Chappie-Not Really a Short Circuit Remake At All

Neil Blomkamp fascinates me as a filmgoer and science fiction fan. In a day and age where we are inundated with remakes, sequels, adaptations and all kinds of manifestations of what a jaded film goer might call, “been there, done that”, Mr. Blomkamp is a filmmaker who made his mark with the 2009 film District 9, painting a unique, dark vision of the future in a tail of interstellar refugees layered upon entirely Earthbound and human social strife. Not only that, Blomkamp opened a more populist look at South Africa, which he has stayed with in his follow up films, both Elysium and Chappie. District 9 exploded onto the psyches of science fiction film fans, presenting a unique vision of a truly alien visitor knitted with unfeeling human bureaucracy and the heroism sometimes found at the end of one’s rope.


There is a problem when you are this good right out of the gate, however. It sure makes you an act that is tough to follow. Elysium, though I thoroughly enjoyed it, even more so, considering it was not a prequel, sequel, et al, was considered ham-fisted and thin its characterization and world building by some. So…Blomkamp then decided to remake Short Circuit.

Well, no, not really. Chappie is no more a remake of Short Circuit than it is a remake of Robocop, though it does have elements of both movies. That is, it posits humanity building robots to help protect itself from itself on the streets of the future, in this case, robot cops to help patrol the streets. Like Short Circuit, there is a set of events with one of them which results in it developing consciousness. Rather than destroy it, like some would seek to do, this machine is nurtured through both kindly humans and later happenstances and allowed to become a fully self-aware, self-actuating being.

On the surface, sure, Short Circuit-ish. But the actual details of Chappie’s journey take several departures from that of Johnny 5. Cute on the surface at times, in the unspooling of its narrative, it goes both darker and deeper, especially the way it ends; with Chappie contemplating his own destiny before him and the fact that he won’t be facing it alone.

Plus, there’s less Ally Sheedy and De Barge. Not to slight Ms. Sheedy, but I definitely don’t miss De Barge.

Take a chance on Chappie, a film that is not a sequel, prequel or remake.