Chappie (2015) - June 16, 2015

[schlock]

I can't be the only person who after seeing the billboards for this movie all over town, thinking it was a children's film? "Chappie" and a picture of a cute (?) robot just screams PG for kids. I know it said "from the director of District 9", but still, I was totally surprised when I read about it more and discovered it was a serious R-rated film. No rating shown on the billboards, either, and it says "Meet Chappie" like it's some kind of Mister Rogers sketch, some ads even showing him with children's alphabet blocks. Wonder how many parents are being dragged to theaters by their young 'uns only to discover the film is an R. So I assume this isn't a reboot of "Short Circuit".

[spectre08]

I want a Director's Cut that eliminates all of Sigourney Weaver's scene and all but the most essential Hugh Jackman scenes. This movie was brilliant, and they were absolutely awful.

[spectre08]

Originally Posted by schlock

I can't be the only person who after seeing the billboards for this movie all over town, thinking it was a children's film? "Chappie" and a picture of a cute (?) robot just screams PG for kids. I know it said "from the director of District 9", but still, I was totally surprised when I read about it more and discovered it was a serious R-rated film. No rating shown on the billboards, either, and it says "Meet Chappie" like it's some kind of Mister Rogers sketch, some ads even showing him with children's alphabet blocks. Wonder how many parents are being dragged to theaters by their young 'uns only to discover the film is an R. So I assume this isn't a reboot of "Short Circuit".

oh parents are gonna be piiiiiiiised. Little red state soccer mom's heads will be exploding all over the place

[Chaotic]

Originally Posted by spectre08

I want a Director's Cut that eliminates all of Sigourney Weaver's scene and all but the most essential Hugh Jackman scenes. This movie was brilliant, and they were absolutely awful.

Blomkamp can't direct big actors. Shame.

If he can't direct Weaver, who knows had bad his Alien movie will turn out.

[Jett Rink]

Originally Posted by spectre08

oh parents are gonna be piiiiiiiised. Little red state soccer mom's heads will be exploding all over the place

LOL, said the person from TX. Totally joking!

[spectre08]

Originally Posted by Chaotic

Blomkamp can't direct big actors. Shame.

If he can't direct Weaver, who knows had bad his Alien movie will turn out.

I don't think it's that he can't direct them, I think its that they were out of place. The movie is about being forced into a crime or die life, and finding creativity, individuality, and emotion under those conditions. It's about something that American audiences simply won't relate to and will let prejudice get in the way of appreciating.

Weaver and Wolverine were shoved in artificially in order to slap recognizable names on the poster and put xenophobic american butts in seats. Their celebrity was superfluous. It wasn't necessarily that their acting was bad, it wasn't, but their characters and their very presence was unnecessary and distracting.

I'm sure the studio made editing choices that played up their characters when it wasn't really necessary at all. I have a very hard time believing that Blomkamp would have wanted them in his movie of his own free will.

[spectre08]

Originally Posted by Jett Rink

LOL, said the person from TX. Totally joking!

I saw it at an Alamo Drafthouse, arthouse cinema known for being a haven for "others." The same theater does Rocky Horror sing-along showings and runs Ghostbusters in 35mm.

The showing I was at was heavily populated with stereotypical "hipsters," musicians, and nerds. The atmosphere was electric, the entire theater was laughing, gasping, and cheering together during the movie, and I didn't hear any ill words in the hallway or lobby afterwards.

I can imagine that the scene at the local shopping mall AMC was probably different.

[LegacyCosts]

Originally Posted by spectre08

I saw it at an Alamo Drafthouse, arthouse cinema known for being a haven for "others." The same theater does Rocky Horror sing-along showings and runs Ghostbusters in 35mm.

The showing I was at was heavily populated with stereotypical "hipsters," musicians, and nerds. The atmosphere was electric, the entire theater was laughing, gasping, and cheering together during the movie, and I didn't hear any ill words in the hallway or lobby afterwards.

I can imagine that the scene at the local shopping mall AMC was probably different.

I can definitely see this relating to hipsters and artistic type more vs the average super hero loving public.

[murphywmm]

Originally Posted by spectre08

I don't think it's that he can't direct them, I think its that they were out of place. The movie is about being forced into a crime or die life, and finding creativity, individuality, and emotion under those conditions. It's about something that American audiences simply won't relate to and will let prejudice get in the way of appreciating.

Weaver and Wolverine were shoved in artificially in order to slap recognizable names on the poster and put xenophobic american butts in seats. Their celebrity was superfluous. It wasn't necessarily that their acting was bad, it wasn't, but their characters and their very presence was unnecessary and distracting.

I'm sure the studio made editing choices that played up their characters when it wasn't really necessary at all. I have a very hard time believing that Blomkamp would have wanted them in his movie of his own free will.

I'm surprised the studios would think that considering "District 9" was a big hit without any recognizable name actors. It just had a really cool, creative, and intriguing ad campaign to bring the viewers in.

[RebelPrince1986]

Just got back from seeing this and loved it! The first 30-40 minutes could have used a TON of trimming, but from the scene where Chappie

[Show spoiler]was stealing cars

to the end, I really enjoyed it. I felt like the last 5 minutes or so was a little rushed, it would have been fun to see

[Show spoiler]Yolandi in robot form beyond just her eyes opening.

Regarding Sigourney Weaver and Hugh Jackman... I didn't mind Sigourney Weaver, I enjoy seeing her have a good time with a role, although her character wasn't really critical to the story, in the end she just

[Show spoiler]grabs her purse and runs off screen and that's all there is to it, no further follow-up

. Hugh Jackman was just awful. I agree with the poster above that many of his scenes could have – and should have – been cut without taking anything away from the film.

Overall, it was a lot of fun, looking forward to picking it up on Blu!

[Todd Fredericks]

I saw this earlier this week and thought it was terrible. The story, the acting, everything was cringe worthy. What a waste. I loved District 9 and was very disappointed. Yes, Hugh Jackman was waste in this picture. I was expecting him in the end to have a mustache and start twirling it with his finger. How utterly terrible this movie was.

[rip63]

Jackman's a good bloke and a great Wolverine, but he really isn't a trained screen actor. His origins are in musical theatre, which explains a lot. He's far from a heavyweight dramatic player.

[Sky_Captain]

[Jay Mammoth]

Originally Posted by rip63

Jackman's a good bloke and a great Wolverine, but he really isn't a trained screen actor. His origins are in musical theatre, which explains a lot. He's far from a heavyweight dramatic player.

I thought he was great in Prisoners.

[JimDiGriz]

Originally Posted by Jay Mammoth

I thought he was great in Prisoners.

Yep. And The Prestige too - easily my favourite film of his.

[mightymorfinmike]

This FILM was badass. I loved Chappie!

[rapier]

movie reminded me of short circuit alot

[Nuova]

Originally Posted by spectre08

I want a Director's Cut that eliminates all of Ninja's scenes. This movie was brilliant, and he was absolutely awful.

Fixed

[spectre08]

Originally Posted by Nuova

Fixed

[HulonPateJr]

I think both Hugh and Sigourney both wanted to be in his movie. Hugh made having a mullet and dressing like Steve Irwin look good! Seemed he was trying to channel actor Sharlto Copley.

I think the movie was really good. I hated the character NINJA. But not the actor just the character in the movie. I think being in South Africa again, was problematic. Because having more black African "Gangsters" might have seemed overly repetitive and possibly racist.Like all African who are black are criminals. So using white actors as the gangsters or bad people,i.e. criminal people was needed. IF to keep the attention of the movie viewers. Ninja & Yolandi are both native to South Africa. In some ways both Ninja & Yolandi want the viewer to believe they are real Gangsters. The same way every U.S. rapper wants you to buy into their hardcore street cred. When so many are from the burbs and not the inner city.

I thought it was a good sci-fi popcorn flick with a lot of heart felt emotions pack inside.