Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Chappie: New Trailer - Cogito Ergo Sum


Director of "District 9" and "Elysium," Neill Blomkamp, has a new trailer out for his latest film "Chappie." 



Chappie is the artificial being created by Deon Wilson, played by Dev Patel ("Slumdog Millionaire," "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel") is like a child becoming aware gradually. CNN's Anderson Cooper introduces the world to these robots meant to act in conjunction with police forces. As stated in the above trailer, they will go into force in 2016. 

Vincent Moore played by Hugh Jackman ("Wolverine," "Prisoners" is a former soldier who is on a crusade against artificial machines taking over the duties of police and soldiers claiming that "they are way too unpredictable."  While professor Wilson is intrigued by a machine that can actually think and feel, Moore is concerned about world domination by sentient machine overlords.

This trailer shows a different side of Blomkamp's new film. The title cards declare that Vincent Moore is "a man corrupted by power," and that Wilson is "a man inspired by change." While the story seems to have Sigourney Weaver playing in her usual role of the woman out to save mankind ("Paul," "The Cabin In the Woods," "Avatar," "Alien," "Aliens," etc.) She tells Moore that, "a thinking Robot could be the end of mankind." She also goes on to command Moore to "destroy that robot," and "burn it to ashes."  

It seems like Patel's Wilson character has gone ahead and done the unthinkable. and gave one of the police scouts the ability to think. Thus creating the conundrum, of creating what could be taken for a sentient being on the same level of humans. 
Cogito ergo sum

I Think Therefore, I am. 
The questions unfold about artificial intelligence as the technology to create something akin to what we call consciousness looms on the horizon. Chappie declares, "I am alive. I am Chappie." as Chris Clark's haunting, but triumphant melody plays in the background. The real question that Blomkamp is asking, of course, "Is it a child, or the next step in evolution."

Sharlto Copley, the star of "District Nine," and co-star of "Elysium," in a motion capture suit plays Chappie the robot. Also along from the Blomkamp retinue of talent is Trent Opaloch as director of photography. Opaloch's credits include "District, "9" and  "Elysium," for Blomkamp and  "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" for directors Anthony and Joe Russo. 


Look for "Chappie" hits theaters March 6, 2013


Related

Movie Data

Genre:  Sci-Fi, Thriller
Year:  2015
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Yo-Landi Visser
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Producer(s): Simon Kinberg
Writer: Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell
Rating: R
Running Time: Unkown
Release Date: 3/8/2015