Contrived tropes, the Kingdom of the Planet of the apes, and how to write a fallen civilization

(Note- this was written the month the movie came out)

Okay so the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

How did you take an absolute masterpiece of a trilogy, crafted with internal conflict and nuanced characters and some of the best moral dilemmas I’ve ever seen in media, and create a movie so boring that I could barely sit to the end… IN WHICH YOU MAKE A WHOLE NONESENSICAL PLOT TWIST THAT MESSES WITH THE LAST MOVIE.

And I have thoughts, some ideas for rewrites, IDK I’m just so disappointed with western media I absolutely loved the other planet of the apes movies. (The war for the planet of the apes messed me up in the best and worst way possible for DAYS). I’m not going to claim myself as better than the writers here, but I am. I can do better. And I will. Suggestions are appreciated. Also note I haven’t watched the original planet of the apes movies. I’m only talking about the triology here.

Honestly the trilogy was perfect, and I want something original from Hollywood and it’s so sad that I have to ask that. Anyways watch indie animation; it’s amazing and here we go:

Noa, and how to copy Ceasar but badly

The wasted potential. What I will say is that they did make him cry. Love to see that.

Other than that, the first bit of this movie, with the trio and a bonding ceremony only for protagonist to lead the bad guys to the tribe, which causes all of them to either die or be taken away, leaving the protagonist to make a basic goal to make things right.

Does that sound familiar?

It’s basic middle grade fantasy. Not that there’s anything wrong with middle grade, quite the contrary, middle grade has some of the deepest writing known to humanity. But this? It feels like someone took basic tropes and shoved it onto a Save the Cat formula (did I mention how much I hate that book and want to burn it for what it did to wider storytelling?) then proceeded to pander it out for a good two hours. Honestly the poor sound design people. The music tried so hard to make me feel something. But I didn’t. Which juxtaposes the last movie and it’s visceral storytelling but I digress.

Now if you wanted to use the same structure, the same events, but have them rise to the same level of perfection as the trilogy, then here are some suggestions.

(a) Themes. Holy herbs the basic themes here actually rotted my brain. The ‘apes versus humans’ thing. In the original trilogy, these themes hinted at a question: at what lengths will you go for the people you love, and what havoc will that bring to the world?

(The entire decimation of the human race actually. Also, this is based off memory from years ago, my apologies if it isn’t completely accurate)

According to @myleesketches “the first three movies had so much more of a psychological exploration” Which yesssssss.

So for this movie? Simple. Keep the same theme. Although, the characters often mentioned the theme of trying to reclaim an old world, which is fine, and could prove to be interesting, so I’ll make an updated theme:

For what lengths will you go to preserve the people you love, and retain that safety for them, which will only backfire in the end? You cannot save them. Silly humans, silly apes, silly curse of intelligence, thinking yourself so powerful that you could change fate itself.

Okay actually that second half is interesting to me.

(b) Noa himself.

Siighhh he’s a basic protagonist. I’m sorry but he has so much wasted potential. Given a decent beginning then doomed to side quests for the rest of the movie.

So with this theme one can build a basic internal conflict. If I remember correctly, Ceaser struggled with the attachment form those he cared about, versus the needs/requirements society had of him. And he struggled with the initial rejection of his human family, the desire to keep his new family around throughout the entire trilogy.

So for Noa, we can use a slightly different angle. The idea of intelligence and control over fate perhaps? (IDK this movie showcased a new ape world, if you’re going to have a society replace human beings, might as well have a conversation on if human struggles are simply byproducts of intelligence, on if creatures cannot have intelligence without the problems it brings, on if, with evolution, it brings our own downfall.)

Listen it would be amazing.

Since they kept talking about how ‘Noa is so smart’, have him be that intellectual sort, with ideas for how to better improve things around him, and this sort of mentality, this need to fix things will drive him mad later. This can be his belief system, that he looks to the world and sees ways to make life better for those he cares about. (Yes I know this was the villain’s point of view here. That’s the point I have ideas.)

Then as far as a fear, or contradicting belief goes… hmm, perhaps we’ll bring control into this. How, compared to nature, the creatures within have no control of whether they live or die. This could be interwoven into that whole ‘clan law’ thing that they had. Nature is good, do not kill fellow apes, respect nature, don’t mess with it. (wouldn’t want to be like that last dominant species… wherever they are)

So Noa grew up with this belief, doesn’t like it because it contradicts his ‘intelligence’ belief, so it becomes his fear. He fears that, in the end, nature will make all his efforts futile. So in an attempt to counteract this, Noa often overcompensates with his intelligence to tame nature, and is quite paranoid over things he cannot control.

From here we get some ideas about what could happen in the plot:

-corruption of the clan, Noa cannot save them. They could still get stolen by some Ceasar cult… which is… fineee I guess. But let’s bring in some ‘brainwashing’ that is absolutely irreversible. Something that messes with everyone’s heads to such a degree that they aren’t the same anymore.

-okay and here you can parallel the first movie, the thing that started it all, trying to save the brains of those they care about. If Noa attempts to save them perhaps? IDK I’m throwing around some ideas. I do not want to write this entire thing but the ideas, they interest me.

-so human technology can save them? … hmm now how technologically advanced can the apes…

wait.

Okay so random orangutan guy? Has a human ‘pet’/companion perhaps? I’ll figure this out more later. Eccentric and technological but in the ‘reusing old human things in scraps’. Idk then something with that? … mmm I don’t love that idea. I might come back to this.

-also just. have. Noa’s tribe cherish the memory of Ceasar. If you’re going to have a Native American-esque tribe then do it properly. Otherwise do something original. In fact….. what I do for my non-human creatures and their culture is base it off of le science. So all. you. had. to. do. was base the new ape culture off of what apes already do, but tweak it for increased intelligence. In fact. I feel like you could do something interesting here. With these apes being aware of their human predecessors… and please have them be aware of it. The audience saw how the world got to this point, do not explain it to us again. Instead, have the apes have their own perception of what to do with the ruins, and how to continue. I don’t have any ideas for this as of now but I might IDK.

-what lengths does he go to? Well the usage of humans perhaps, in fact, perhaps Noa is the one who employs the slavery of humans for his goal? ANd he decimates the previous ape clan perhaps? Let him go to the lengths that not even Ceasar went to.

-like if humans are still intelligent and in scraps. And I’m talking absolute scraps. They live in tiny little villages, perhaps just a few, some old weapon stores, hidden away, and stories about what they once were. Resentment for apes has been built up for generations. So they could represent lost intelligence. Overall, they actually live pretty well, pretty comfortably. They have to live with the wild and survive, but there is peace. Less problems. Ect. ect. Yet still they crave for something better. -also apes keep some humans as pets. These pet humans are just barely intelligent. They are either treated very well or not so well.

-okay and so the lengths Noa goes to, perhaps he’s the one that uses old human technology, all for the sakes

Why. do. they. talk. so much.

That is all I have to say here. Bring back the sign language. That or have them make a mixture of languages… perhaps something where they use bits of words and sounds to accentuate a sign along with facial expressions. Sign language is a rich visual language and it would be perfect for beings who were not made to speak aloud to adapt into something of their own.

ALso more ape mannerisms. I loooveee when non-human characters have non-human characteristics. Make them act like apes. Make them act like smart apes. Please.

I miss Maurice. And side characters.

At this point the story would’ve been more interesting if Noa was a lone, angry wanderer, snapping at everything in his path on a search for his clan.

But also… le side characters. Also wasted potential here.

(My siblings and I are talking about the first three moves and I’m sobginggg they were soo good)

I think his name was Raka? He died or something. I did not like him. He talked too much about things we’ve already seen. I did not miss him.

But I mean… if you want to have his theme be about preserving the intelligence of the past?

If you have his theme be about not repeating the sins of the past, of treading forward with caution, and remembrance of the past so it does not repeat? Could prove to be interesting.

Yes I do like the idea of someone who lives on the edge of civilization, collects things, and has opinions for how society should run. But Raka was just… executed so poorly.

So you could have him be generally quiet, and constantly collecting things, a bit aloof, getting lost, seems silly but if you ask or if prompted or if necessary then he’ll say the most wise thing to ever exist. He’ll basically serve as an unreliable moral compass. That does die we’re keeping that. Perhaps when this new Raka dies it symbolizes Noa throwing the dangers of intelligence to the side, and instead pursuing his goals with full force.

Okay now to talk about Mae.

I sob.

Everyone’s white with blue eyes and perfect skin and I am so tired.

The little. girl. in. the war for the planet of the apes. was. so. tragic. and. wonderfully. told.

But like… wasn’t she supposed to be the last human?

Sigh.

Anywho, if you will have humans here. Please. I beg of you. No more skinny white teenagers with blue eyes trying to survive a world that should have some more diversity other than: white and not tanned whatsoever. Yes, I will be salty about this.

Anywho, so if you do want to have humans in this, following Noa and co. around, then some options can be:

-someone older… either middle aged or some grandma that managed to survive and is like a cat IDK

-a parent/non bio parents or smth + children

-parents who have lost children

-a lot of younger humans. Perhaps siblings that follow the apes around. They can be around … 12 maybe? Then… you know… if Noa uses them for some purpose and it’s horrific then it’s just horrific and you know… storytelling. Let it be dark.

(no matter which human option you go with, they can all be dark. LET IT BE DARK! MUAHA-)

Especially because the humans trust these apes. Like very much so.

…. okay so perhaps Noa here somehow uses the humans to regain his tribe back?

That sounds very le science and I’m not sure how much I love that idea… unless you have this thing set up where Noa likes tinkering with human scraps. In fact, just have this world be riddled with old human things… then they come across this whole facility/hospital thing or something.

Then Noa has control of the Ceasar cult at this point, and also does horrific things with them. If he does manage so save some of his tribe - either his mother or one of his friends - then they are also horrified, and they reject being saved.

ALSO

Backstory is better than chronological fight me. Have Noa flashback to his life with his friends, eventually leading up to how he lost everyone. Have it start with him traveling to save everyone. SHow a fleshed out character and tease that there are reasons behind these actions. Show them. Pay off. You know… storytelling. wowow.

hmmm this is missing something.

… LE OPPOSITION!

What to do with the humans, rebellious apes, and suches

If you have some of Noa’s apes survive the Caesar cult, and stay behind to rebuild, then oppose Noa’s efforts, serving as the theme of nature’s simplicity. They have been living with nothing for awhile and there’s a comradery in that. There’s a peace in that.

Then Noa returns, not just clinging to the old world, but to a better one. And they know that this will ruin what little they have left.

Chaos ensues. Pain and angst and such

Yes so those are my ideas for now!

Erm this makes watching that entire movie better, I needed to rewatch some link click just to refresh my brain.

Any suggestions are much appreciated. Thank you for reading my rant <3