Chappie

Posted by Itheliving 9 years ago to Movies
5 comments | Share | Best of... | Flag

Chappie/ Rated R for violence and language.

Way back when Chappie had it’s 1st run of theatrical previews it appeared to be a story about an A.I. type benevolent robot story. There have been others. A.I. Artificial Intelligence, The Wizard of Oz, Forbidden Planet, Short Circuit and Bicentennial Man. All of them were well made and consistent. Except for A.I. Artificial Intelligence which was a rare Steven Spielberg misfire. As Chappie grew close to release the previews took a darker turn. Now it appeared to be a violent thriller like Robocop.

Director Neil Blomkamp is from Johannesburg, So. Africa and for the most part that is where his films take place. His best known efforts to date include Oscar nominated District 9 and Elysium. Chappie tries to be all things to all robots. Chappie is played by Blomkamp favorite Sharito Copley who was the star of the frightened alien’s with a secret plot blockbuster District 9. The other three names who are people you have heard of outside South Africa are Sigourney Weaver who is the business woman in charge, English actor Dev Patel, best known for his game contestant role in the Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire, and Hugh Jackman who plays a frustrated robot inventor whose BIG idea and BIG robot have been denied their chance. If you don’t want to see Dev Patel in Chappie he is also the star of The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel which opened in theaters the same day as Chappie.

With SC voicing Chappie that leaves DP as the young corporate scientist who invents the incredible A.I. robot. Chappie is a failure as a robot and headed for the scrap heap. He is one of a group of robots known as “Scouts” and are replacing the Johannesburg human police department. Why they need an army of robots is because of the widespread crime gangs who are running rampant.

As complications occur Chappie falls into the hands of one of the gangs. He is just learning everything for the 1st time and ends up taking on a gang persona. This adds humor to the film as long as you think a robot wearing Mr. T chains funny. His gang needs money and involve Chappie in their heist plot. Beyond that it’s up to you to go to the theatre or wait for the DVD, which it appears is what everyone has decided to do.

Chappie himself is a brilliant character. The film does have a sense of humor because of his stumbling way to learn about human life and how to live it. Unfortunately, (and this is why there is an R rating) a lot of the film becomes very violent with shootings, stabbings, explosions, crushing’s and various people being torn apart. Many of them deserved it but I’m not sure that this is the direction this fairly benign tale needed to go. If you want to see a cross between Bicentennial Man and Robocop this if your film. It does take a strange twist at the end and tries to become a parable about consciousness. I got the violent stuff but the ending was way over my head.

Rated 2.8 out of 4.0 reasons that if you come to a fork in the Yellow Brick Road, do what Yogi Berra said and take it.

NOTE next up Neil B. directs Sigourney Weaver in yet another film in the Alien series.



Add Comment

FORMATTING HELP

All Comments Hide marked as read Mark all as read

  • Posted by Lnxjenn 9 years ago
    This movie is not really appealing to me. The plot is an interesting concept, but honestly, I guess i'm just bored with most movie plots as of late. Maybe I'll wait til I can rent it cheap! Or if my other half actually wants to see it... but I don't think he does either.

    No more Alien Movies! The first one was good.. and we just kind of go down hill gradually from there!
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Posted by 9 years ago
      I thought Aliens, directed by James Cameron was the best of the group. It seemed to take the ideas from #1 and expand them with more characters and better action sequences.
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
      • Posted by Lnxjenn 9 years ago
        First one was good. Proper horror movie set in space! Aliens was pretty good. 3 was weird. Honestly I kind of liked 4 but the general consensus is it's crap! hah!
        The prequel, Prometheus, i'm unsure about. I didn't really enjoy it. It didn't really add much to the story line. At least in my opinion! My other half was disappointed as he likes the Alien movies!
        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  

FORMATTING HELP

  • Comment hidden. Undo