Starring: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Peter Macon, Eka Darville, Kevin Durand, William H. Macy
OUR RATING: ★★★☆☆
Story: Sci-fi action sequel directed by Wes Ball. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign in War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), 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, Noa (Owen Teague) 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.
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Best Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Quotes
Koro: [to Noa] Much to learn. Much to teach.
Noa: Who is he?
Raka: Not “is”. “Was”! Your clan does not know the true Caesar. Too many have forgotten who he was.
Raka: Apes together strong. Ape shall not kill ape. We, the Order of Caesar follow his words. To this day, I follow. I am now, the last.
Raka: Humans are slow-witted. But there was a time, when humans and apes lived side by side.
Raka: [to Noa] Show mercy. She is smarter than most. We will name her Nova. We name them all Nova. I do not know why. It is from Caesar’s time.
Raka: Caesar legend is important. He was first Elder. He led with decency, morality, strength, compassion.
Mae: [to Noa and Raka] I have a name. Mae. I know where they’re taking your clan.
Mae: There are more like you?
Raka: There used to be more.
Noa: You hid the truth?
Mae: My mother taught me silence, for my safety.
Noa: You were safe with us. And still not true.
Mae: I am alone.
Raka: As are we all. But now, we have each other.
Trevathan: So, who are you?
Mae: I’m the human not helping the apes.
Proximus Caesar: What a wonderful day! That felt good. When I think on those words, I feel good.
Proximus Caesar: Caesar was first Elder. Now I am Caesar.
Noa: He is not Caesar.
Proximus Caesar: We work together. All as one. As Caesar wanted. As Caesar required.
Trevathan: You got to stop thinking about the way things were and start thinking about the way they are.
Noa: The Elders did not tell us everything about this world. They did not tell us because they did not know. They did not want to know.
Proximus Caesar: You two have come a long way. An ape and a human traveling together is quite an adventure.
Proximus Caesar: Mae, you are familiar with the concept of evolution? That is the human label, yeah? The advancement that I crave requires time. Vast amounts of time that I do not have. Unfortunately, I am but a mortal ape.
Proximus Caesar: In their time, humans were capable of many great things, yes? They could level mountains. They could speak across oceans. They could fly, Noa. Like eagles fly. But now, we will learn. Apes will learn. I will learn.
Proximus Caesar: Tell me, what do you see?
Noa: Stolen clans.
Proximus Caesar: Not clans. A kingdom. Noa, a kingdom for apes.
Proximus Caesar: This is our time. This is my kingdom. I must destroy their kind. Unless we want to live in cages again.
Noa: You come to judge me? I judge myself. I promised our father I would bring them home. I failed. Eagle Clan belongs to Proximus Caesar now. That is the law. But the law is wrong.
Noa: The more you speak, the less I believe.
Mae: I was wrong not to trust you. And I know that now.
Noa: I trust you only to help yourself.
Proximus Caesar: Noa, you are a very useful ape. You understand so many things. And yet, you fail to observe one of the most important. You cannot trust a human!
Proximus Caesar: [to Noa] So what do you choose? A human over an ape?
Proximus Caesar: [to Noa] You think you can destroy my kingdom? You think you can destroy what I am?
Proximus Caesar: [to Noa] You are going to stand, so that you can bend for your king, before you die.
Noa: Proximus was right. Humans will never give up. Not until you claim all things for yourselves.
Mae: It was ours.
Noa: What is for apes? Should we go back to silence? We will rebuild our home. Better. Stronger. From what we have learned.
Noa: If Raka were here, he would tell us his Caesar had much to say on this. Was he right? Can ape and human live together?
Mae: I don’t know.