Leila McCarty

As a fan of this movie and someone who has read the book series, the Guardians of Childhood, I’d give this prequel? sequel? Reboot? a 3/5. While the world-building, character interactions and premise was well done, I don’t think it really set up the characters well enough to ask for a sequel. Look, the character designs and dynamics are great, but it also needed a good story that grows the characters. Rise of the Guardians is about restoring the belief of children by defeating the villain of Pitch Black (the Booeyman). Do they accomplish their goal? Yes, but it didn’t feel like the plot was moving to the next chapter of events that grew the characters. It felt more like they were just fighting Pitch, and fighting him and fighting him. Even when (SPOILERS) died, the Guardians just..kinda..let it go. They were sad, but it didn’t feel like they were emotionally affected by this, which would had led them to begin their revenge or something. I understand what Dreamworks was trying to do by starting the movie off where it was, but it didn’t add up when watching it. I mean, even they wanted a sequel for this movie. Personally, the studio should have stared us off by getting to know the Guardians. I mean, COMPLETELY. Not just them on a mission to defeat Pitch, that could’ve come in time. It should have begun with showing us the internal struggle of each character. Maybe each film would be a sort of deep analysis of the characters with a gripping story. At the end, they all come together to defeat Pitch, the cause of all of their problems. I don’t know! So, yeah 3/5. Visually stunning movie with great characters dynamics, just not a gripping story that really leaves you wanting more, besides Jack Frost.

Okay! After watching it for the second time, I have come to a conclusion: For one, I do like how Caesar’s story has become this ancient legend that not all apes know about anymore! He’s kinda just passed on, with this new leader called Proximus Caesar twisting Caesar’s teaching. I thought that was great! Yet.. It did feel as though the movie was somewhat AI generated. Just..I don’t know. Even watching it yesterday..I just felt the same thing. There’s wasn’t anything new to grasp and go, “Oh! That was incredible! I loved how Noa…blah blah blah. I cannot wait to see where Noa’s story goes next!” When I saw Rise, Dawn and War, it was a link. A chain of events that tell the story of the ape leader Caesar and his struggles. If 20th Century Fox really wanted to make a new Planet of the Apes trilogy following him, they could have just shown us Caesar’s boy, Cornelius trying to keep his father’s legacy alive! Hell, Noa could have been Caesar’s great-great-great..grandchild who is trying to free all apes from Proximus‘ kingdom. Maybe Proximus is Koba’s descendant who has enslaved all apes because they still hold onto Caesar’s law (Apes together strong, Ape not kill Ape, etc.) Noa, who is Cornelius’ descendant, is an outcast to his village for being special. He hopes to prove his worth by freeing his village. He later learns the truth about his past (maybe Caesar talks to him like how God talked to Moses) and frees his apes, (Moses parting Red Sea moment) becoming the new Ape leader who will fight our new villain, Nova, who is determined to bring all humans back and take back the planet. So, yeah, I don’t have too much to say! Not a lot of jokes! I liked it, but there were issues!