Many generations after the death of ape-leader Caesar as depicted in War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), Noa (Owen Teague), the son of the leader of a falconry clan, prepares for a coming of age ceremony. Soon, however, a raider tribe of apes overtakes the village, leaving Noa as its sole survivor.

The Planet of the Apes franchise kicked off with the 1968 film and has since spawned 10 movies, a TV series, comic books and video games. The franchise’s longevity may be due to its ongoing relevancy as it parallels Earth’s political history including race, conflicts and evolution. The apes themselves are easy to empathise with due to the clear communication expressed through their body gestures, facial features, and incredibly emotive eyes.

Noa is central to this straightforward hero’s journey, questing to find his lost tribe and to bring them home. On the way, Noa meets fellow travellers who both teach and challenge his beliefs of his home world: orangutan Raka (Peter Macon) embodies the cooperative philosophy of the original Caesar, while the mysterious Nova (Freya Allan) may have other plans. The dastardly Proximu Caesar (Kevin Durand) has perverted the philosophy, usurping Caesar’s legacy to establish himself into a position of power for his own gain.

Filmed in Sydney, the movie looks amazing, making you feel for the main ape characters’ plight without an uncanny valley in sight.

Verdict: An amazing sweeping epic told simply and personally like The Lion King (1994) and Avatar (2009) which unfortunately, like Bladerunner 2049 (2017), leaves too many elements for a future entry. 3.5 stars.

Luke McWilliams, www.themovieclub.net.