CONTAINS SPOILERS: Blomkamp seems really hellbent on letting the world know that Johannesburg, South Africa, is one of the worst places to live. Not only was it mentioned as a bad place in District 9, here he goes so far as to say that not even the police can handle being there and they need robots to fight crime for them. When watching it you first get a sense of it being like Short Circuit, a robot gaining self-awareness and this is his journey. Nope. More than halfway through you get another sense of this being about self-preservation, "what is a robot to do when faced with its own mortality?" Nope. And then by the third act its an action movie and you're so damn tired of Die Antwoord's horrible acting you may just cheer when they finally bite the dust. The ending is the ultimate letdown when you realize that its recycled from District 9.
Chappie doesn't grow as a character because he's not allowed to grow, Blomkamp as the writer didn't want him to grow, his potentials for learning and comprehension are only mentioned in passing. He's not allowed to think for himself even after gaining access to the internet, which could open up several thousand new cans of worms. He learns, for sure, but its about how to be angry. Any attempt on playing on the emotions of the audience are interrupted when Ninja opens his mouth (you may need to watch this one with subtitles just to understand him) and spouts about how he wants a murdering robot. Whereas Ex Machina was about a robot wanting to be human, Chappie is only given the opportunity to ask about his existence only to have it shrugged off. He's just a robot and the film does everything in its power to remind you that that is all he will ever be.
The action sequences are one of the few cinematic saving graces with great direction, clear visuals, and nice CGI. The designs of Chappie and the Moose are decent but awfully barebones in detail. There's not much science in describing how they work. Most of the movie seems to take place in Die Antwoord's hideout and almost feels like the office scene was rented for three days so they had to shoot quickly. That's enough of that, back to the abandoned factory!
During the last action sequence, when the gang's third wheel gunman meets his demise at the hands of the Moose, you don't feel for his character AT ALL. At one point he mentions "I can go back home now!" He means to Mexico. Does he have a wife and kids? Did he get mixed up in all this and get deported? Oh I'm sorry now he's a splatter on the wall. Thanks for watching. Die Antwoord's reason for being criminals, "because we're bad guys, and bad guys are criminals, and criminals steal stuff." A background motive would have been greatly appreciated. What's even worse than Die Antwoord being criminals is that they owe money to someone else who is an even worse character. "I want everything" is his motive and you feel no justice when he meets the business end of a shovel. Yes, a shovel. A nice analogy that even though this movie is about high concept technology its very savage and simple in its execution.
Like an unknown boy band playing a state fair in the late 90s, Chappie has the potential to make you take notice of what its doing but its ultimately ignored in favor of others that have gone before and have done so much better. Chappie is Crappie.

Before I go one to what is essentially a child's rant there is something I have to say first. I get you Neil Blomkamp, I really do. You're a white guy who grew up in Johannesburg and you feel really bad about it; I got that quite clearly from "District 9". So you can move on now. For all that is holy please move the fuck on, because so help me God. If Alien 5 is nothing more than some stupid shit about Xenomorph apartheid I'm going to find where you live and burn your fucking house down - or you know, just go into the fetal position and cry.

Alright then, on to that childish rant. One of the main problems I have with Chappie can be summed up into two words, "Die Antwoord". I mean I don't mind their music but for fuck sakes how much creative control did you give them? Because It feels like a whole damn lot. Their fucking plastered all over this movie. They not only play bigger roles then they should their music - like 2-3 songs repeated - makes up most of the damn soundtrack; Hans Zimmer gets the music credit and that feels like a damn lie. Not only that there are literal scenes where Ninja - also their character names are the same as the ones they use in the band - wears fucking band shirts that say Die Antwoord on the back and have his - or Yolandi - face on the front. Do you have any, ANY, idea how fucking stupid this is? Any at all Blomkamp? This is a fictional depiction of Johannesburg where you have something factual exist where it cannot possibly exist because you didn't establish that Die Antwoord is a thing in this reality you've created - or maybe Ninja & Yolandi are making music as they're slumming it up as criminals, I really don't fucking know. This is like Armageddon x100 - you know, when Ben Afflect & Liv Tyler make out while Steve Tyler - in the background - is singing I Don't Want to Miss a Thing as - I like to imagine - he watches his daughter make out. How you do not see this as a problem boggles my mind to no end. But they're South African so you're okay with it - I mean that's the only logical reasoning I can come up with as to why you'd allow such a thing. And to top off this shit cake, they cant act for shit; no surprise at all.

None of this helps the fact that Chappie just doesn't work well in the slightest. It's like Elysium all over again but much worse. Chappie is a film that has plenty of potential pissed in the wind. It has a wonderful concept that Blomkamp falls flat on his face trying to execute. Which is a shame because he gets one hell of a good performance from Sharlto Copley. He's fantastic as Chappie, it's a shame that for co-stars he has fucking Die Antwoord; seriously I'd rather have Danny Trejo & Peter Stormare as his co-stars, at least they can act. And outside of Copley most of the competent cast are regulated to bland roles. Hugh Jackman is thrown in to the "antagonist" role & and isn't given much at all to do with it other then being a complete twat. Sigourney Weaver is non-existent - I guess its better then making her a complete fool like Blomkamp did with Jodie Foster in Elysium. But the thing that pisses me off the most is the end; and not because it's entierly bad. Really, I'd say it's the most inventive part of the entire film; so much so that it would make for a great concept - if it hasn't already - for an entirely whole different film. And how does Blomkamp use it? Well he spends about 5-10min on it, using it as a cheep get out - regulated to nothing more then a stupid plot device.

After Chappie I feel it is safe for me to say that I'm done with Blomkamp's shit. Alien 5 is going to have to achieve a whole lot, because my patience has worn thin with this man. But to give credit where credit is do, Chappie isn't graffiti hell like Blomkamp's others have been. Glad to see he's working on what is most important. (3/10)

Chappie has to be Neill bBomkamp's best movie to date. It plays on all emotions... I have not cared more for a robot since Johnny-5 (or Wall-E perhaps)