Movie Review: Chappie (+trailer)

On the face of it, Chappie seemed to be a robot programmed with a heart and soul.

But this robot and this movie are not warm and fuzzy, there is a hard edge about both as we are taken to a scary place in the future.

Deon Wilson (the very talented Dev Patel) is a genius robotics engineer who has created a futuristic police force that has helped take back South African streets from the criminals.

The armed robots are programmed and controlled to rid the streets of the bad guys.

Wilson's company are more than happy with the product he has created.

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But he wants more -- he wants to create a robot with heart and soul who can think for itself.

Wilson's plan to reprogramme a disabled robot with his new technology is upset when gangsters steal the robot.

They figure a robot trained/programmed to commit crimes is the best way to thwart the robotic police force.

So an unlikely connection is formed between Wilson and the gang members who slowly train Chappie into what it means to be human.

Complicating matters further is Wilson's colleague, Vincent Moore (Hugh Jackman) who has his own robotic invention. His project has been stalled due to the overwhelming success of the robotic police.

When he manages to sabotage the robots, all hell breaks loose in the city.

Chappie is being hunted down and Wilson must do everything possible to protect him.

This movie is a fascinating mix of technology, intelligence and very base-level criminal gangs.

But don't think there is anything cute and cuddly in what goes on, there is heavy duty violence and death and the fight to survive becomes a somewhat brutal one.

It is hard to compare Chappie to anything previously released - it is a unique offering.

Chappie
(R13), 120 minutes
Rating: 3/5 stars