Directed by:
Neill BlomkampCinematography:
Trent OpalochComposer:
Hans ZimmerCast:
Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Watkin Tudor Jones, Yo-Landi Visser, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, Brandon Auret, Johnny Selema (more)VOD (5)
Plots(1)
In the near future, crime is patrolled by an oppressive mechanized police force. But now, the people are fighting back. When one police droid, Chappie, is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself. As powerful, destructive forces start to see Chappie as a danger to mankind and order, they will stop at nothing to maintain the status quo and ensure that Chappie is the last of his kind. (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
(more)Videos (8)
Reviews (16)
The anarchic visual firepower, which suited Blomkamp more than I was reluctant to believe after all the trailers, is carried primarily by Opaloch's eccentric cinematography, which sells the wannabe documentary style as well as few other films, and by the bizarre cast starting with Die Antwoord and ending with Jackman's hairstyle. Charlto Copley milks tears from only doing the audio. Elysium is forgiven. Even with the dramaturgical leash tightened very short, even Alien could have succeeded.
()
Once again, it's a story told in a rush and in a hastily made-up world that stands on terribly unstable legs. Just like with Elysium, logic is dealt a heavy blow every few minutes, confirming once and for all that I don't understand the most determined advocate for the Republic of South Africa. It's clear how much he enjoys writing, directing, and perfecting films, but when bloody scenes alternate with infantile ones and a barrage of insults with moralizing, it's all for nothing. That's why all credit goes to undeterred Hugh Jackman, whose villain is boring, illogical, and oddly poorly written – and yet I still enjoyed watching him. But without the final ten minutes, which will surely make pedantic viewers tear their hair out in desperation, it's a downhill journey once again. This is how Neill Blomkamp successfully extracted emotions from me for the first time in his career. Because of this, I have increasing concerns about the fate of the fifth Alien film, no matter what plot lines it follows.
()
Those who like Neil Blomkamp's style will love Chappie and even want to be friends with him. The film beautifully illustrates the problems of today's society and what it is like to bring life into the wrong hands. The very ugly and unlikeable villains, the ugly and dirty housing estates, the landscape, all come across as very ugly and you tell yourself I wouldn't want to spend the night in this ghetto. Fortunately, Chappie is a sweetheart, cute, sweet, innocent you can't help but love him, so the empathy works 150%, and many times you want to shed a tear. The action is decent (even bloody a couple of times), accompanied by a great soundtrack by Hans Zimmer, the humour and the emotions work here, so for me a really decent film with a very nicely thought out ending. Even though it's more of a grittier fairy tale, it's great to watch and there will be a sequel will be here, of course. 80%
()
Chappie is a dramaturgically failed hybrid of Mad Max, Robocop and Short Circuit, with the worst casting disaster in many years (Hugh Jackman). All of the characters are totally unbelievable, regardless of who plays them. And that includes the motivation and actions of the robot Chappie. Neill Blomkamp had an top-tier budget, technology and actors, but his directing skills here are at the level of the guys from The Asylum.
()
My friends ask me what Chappie was like, so I'll post here on FilmBooster what I usually tell everyone: Not great. Apparently the director tried hard to make another District 9, only with robots, and it didn't work out so well. There's too much violence for my taste, especially violence against Chappie himself (not just physical, but psychological as well). Apparently, to make it less drastic, the director added some comic elements, in which he makes the robot a gangster. Unfortunately, it was funny only once; after that I found it rather awkward. Another problem was that Chappie is a film where there isn't a single likable character I could relate to – I hated them all, even Chappie himself (that is, only from the middle of the film; he was just a cute little kid at the beginning). The action was okay, Hugh Jackman as the bad guy was for me a role I've never seen him in before, so more or less a nice bonus. He played the maniac pretty convincingly. Unfortunately, I felt that the already rather contradictory film ended as if someone had pulled it out of their hat (I would say “out of their ass" to my friends, but I won't use such foul language here!). Apparently they don't have hospitals in Johannesburg. It has logical flaws; it has no hero. From a feeling point of view, I absolutely disliked the film (I kept telling myself that this is wrong, it's not supposed to be like this). Don't let the kids see it, show them Short Circuit instead.
()
Gallery (40)
Photo © Columbia Pictures
![Chappie - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/159/548/159548941_e46319.jpg)
Ads