Watching Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Last night (8/14/24), I watched Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

The movie is based on a human-made virus that:

• Kills humans

• Advances

  chimpanzees

  to human-like intelligence

This is the fourth movie of the new generation.

The Legacy of Caesar

The first chimpanzee leader was Caesar (possibly named after Julius Caesar of Rome). Caesar made rules for chimpanzees to coexist with humans, yet they were separated due to human wickedness, which led to communism.

A New Generation Without Caesar

The new generation doesn’t know Caesar.

The protagonist, Noa, embarks on a journey and encounters a chimpanzee named Raka.

Raka’s Beliefs

Raka becomes a follower of Caesar’s teachings— his laws of compassion, love, and mercy.

But the new ruler of the chimpanzees is corrupted.

He claims that what he does is in Caesar’s name, but he twists and manipulates Caesar’s teachings.

Forgetting the True Teachings

Raka speaks with Noa about the laws and the followers.

Raka states:

“They don’t know Caesar; they have long forgotten.”

Parallels to Christianity

This reminds me of how people claim to follow Christ but don’t actually follow His ways.

Many “Christians” say they:

• Know God
• Do things in God’s name
• “Help” their neighbors

Yet, their actions and intentions say otherwise.

This may seem paradoxical, but I see this as love and mercy because I care about the impact their actions have—both for themselves and others.

Biblical Parallel: Matthew 15:8-9

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.”

This applies to the new King of the Apes.

He does everything in Caesar’s name but goes against his teachings of mercy and compassion.

These laws are the same as Christian laws:

Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and faith.

Christians claim to follow this, but why do they not truly live by it?

Following Christ’s Teachings

Example

I try to follow Christ’s teachings as much as possible, but am I really a Christian if I don’t live by what I say I believe?

I must follow Christ with my mind, soul, heart, strength, and faith—alongside love. If I don’t do it in love, everything falls apart.

The Disciples of Caesar vs. Christ’s Followers

I have never seen Christ, just like the disciples of Caesar never saw him. Yet, they believed in his teachings and lived by them with faith and love.

Self-Awareness and True Belief

If I do the opposite of what I claim to believe, then there is a problem, whether it be emotional, mental, or physical.

I must be self-aware of what is wrong and work to live by what I say I believe.

Otherwise, I become a liar.

If I don’t show mercy and compassion, how can I expect mercy and compassion from others?

This generation no longer knows or practices true mercy.

Thus, I must be:

• Cautious
• Humble
• Aware of my mistakes
• Willing to correct myself

The Consequences of Actions

At the end, those who claimed to be “Caesar’s followers” received what they deserved based on their own actions and consequence.

The same goes for anyone who does the same.