Chappie
Dateline South Africa, the first country to use robotic police officer droids side by side with human officers is on the precipice of greatness as artificial intelligence scientist Deon Wilson (Dev Patel) makes a breakthrough in the development of robotic conscious thought. Meanwhile, brute soldier and robotics developer Vincent (Hugh Jackman) has plans of his own for success within the crimefighting world. So, when Deon’s latest innovation, Chappie (Sharlto Copley), is hijacked by a group of street thugs (Ninja, Yo-Landi Visser, and Jose Pablo Cantillo), questions of morality, soul, humanity, and free thought are quickly raised. Will Chappie be a product of his environment or will he rise above the squander he’s been raised in?
Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell and Directed by Blomkamp (District 9), the spark of sci-fi that seems actually possible is alive again in South Africa. Asking age old questions about humanity, nature vs. nurture, what is a soul, what makes a human human and so on are all posed again but this time in the face of an immensely negative and skewed outlook on humanity. More than just a simple story about a robot that can think, the real heart and soul of the film exists on a more esoteric and spiritual level, perhaps overlooked by many. Sure there are flaws, and holes can be poked in plot points everywhere, but for those who just let go and allow the ride to take place, imagination sparks and the eternal fire wondering “what if” will be lit again. Also of note, special effects throughout are fantastic, can’t wait to see the “making of” of this one. Worthy of your time, Chappie is rated R.