【電影簡介】

影片的故事背景設(shè)在未來的2016年，米歇爾·布萊德利（西格妮·韋弗飾）的大型軍火公司，制造出了全球第一批機(jī)器人警察，并派遣它們執(zhí)行任務(wù)。程序員迪恩（戴夫·帕特爾飾）是機(jī)器人警察的制造者之一。但他在工作之余，還有自己執(zhí)著追尋的夢想：人類進(jìn)化的下一步，“能思考，有感覺”的機(jī)器。

迪恩向米歇爾·布萊德利尋求支持未果，轉(zhuǎn)而利用公司的設(shè)備自行開始制造和實(shí)驗(yàn)，并成功地將擁有人工智能的機(jī)器人“查派”帶到了這個世界。查派性格天真可愛，像個孩子一樣不斷學(xué)習(xí)，然而能夠語言，能夠思想，能夠作畫的機(jī)器人，引發(fā)了米歇爾·布萊德利，以及文森特（休·杰克曼飾）的恐慌，文森特駕駛機(jī)器戰(zhàn)士找到迪恩，意欲除掉機(jī)器人查派，人類與機(jī)器之間的大戰(zhàn)再度爆發(fā)。

【音頻文本】

What distinguishes South African-Canadian filmmaker Neil Blomkamp from others is the audacity to challenge the traditional concept of human existence.

In his first film "District 9," co-written by Neil and his wife Terri Tatchell, the lead character was infected by a fluid which gradually turned his physical form into that of an alien. The sight of a human body morphing and developing the feature of an insect-like creature was not appealing to average viewers’ stomachs. His 2013 science fiction movie "Elysium" was a big-budget blockbuster. For better box office results the director had to tune down on his peculiar interest, although he still introduced the idea of an exoskeleton surgically attached to the body of the lead character. The story was written single-handedly by Neil Blomkamp.

The latest science fiction film "Chappie" was once again the brain child of the Blomkamp couple. With a budget slightly bigger than "District 9," the new piece allows the director to continue the agenda of producing disturbingly fantastic imagery.

"Chappie" has something in common with the sci-fi blockbuster "Avengers: Age of Ultron." Both were released in China in the same month and both featured a sentient robot. While Ultron's newly acquired thinking capacity was led astray by bloody events in human history, Chappie encounters evils of a more tangible and more immediate kind. Right after the inception of his mind, Chappie is held in captivity by a gang who teach him gang swagger and four-letter words. He is also given the valuable lesson of being lied to and learns about the fact that he, like other living things on the planet, must die one day.

Instead of fixating on the topic of artificial intelligence and engaging in a philosophical discussion about nature and nurture, I would prefer to highlight the director's apparent loathing of the human form, his fear of death and his eagerness to amend nature's very first largess to mankind. In each of his feature film, his lead character takes on an alternative physical form. "Now, you will live forever, Maker," thus speaks Chappie to his creator Deon, after he transfers the latter's mind to a robot's.

In most science fiction stories it is common to find the glorification of a certain type of human virtue, be it courage, intelligence or compassion. Such films are intrinsically narcissistic. In comparison, Neil Blomkamp's critical spirit comes as a fresh, though not quite pleasant, complement.

Of Neil Blomkamp's three recent products, "District 9" won the director critical acclaim and world recognition, "Elysium" failed to offer refreshed excitement despite a bigger budget, and even "Chappie" packed a weak punch due to implausible twists in an unconvincing story. But still I will continue to check out on Neil's future films, for all the unconventional whims they might or might not provide.

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