Chappie (2015)

Jack and I really liked this clever science fiction action picture about a robot with artificial intelligence in a dystopian future Johannesburg, sort of Robo-Cop meets E.T., with ambiguity in who is good and who is bad. Sharlto Copley (last blogged in Elysium) was tracked for motion capture as the title role (he talks a little about it here–sorry about the commercial) and, hearing his voice in that interview, it's clear to me that Copley is also the voice of Chappie. Dev Patel (this couldn't be more different from his concurrent release, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel; it has more in common with his role on The Newsroom) is the scientist Deon, or "Maker," who invents the A.I., and he's good as he wheels between being creative, paternal, rebellious, and more. Hugh Jackman's (most recently in X-Men: Days of Future Passed) Vincent takes a somewhat surprising turn and Sigourney Weaver's (before mentioning her cameo in Cedar Rapids I profiled her in Avatar) Michelle does not. Ask me for my favorite line of hers.

The South African music duo going by the names Yo-Landi Visser (also spelled ¥o-Landi Vi$$er) and Ninja use those names for their characters who adopt and name Chappie. They require a lot of grooming for their distinctive looks (check out the photos and read this profile from W Magazine).

Director/co-writer Neill Blomkamp (last project was Elysium) worked with co-writer Terri Tatchell on the excellent and thematically related District 9.

The soundtrack is great, with a lot of loud songs (stream here) and a wonderful score (can be streamed here, but there are a number of silent intervals) by Hans Zimmer (most recently blogged for Interstellar), as to be expected from the master.

Speaking of loud songs and other sensory overload, sufferers of MPMS (motion-picture-motion-sickness) should take measures when watching this (sit in the back row, look away occasionally, take meds, watch it at home if you must) because it will make you sick. Here's my ongoing list of movies with wildly swinging camera work.

I can't even guess what the rotten critics at Rotten Tomatoes were expecting when they gave it an average of 30% (audiences are at 64) but, fifth at the box office last weekend, its second weekend, says about this picture what we thought: it's great!