CHAPPiE
With „CHAPPie“ Neill Blomkamp, the director of „District 9“ and „Elysium“, stays true to his passion for the science fiction genre, and will continue in this field being in charge of the prestigious sequel to the cult classic „Alien“.
„CHAPPie“ is the story of the young computer scientist Deon
(Dev Patel), who in a not so distant future works for the South African company
Tetravaal, run by the highly reserved Michelle Bradley (Sigourney Weaver). He
has successfully created special robots for the police force, but his secret
passion is his studies concerning artificial intelligence. When he finally
believes to have found the clue his boss isn’t interested, just as little as
his antagonist, a colleague
named Vincent Moore, ex-soldier (played with obvious delight by Hugh Jackman),
who himself is working on a project to create a giant robot-fighter named
Moose. In contrast to Deon’s vision, Moose isn’t supposed to have a
consciousness but rather is operated by a human brain in the background.
A gangster trio – including the congenially acting memebers
of the South African rap-rave group „Die Antwoord“ (Ninja and Yolandi Visser) –
kidnaps Deon to achieve control over the police robots through him. They don’t
realize that with Deon they get a hold of the first thinking machine in
history, which he just created out of a beat up robot that was obsolete.
Gangster and scientist are then trying, subsequently, to
exert influence on the newly formed creature named „Chappie“, each to their own
concept. Chappie is like a new born child – although extremely fast learning –
he gets some quick lessons how to become a cool gangsta, which is absolutely
contradictory to the values conveyed by Deon, such as: be what you want to be,
be honest and don’t hurt anybody.
Deon, like any other parent, is suddenly confronted by a
bullheaded teenager hooked up with the wrong crowd and the question is not a
new one: what weighs more, a good education or social environment. The
small-time criminals succeed more and more in winning Chappie, the naive and
noble fool, more and more over to the dark side, with Vincent at his back,
pushing his „Moose“ project forward and at the same time trying to destroy, in
his eyes, the godless creature, Chappie. But is Vincent really the bad guy, or
isn’t he just someone who is convinced that thinking machines will be the end
of mankind? And, is Deon the saviour or does he stand in line with all those
scientists inclined to help mankind but end up delivering more evil to the
world?
Vincent’s robot, Moose, is like those drones already used in
combat operated by someone far away in a safe place. So why not be ready to
believe that some day there will be intelligent and indestructible machines
capable of thinking, learning and even feeling? A lot of things unimaginable in
the past have become reality already.
The pivotal question will be: Is it good or bad for humanity
which has, despite the literal term in it, not always acted in a human way?
Every unthinkable, cruel or atrocious act has already been committed by humans
throughout history, so could it get any worse under the – inevitable – rule of
conscious machines?
Chappie himself – by watching him closely has some
sophisticated facial and bodily expressions – proves (during the final
showdown) he has developed a responsible and outstanding personality. He keeps
track of everything in the biggest chaos, improves Deon’s ideas, saves Deon,
his own life and is able – after beating him up real hard – to forgive Vincent,
the man who has tortured and tried to kill him. This is a genuine act of human
greatness!
If machines develop the potential to overcome all human
shortcomings they might be able to save mankind in the long run. But, on the
other hand, the insufficient human mastermind behind them will still remain the
weak link.
To think about these questions (and more) afterwards, and at
the same time being entertained so well for two hours, is what makes this movie
so powerful. There are great effects, but basically the personification of
Chappie by Blomkamp’s favorite actor buddy, Sharlto Copley, makes the movie so
convincing and satisfying. It is no sterile studio production, but renders in
instead the violent, mean and ugly reality of Johannesburg – which could stand
for any big city in the world – where the bizarre couple Ninja and Yolandi
live. But it’s Yolandi’s spontaneous affection and care for the initially naive
and helpless creature Chappie that gives hope. Even in the most desolate
circumstances it only needs one spark to ignite humanity, just be ready to let
it happen!
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Writers: Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell
Music: Hans Zimmer/ Die Antwoord
Cast: Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Ninja, Yolandi
Visser, Sigourney Weaver, Hugh Jackman
120 min.
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