One of the biggest surprises in the 2010s was the reboot of “The Planet of the Apes” with a trilogy that holds up as one of the best in the science fiction genre.

The bar was set so high with those films that it’s hard to imagine how a restart in the franchise could possibly live up to that.

Unfortunately, that is the case with “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” — the latest entry in the franchise that is designed as a starting point for potentially another trilogy. “Kingdom” is a bit of a mixed bag, a solid film that achieves its goal of restarting the franchise but one that is still well below the level of the previous three films.

“Kingdom” picks up nearly 300 years after the previous film ended — with a young chimpanzee named Noa (Owen Teague). When his village is captured and enslaved by an ape king named Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand) he sets out on a journey to rescue them from captivity.

Noa forms an unlikely alliance with a human girl named Mae (Freya Allen), who has her own motives for finding Proximus. Joining them on the journey is a wise orangutan named Raka (Peter Macon), who has been taught the ways of Caesar from the previous trilogy and is trying to preserve those ideologies of peace and unity even as Proximus comes closer to his ultimate quest — finding human technology that would allow him to become the unquestioned ruler.

“Kingdom” was directed by Wes Ball, who previously directed the “Maze Runner” films. This film has a similar look to that dystopia, with some wonderful visual moments that really pop off the screen (especially in IMAX).

The tension and story build works to an extent as well — with the film really picking up steam in the second half after a sluggish first half that uses a lot of exposition to set the table for what lies ahead.

Once it finds its stride, “Kingdom” succeeds on its own level by establishing a new story thread that is just getting started by the time the film arrives at its cliffhanger like conclusion. As an opening chapter, I can’t knock the execution — which is exactly what it should be in a film of this scope and magnitude.

The problem lies in the huge shadow cast by Caesar from the original three films. His story arc was so compelling and had a human element to it that the audience could relate to. I still contend Andy Serkis deserved awards consideration for how he brought the character to life — one of the greatest uses of stop motion in cinematic history.

That emotional investment isn’t here in “Kingdom,” leaving it in a limbo it just can’t seem to escape from. The first three films were so special it was going to be hard to match them, and honestly unfair to compare to.

But that winds up being the case with “Kingdom” which can’t break away from the magic of the previous three films. It’s a film that manages to be both entertaining and disappointing, an inferior and ultimately unneeded fourth chapter.

Starring: Freya Allen, Owen Teague

Directed by: Wes Ball

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action/violence

Playing at: Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas (Glasgow)

Grade: C+