Chappie is a funny, entertaining, and surprisingly
sentimental movie about a sentient robot being raised by gangsters in
Johannesburg. Most of the criticisms I've seen about one- dimensional
characters and illogical character choices are valid, but Chappie's character,
the CGI, the humor, and the overall aesthetic of the movie more than make up
for these shortcomings.
Author describes herself as relentlessly positive, and says she’s
optimistic that sentient robots will be friendly toward humanity, but she also
feels that darker themes often make for a more dramatic story. The darker side
of Chappie was influenced by one of her favorite films, The Iron Giant, in
which a friendly, childlike robot is hunted by a fearful military.
