"Chappie" is an incredibly heartbreaking robot
Perhaps, one of the most difficult feats to achieve in cinema is to make a robot act. And when I say act, it means conveying a wealth of emotions like human actors do. As early as Fritz Lang's groundbreaking and influential sci-fi classic "Metropolis", we have already seen a robot acting onscreen in the form of Maria. And just recently, Gabe Ibañez's underrated "Automata" featured a number of robots baring out their "souls" to the viewers. Now comes "Chappie" (2015, USA), the newest sci-fi film from "District 9" director Neill Blomkamp. Here, the title character (voiced by Blomkamp regular Sharlto Copley) is a life-size android that's programmed to act, think and speak like a human. The film is set in a dystopian future where the enforcement of law and order is practically done by a robotic police force (managed by a company known as Tetravaal), which is much more vigorous and agile than their human counterparts (who now serve as mere back-ups). Chappie is the latest project of a young and brilliant computer engineer, Deon Wilson (played by "Slumdog Millionaire"'s Dev Patel), who was the brains behind the robotic police force. Through some method of "transference", the android can have the "consciousness" of a human. It is to be reared like any other humans, starting from "childhood" until it acquires "maturity".
Chappie's scenario really echoes that of Pinocchio, the wooden boy-puppet from the well-known children's fairy-tale. Once left on his own among sly adults (in this case, a trio of struggling thugs - Ninja, Yolandi and Yankie), Chappie undergoes a baptism of fire as he becomes a part of their criminal activities, with him doing the dirty job for the most part. Under the "care" of the thugs, the child-like android is made to behave and gear up like them. This is something which naturally alarms his "creator", Deon, who wants to mold Chappie into a good being. This lends the film its profundity and emotional resonance. With all the forces around him seemingly working to contribute to his downfall, is Chappie the kind that could engage viewers' sympathy? Can a robotic figure make itself as something to root for? As suggested above, can it "act out" the dilemma that it's in? Well, yes.
Chappie is an incredibly winsome and heartbreaking being. For all of his "android-ness", he's able to genuinely evoke worry, fear and sympathy as he becomes thrust into the jungle-like world of humans. In the same way that we feel truly jubilant for him whenever he experiences those select moments of triumph and camaraderie. This wouldn't be possible without a deftly-written screenplay (by Blomkamp and wife Terri Tatchell). Chappie is written in such a way that whenever he thinks and acts, it's almost like we're really encountering a live person. Add to this is the voice lent by Copley, which provides a child-like innocence and wonder to the robot's whole personality, something akin to the children in Steven Spielberg's films (for example, the boy in "A.I." who, by the way, is also a robot). At this early, just when the Oscars has recently concluded, "Chappie" has already showcased a memorable performance - from a robot.
Which brings me to the philosophical underpinnings of the film. Can humans really play God? How far can human intelligence really go? By any means, we live virtually in an era wherein we can create something that can approximate our likeness. But perhaps, it would be an altogether different matter if such a "creation" of ours can "exceed" our capabilities, to the point of overpowering us. Moreover, if the transference of human consciousness into a machine has become more than probable, it can also entail the likelihood of immortality. That is to say, our physical body may still die, but our "stored" consciousness can very well be transplanted into a once-lifeless android. Altogether, we can create both a heroic and a destructive human-like machine (the latter as exemplified by the gigantic robot created by Hugh Jackman, in a refreshingly cast-against-type role of an envious computer engineer who is hell-bent in having his devious project realized). Such existential considerations make "Chappie" an intelligent and profound sci-fi parable. Its being entertaining as well simply serves as an added bonus. What "Metropolis" may have contributed to the philosophy of the human race during the 20s, "2001: A Space Odyssey" during the 60s and "Blade Runner" during the 80s, "Chappie" is close to achieving for this day and age.
"Chappie" may not have mined to the fullest the deep existential implications of the questions that it posed. Nevertheless, it provided the foundation for a potent springboard from which we can further undertake explorations of that nature.
Chappie's scenario really echoes that of Pinocchio, the wooden boy-puppet from the well-known children's fairy-tale. Once left on his own among sly adults (in this case, a trio of struggling thugs - Ninja, Yolandi and Yankie), Chappie undergoes a baptism of fire as he becomes a part of their criminal activities, with him doing the dirty job for the most part. Under the "care" of the thugs, the child-like android is made to behave and gear up like them. This is something which naturally alarms his "creator", Deon, who wants to mold Chappie into a good being. This lends the film its profundity and emotional resonance. With all the forces around him seemingly working to contribute to his downfall, is Chappie the kind that could engage viewers' sympathy? Can a robotic figure make itself as something to root for? As suggested above, can it "act out" the dilemma that it's in? Well, yes.
Chappie is an incredibly winsome and heartbreaking being. For all of his "android-ness", he's able to genuinely evoke worry, fear and sympathy as he becomes thrust into the jungle-like world of humans. In the same way that we feel truly jubilant for him whenever he experiences those select moments of triumph and camaraderie. This wouldn't be possible without a deftly-written screenplay (by Blomkamp and wife Terri Tatchell). Chappie is written in such a way that whenever he thinks and acts, it's almost like we're really encountering a live person. Add to this is the voice lent by Copley, which provides a child-like innocence and wonder to the robot's whole personality, something akin to the children in Steven Spielberg's films (for example, the boy in "A.I." who, by the way, is also a robot). At this early, just when the Oscars has recently concluded, "Chappie" has already showcased a memorable performance - from a robot.
Which brings me to the philosophical underpinnings of the film. Can humans really play God? How far can human intelligence really go? By any means, we live virtually in an era wherein we can create something that can approximate our likeness. But perhaps, it would be an altogether different matter if such a "creation" of ours can "exceed" our capabilities, to the point of overpowering us. Moreover, if the transference of human consciousness into a machine has become more than probable, it can also entail the likelihood of immortality. That is to say, our physical body may still die, but our "stored" consciousness can very well be transplanted into a once-lifeless android. Altogether, we can create both a heroic and a destructive human-like machine (the latter as exemplified by the gigantic robot created by Hugh Jackman, in a refreshingly cast-against-type role of an envious computer engineer who is hell-bent in having his devious project realized). Such existential considerations make "Chappie" an intelligent and profound sci-fi parable. Its being entertaining as well simply serves as an added bonus. What "Metropolis" may have contributed to the philosophy of the human race during the 20s, "2001: A Space Odyssey" during the 60s and "Blade Runner" during the 80s, "Chappie" is close to achieving for this day and age.
"Chappie" may not have mined to the fullest the deep existential implications of the questions that it posed. Nevertheless, it provided the foundation for a potent springboard from which we can further undertake explorations of that nature.
- Film verdict: Very Good
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| An android with a wealth of emotions in Neill Blomkamp's "Chappie". |
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