Maybe it was the casting, maybe it was the script, maybe it was 2 hours too long, but either way CHAPPiE is an abomination.
In the near future, crime is patrolled by a mechanized 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.
Artificial intelligence has been the focus of many movies in the last 30 or so years, some movies have looked at this topic in new and clever ways, CHAPPiE brought absolutely nothing new to the table.
The casting of this movie was also awful Hugh Jackman seemed to have to create an Australian accent for this film, even though he is Australian. Was he just not Aussie enough for director Neil Blomkamp? If you hear Jackman talking in real life and then watch him in this you would actually think he is paying himself out with the awfully fake Australian accent. A tip for the future Hugh, when playing a character from your own country, who should use your own accent!!
Let’s look at the further casting a number of rap-artists playing various leading roles in this film – one even using his own rap name as his character name. I’ve never been a fan of musicians crossing into the film world, but “Ninja” and Yo-Landi Visser are extreme examples of where this shouldn’t happen. Both are awful and bring no emotion or life to their roles – they may as well have been played by robots.
The only piece of decent casting in this is Sigourney Weaver who, as always delivers a wonderful performance, and trust me it really stands out in this film!
The plot is not only unoriginal, but also long and boring. The film is utterly predictable and runs for way too long – it is also unnecessarily violent and gory and none of this ads to the quality of the film.
Overall just stay away from it.
0 Stars
Review by Benjamin Maio Mackay
Screening courtesy of Palace Nova Cinemas