Just finished this for my rewatch for Kingdom.
This is how you follow up a great movie in Rise. It started off a bit slow, but the big thing early on where Caesar pointed out that Koba only saw the worst out of humans. In which lead him to investigate behind Caesar's back. It feels like when Koba killed those human it's where got tempted for a taste of power. But to jump to a situation where he would frame Caesar's death on humans is a big jump for him. Of course a taste of power can corrupt us all.
The best aspects of the movie started after the family finds and heals Caesar. As in the first film Caesar grew a distrust for humans because he was locked up in a cage. But in his heart he always wanted to believe in humans. As they healed his wife, they continue to show their kindness to Caesar. When they bring Caesar back to his old home, while it was by accident made for a great moment. As Caesar says to Malcolm that he is a good human like Will was.
The sad part is how Caesar's son got played like a fool throughout all of this
. The fight between Caesar and Koba spokes volumes to each of their character. While Caesar was out helping apes to survive after the tower collapsed, you had Koba just looking out for himself. Ironically putting him in the same position Steven Jacobs was in Rise. Leading Caesar to drop him to his death. It was a lesson for Caesar that just because they are an ape doesn't mean they are good. Both Steven and Koba were both bad examples for humans and apes respectively. Ironically Koba looking to sympathize to Caesar holding no shame for the apes that he killed.
The farewell between Caesar and Malcolm in many ways was sadder than his farewell to Will to Rise. His farewell to Will was symbolism of a kid moving out on his own. For Caesar, it's living with his fellow apes. In this film is more so sad because you could see Caesar truly wants to treasure his relationships with humans, but he understands the damage is already down. What Koba did can't be taken back.
Great film, I slightly give Rise an edge over it since IMO writing was stronger throughout, but both are great.
