 March 8, 2015 - 4:07pm | If you thought from the previews of this movie that it was possibly a re-imagining of Short Circut 1886 "Number 5 is alive!" you'd be correct, mostly. Its a darker movie set in a near future dystopian Johannesberg, South Africa; where 300 murders/ day necessitated the use of robotic police "scouts". Human officers are still used but the scouts take point in tactical situations and are the "Nodwick" to go through the door first. There are similarities to Short Circut: the robots are both military grade combat assets that come to full conscousness and it becomes necessary for the outside world to think that these self aware robots are destroyed by the end of the movie but the similarities end there. Chappie is a much more complicated and surprising movie. I could characterize it as a cross between Short Circut and another famous classic of sci fi but that would give too much away (spoil) to name that movie. Chappie surpassed Short Circut in that the portrayl of the self aware robot with no stupid comments like "Nice software!" upon seeing a womans breast (no nudity in chappie). Chappie starts out as a innocent child but fairly quickly learns that people lie and the world can be a dark place and yet Chappie is still funny because of the interaction between the bot and the criminal elements who are trying to manipulate him. With Sigorney Weaver as the mega corp CEO and Hugh Jackman as the real bad guy in supporting roles I rather like this movie. Mega corp bent on making money, robots, lots of guns and set in a future not too distant from the present and it cpatured the feel of Star Frontiers for me. I'm purposefully not discussing one climaxful element of the story. I think its interesting that the single most important thing that Chappie does in the movie is done by him and not a human that it would be a self aware robot that would accomplish this and not a human is very interesting and a new twist on this sci fi staple. Jedion give a thumbs up. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 March 22, 2015 - 10:01pm | I will have to see this "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
March 23, 2015 - 2:41am | My saturdays are typically 10-14 hours but if I get cut loose early I like to pick up a handful of nips (usually a sipping whisky) and head over to a local theater which installed the lazy-boy power recliners and take in a matinee. The concessions stand will give a cup of ice if asked and I blow off 90 minutes in a comfortable recliner with my feet up, boots off, and an adult breverage in hand. Unfortunately, for me, when the new Mad Max movie comes out it will be busy at work and there is little chance of me being cut loose early.  I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
March 23, 2015 - 4:33am | Oh bummer, mostly I do not get to do the cinemia much, it's too damn expensive... red box or wait for it to be on DVD cheap enough is what usually happens, on the otherhand Tch TV has a wide selection of programing.  "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
 March 25, 2015 - 9:52am | Get to the theater about once a month, but the movies I get to see are of the Cinderella, Into the Woods, Box Trolls and Big Hero Six variety. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
 March 25, 2015 - 11:34pm | Chappie is kind of a story about child abuse, and surviving it. ----------------------------------------------- |
August 2, 2015 - 8:33am | Picked up the blue ray and there is a ton of extra material on there as well as an art gallery showing dozns of robot concepts that the tried. The art gallery is impressive.
I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
