Review of Chappie (2015) by Hipsterdonuts — 10 Mar 2015

Niell Blomkamp has outdone himself in Chappie. I couldn't disagree more with the people calling the movie, "A washed up version of district 9" or a failed remake of some other popular science fiction movie. The grit infused into the movie is almost tangible as Blomkamp finally delivers a believable dystopian South Africa. Hugh Jackman's performance is stellar. His role as a paranoid ex-military man was flawless. Niell shows a future South African drug gang society that is as much captivating as it is frightening while somehow dispelling needless violence. Even with an R rating for language and violence, none of it is misplaced. Character development was done well also, giving not just "enough of" an arc for every main character but instead completing their story in a fulfilling way. My only complaint has to do with the "gangster" sideways shooting method that Watkin Jones teaches Chappie in one scene. However I do not want to oversell the movie either. There's a few reasons I didn't give it a ten or even a nine.

But go see for yourself. You wont be sorry you did.