Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Planet of the apes is an old movie. But I actually really like the new remake and canon of this sci-fi series. Not the one in the 90s but the series done over the last few years that shows the rise of the first elder ape Caesar. It’s a bit darker but does a good job of explaining how humanity devolves and how the Apes began their rise to be the dominant species. A human-made virus. Scary relevant in the post Covid world.
The recent movies are spectacular visual epics and long abandoned landscapes and human made structures like malls, apartment buildings, massive ships, airplanes and skyscrapers abandoned and reclaimed by nature. But what is also great are the character-driven plots.
We see much of ourselves in these characters, these apes are almost human and reflect the wide range of emotions: love, hate, anger, ambition and curiosity. And how a society is built to survive. How new kingdoms, hierarchy and ideology are rebuilt under the apes.
How they came up with rules like “Ape together strong” or “Ape shall not kill ape”. All started by the brilliant Caesar. And I love how Caesar the term is used as a universal term for leader just like in Roman Empire times.
Ape scholar Rama said: “Caesar was the first elder. He led with decency, morality, strength and compassion.” He is brave and everything he does is for the betterment of his people, his apes. He is brave, clever and due to his kind upbringing by humans when he grew up, he gained a healthy respect and even love for humans.
Humans in this new world cannot speak and have devolved substantially to pre-technology tribes. Treated like scavengers and seen as lower than the low. Some apes kill them on sight or hunt them for sport. Others tolerate them, others treat them with kindness.
This series is an incredibly good mirror to reflect our wide range of human civilization. It’s also a deeper criticism when you look deeper. What do you do when you have all the power? Do you try to make things better or do you conquer and dominate your lessers? How do you continue living when things change or are going bad?
“You gotta stop thinking about the way things were and start thinking about the way they are. You must accept.”
Ultimately it’s a hopeful movie to me. That we can evolve and rise up. And do it in harmony with other species but only with courage, strength and tolerance. As the Bible says “the meek shall inherit the earth.” The Meek are those who are strong and able to do tremendous harm but choose not to, who choose restraint in all except in the most extreme moments. That is the lesson I take from this series. “Ape together strong.” After all, us humans at the end of the day are barely evolved apes.