their surprise, she can speak! Captured by Proximus Caesar’s (Kevin Durand) army, Noah is sent to work on the city and Nova is sent to Trevathan (William H. Macy).

Proximus Caesar is twisting the beliefs and teachings of Caesar by breaking the law of ‘ape shall not kill ape’ and enslaving his own. In this city there is a door that the new Caesar wants opened and he is using slaves to get into it. Noa is brought before the leader, joined by Nova and Trevathan to tell them what he wants. It is Nova who convinces the apes that it is possible to stop Proximus and, at the same time free his people!

Teague as Noa plays a young and naïve ape who has been living basically happy with his people. When the attack on the village happens, it is time for the young ape to grow up. Once his family is taken, Noa uses what he has learned to help to free his family and discover how to become a leader that embraces the world. Allan as Nova must tell Noa the plan to retrieve what it is that Proximus Caesar wants for his own. Working with Noa, she gives the performance against the backdrop of cgi which makes her character shine.

Duran as Proximus Caesar is a harsh ruler who only sees what will benefit him. Using his people by way of falsehoods and twisting the beliefs of a beloved icon, Duran has always been good at being bad and I’m here for it. Macy as Trevathan has found a way to live with the apes without becoming a victim of Proximus. It has worked for him but his fear outweighs his desire to help.

Other cast include Eka Darville as Sylva, Travis Jeffery as Anaya, Lydia Peckham as Soona, Neil Sandilands as Koro, Ras-Samuel as Lightning, Sara Wiseman as Dar, Kaden Hartcher as Oda, Karin Konoval as Maurice, and Kichen Lachman as Korina.

Twentieth Century Studios Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.20thcenturystudios.com.

MOVIES ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With that you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.

Bonus Features include the Documentary Inside the Forbidden Zone: Making KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES – Join director Wes Ball, cast and crew as they expand the PLANET OF THE APES legacy for a new generation. Travel to the outdoor production in Australia, train at Ape School, and discover the practical and motion capture techniques in building a breathtaking Kingdom, and 14 Deleted/Extended Scenes with optional audio commentary by director Wes Ball.

This is another adventure in the ‘new’ Planet of the Apes series. The special effects are flawless as well as seamless. The actors inside the suits, as it were, give a voice to the effects to tell the story that director Ball is trying to tell. The effects are vast, mixed in with vibrant cinematography. The joining of the two make the film a feast for the eyes.

There are many nods to the original PLANET OF THE APES in 1968, such as the name of Nova and the X of the border into the forbidden zone. The turn of the film is that now, the apes are turning against one another in the same as ape and gorillas were intense in the original trilogy. I will say I do miss Andy Serkis as Caesar but, as with all ‘retellings’, you have to accept the change.

Me and mine are planning a Planet of the Apes marathon to watch each film back-to-back and ending with KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES!

In the end – no one can stop the reign!

Get Ready to Bolt with MAZE RUNNER: The Death Cure Coming to Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

On Bluray and DVD, as well as 4K Ultra HD, this week from director Wes Ball and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment is the race for life with MAZE RUNNER: The Death Cure.

Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) is already back in the game becoming stronger as a leader to save their friends from WCKD. When they learn that Minho (Ki Hong Lee) is among the kids that have been taken by Janson (Aidan Gillen) to WCKD, Thomas doesn’t hesitate to want to jump in.

Vince (Larry Pepper) refuses to put more people on the line to save Minho even when Jorge (Giancarlo Esposito) knows where he is. Even worse, they group knows that the enemy is getting closer and have to abandon their base.

Thomas decides he can’t go with the group and attempts to leave camp, but not without Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) and Frypan (Dexter Darden). Not about to let them go alone, they are joined by Jorge and Brenda (Rosa Salazar) who are equally wanting to get their friend back.

Minho is shocked when he wakes up to find himself back inside the maze with the help of Ava Paige (Patricia Clarkson) – but it is a new maze. Her creation has created a potential antibody to the virus that has taken so many but she must convince the leaders to continue the trials. Help comes in the words of Teresa (Kaya Scodelario) who is working with Ava.

Trying to get into the city to find Minho, Thomas and the group are taken by a group and a familiar face. Gally (Will Poulter) sets them all on edge until he explains how it is that he survived. Explaining that he wants to help Thomas get inside the city, Gally takes them to see Lawrence (Walton Goggins) who might be able to help.

Making their way to WCKD one step at a time, Thomas and Newt have their first look at the big city. In the lab Ava and Teresa test more subjects but not before Janson is told that he needs to find Thomas while keeping another secret from Teresa. The virus is now inside the city and Teresa has been taken. Ava and Janson now realize that time is not on their side.

The fight is now inside the lab as Thomas and Newt get closer to Minho and Teresa has something that could be a game changer. Now, those on the outside that have been running are turning to fight strong.

Now, they have a chance!

O’Brien as Thomas returns to the role of a young man clearly on a mission that will save some and not others. Loyal to the people he met in the maze, he is not about to let Minho and the others stay inside the city of WCKD. O’Brien plays out his role in the trilogy as he began, intense and strong.

Scodelario as Teresa is the character everyone loves to hate. With the upset from the second film it is easy to want to give her character redemption but it might be to late. Poulter as Gally is the surprise as he also ends his time in the maze with a twist.

Clarkson as Ava tries to find a way to create an antibody to the virus that is now inside the city. What hope she has depends on Minho and Clarkson always stands out in every performance she gives. Gillen as Janson is clearly irritated with the fact that he can’t seem to always get what he wants out of life in WCKD. He has the amazing ability to be the perfect bad guy without getting to much flack on him.

Goggins as Lawrence is one jacked up human being yet he still attempts to help the gang get inside the city. Lee as Minho gets the worst end of the deal as the labs want more and more from him. Sangster as Newt truly believes in the friendships that have kept him alive. We have literally watched Sangster grow up in this series of films.

Salazar as Brenda continues to be a strong presence even if she is in the middle of wanting to be on her own and not helping others to being an amazing leader in her own right. Along with Esposito as Jorge, these two characters are trying to be better people while maintaining a rough exterior.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

The Bluray and DVD Special Features includes Audio Commentary by Director Wes Ball, Screenwriter T.S. Nowlin and Producer Joe Hartwick, Jr., Unlocking the Cure: The Final Run, Dystopia: The Completed World; Allies Reunited, A Look Back: The Director’s Journey, Deleted & Extended Scenes with Optimal Commentary, Going Out on Top, Gag Reel, Visual Effects Breakdowns and Visual Effects Reel with Optional Commentary and Gallery.

Also included is Movies Anywhere which is just that, the ability to watch anywhere with the App as well as a Digital Movie included.

There is an epic and exclusive 24-page prequel origins comic book written by screenwriter T.S. Nowlin. The trilogy box set is also available that includes an exclusive MAZE RUNNER bandana chosen by fans.

MAZE RUNNER: The Death Cure brings about the finishing touches to a story that has been filled with twists, turns, intensity, trust issues, friendships, world colliding and a virus that can turn friends into foes and vice versa.

Wrapping everything up means preparing to take on the emotions of characters saying goodbye and smiling knowing that there future is deserved. Grab the popcorn and prepare for a marathon run of the MAZE RUNNER trilogy!

In the end – the time for lies is over!