Chappie (2015)

In the near future, crime is patrolled by a mechanised police force. 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.

Jess's Review

I first watched Chappie about 5 years ago when I was at university, binge-watching LoveFilm rentals and probably stuffing my face with junk food. Not much has changed, except the collapse of DVDs and the rise of streaming services. My collection is worthless now. (Heartbroken.) But, I’d wanted to revisit Neill Blomkamp’s film for awhile and took the opportunity to share it with Sam.

Chappie, boasting a cast of cinema’s big-names, sees engineering whizz Deon (Dev Patel) bring artificial conscience to a discarded police droid. Die Antwoord co-star as themselves in one big product placement to their music, but I’m not mad at it. Good for them. I can’t lie, whilst obnoxious, I like their style and think it gels well with the film’s chaotic, grimy backdrop. Performances as a whole are decent, with Hugh Jackman’s slimy Vincent Moore being particularly repugnant on screen.

Fun fact - I am scared of robots. The concept of artificial intelligence completely freaks me out. (As it should you too.) So for Chappie to stroll in with his sad eyes and childlike innocence, and demand that I feel sympathetic for him is quite the impressive feat. I love Chappie. I want to look after him. And it is this that is the film’s greatest strength. It has heart, and it’s robotic hero is so endearing that you can forgive the films other flaws. Or at least, I can.

Chappie gets a bad rep from many big-name film critics, but THIS critic says it’s great. I think the story is unique and well-executed; the visual design vibrant and ensnaring and the message entirely thought-provoking. I still dislike robots, but I can make a small exception for Chappie.

7.5/10

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Sam's Review

Day 5. However, it is Day 1 of the official lockdown, so I shall be restarting the days. Day 1, then. It is pretty frightening, honestly. I have never experienced anything like this, and so have nothing to compare it to. The unknown is scary. What will happen? How many will die? When will it end? Still, time to push those thoughts deep down and watch a film.

It was Jess' day to choose the film, and she chose Chappie. An older film, and I was a bit apprehensive. But, perhaps ironically for a film about a robot, it's got tonnes of heart. That's what struck me most about the film. How much empathy I had for Chappie. His movements, his tone of voice, his actions, where all reminiscent of a child. And the fact that he emoted so well, that you could tell what he was feeling, was incredibly impressive.

The story felt original, and in a time where most films are reboots or sequels, that was refreshing, though sadly it was clunky at times, and disjointed. There was a also slight plot-hole early on that bothered me early. Plus, despite a strong cast, I found the characters painfully one dimensional. Making it easy to predict what was around the corner. Hugh Jackman's Vincent Moore was a stereotypical flat antagonist.

Honestly, the film has perplexed me. Chappie, the little robot that could, was brilliant. The concept was pretty fun. The story was predictable, and the characters were boring. Yet, for the most part I was intrigued, except for a while towards the end when, much to Jess' annoyance, my interest started to drift. (I am known to burst into very, very bad made-up songs, on the spot, the instant my mind decides it's bored.)

However, the film attempted to ask the question, what is life? More importantly, what does the life mean? The film won't change your life, but it might get you thinking .And for that alone I feel like it's worth a watch.

7/10