Review: In ‘Chappie,’ director Blomkamp tells a sci-fi coming-of-age tale

Posted on March 13, 2015

By MARK VIOLA

South African director Neill Blomkamp burst onto the scene in 2009 with his high-concept sci-fi film “District 9,” whose story about refugee aliens drew narrative parallels to Apartheid. The film would go on to earn four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay (the film was based on Blomkamp’s own short film).

In 2013, he followed up his success with “Elysium,” another sci-fi thriller, this time taking on the struggles of the poor and the opulence of the rich. Unfortunately, it was quite a mess, and its story, eschewing the moral grays of “District 9,” settled for stark blacks and whites with a message that was both preachy and naïve.

For his third film, Blomkamp gives us “Chappie,” once again set in Johannesburg, South Africa, and while it doesn’t quite reach the level of “District 9,” it is a thought-provoking science fiction story which simultaneously serves as a wonderful character study of an artificial intelligence learning to survive in a world that is often ugly and dirty. Although the film is not without its flaws, “Chappie” is well worth a visit, both for the spectacular special effects and its very (artifical) human tale.

Ultimately, “Chappie” is a compelling story about an artificial intelligence told in a way I haven’t seen before, comfortable to let its character become something–or more accurately, someone–we haven’t met before. It also proves that Blomkamp, despite his sophomore slump, remains one of the industry’s most intriguing science-fiction directors working today.

The film is rated R for violence, language and brief nudity.

(This is a shortened version of the full review available in our printed or e-edition papers.)

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