Chappie is the third film from Niel Blomkamp, the director of District 9 and Elysium. Like Blomkamp's previous films Chappie is filled with messages regarding the Earth and its future but unlike District 9, the messages in Chappie ultimately come off as inadequate.
Chappie has its moments and some great ideas but unfortunately, not a single one of those ideas are fleshed out properly. Chappie's biggest problem is its writing. The characters, their conflicts and interactions, a lack of consequences, rushed and ignorant decisions are what's saving Chappie from being a great film.
The ending is weak and like the rest of the film, it has no consequences. Not a single point is proven and not a single character dies, for no longer than a few minutes at least. This film handles death like a minor inconvenience after which characters pretend as nothing happened.
Chappie does, however, have its positives which are mainly the acting and the VFX. Sharlto Copley's motion-capture performance is easily one of the highlights of the film. Hugh Jackman, Dev Patel and Sigourney Weaver also do a fine job with their characters.
Overall Chappie isn't a bad or unwatchable film by any means however it is a big decline from Blomkamp's District 9.
Final Grade: 6-/10
Chappie
2015Action / Crime / Drama / Sci-Fi / Thriller
6.8
Available in: 720P.BLURAY 720P.BLURAY 1080P.BLURAY 1080P.BLURAY
Available in: 720P.BLURAY 720P.BLURAY 1080P.BLURAY 1080P.BLURAY
Synopsis
In Johannesburg, the police department reduced the high rating of criminality using robots from the Tetravaal Company, designed by the engineer Deon Wilson. The former military Vincent Moore is envious of Deon, since he has developed another project called Moose, but neither Tetravaal nor the police department is interested. Deon has just developed an Artificial Intelligence but the Tetravaal's CEO Michelle Bradley asks him to abort the project. Deon decides to bring the damaged Robot 22 that was sent to be crushed to test his A.I. However he is kidnapped by the criminals Ninja, Yo-Landi and Amerika that want him to stop the robot cops. When they see the damaged robot in the van, they force Deon to program it to heist banks with them and they call it Chappie. However, Chappie acts like a child and need to be trained to learn and grow. Meanwhile Vincent follows Deon and plots an evil scheme to activate his robot.Director
Cast
Sharlto Copley
as Chappie
Dev Patel
as Deon Wilson
Ninja
as Ninja
Yolandi Visser
as Yo-Landi
José Pablo Cantillo
as Yankie (Amerika)
Hugh Jackman
as Vincent Moore
Sigourney Weaver
as Michelle BradleyMovie Reviews
Wasted potential
Way better than the critics want you to believe
I thoroughly enjoyed Chappie. I usually don't write reviews, but after seeing the brutal rating this movie is getting I felt compelled to write this review.
Chappie is a funny, entertaining, and surprisingly sentimental movie about a sentient robot being raised by gangsters in Johannesburg. Most of the criticisms I've seen about one- dimensional characters and illogical character choices are valid, but Chappie's character, the CGI, the humor, and the overall aesthetic of the movie more than make up for these shortcomings.
Please go see this movie and make up your own mind. I almost didn't go last night because of the negative reviews, but I'm so happy I did. I'm very excited to see this movie again. You leave this movie feeling like you've become friends with Chappie, and I hope the bad reviews don't prevent the sequels from being made.
If you like Neill Blomkamp's directing and style you will love this movie.
We need a sequel.
If there was ever a movie that needed a sequel more than another, it's Chappie.
