Chappie Blu-ray 4K Review
Chappie 2016
Sony Pictures 2016
R | 2hrs | Action | Crime | Drama
HD | 1080P | DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
4K | 2160P | HDR10 | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
2.40:1 Aspect Ratio
Staring: Dev Patel | Hugh Jackman | Sharlto Copley | Sigourney Weaver
Directed by: Neill BlomKamp
Ratings & Reviews
Please see here for my comments on reviewing movies.
My ratings are simple being marked out of a maximum of 5+. My reviews are biased towards the technical production aspects of the film with brief comments about the story line. Extras, sorry, that’s just not my ‘bag’.
Not having Immersive audio yet, what did the 4K version look like? Very good, and the 7.1 sound track? Engaging with some respectable bottom end.
Entertainment: 4+
Video: 5-
Audio: 5-
Technical Review – 4K UHD
Chappie was shot by Trent Opaloch primarily in Red Raw format native 4K resolution, using Red Epic cameras. Post production and visual effects were done in 4K and the film was released theatrically as a 4K Digital Intermediate. Sony’s UHD presentation was produced directly from this 4K DI, with HDR color timing done in the 4K space.
The resulting 4K image is well refined as is seen in the skin textures, fabrics, circuit boards, piles of trash, wear patterns and old graffiti painted on walls, all with just a touch of grain texture. The CGI integration is superb providing an image that is seamlessly woven together. The wear, dings, scratches and decals etc. all serving to make Chappie’s blue mechanical body look real. Colors from the digital and real world are well saturated from the yellow painted assault rifles, orange-gold Ninja sunglasses, pale neon artwork to the bold colors of the South African flag. Real-world details are also excellenet from the precise textures of the various terrains and locals to the excellent skin textures, huge range of tattos, wild hair cuts, run-down warehouses and clean office apartments. Black levels are good throughout and there are no compression artifacts. Overall the picture quality is excellent, but not quite reference.
Chappie 4K offers a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 track that defaults to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 in my system. The mix is sonically quite impressive and fairly aggressive. Supporting good all-round imaging and immersion, excellent atmospheric cues, a broad front soundstage, and satisfying bass that can be very extended. Bullets zip and ping of various surfaces with whirring helicopter blades and sirens making themselves felt. The Hans Zimmer’s score and Die Antwoord’s occasional rap-rave music are well presented in the mix, with dialogue crisp and clear across the front channels. Again, not quite reference, but an excellent mix.
Story Overview
The future of policing has arrived in Johannesburg with the deployment of a robotic police force designed by Deon Wilson (Dev Patel) of Tetraval Company, virtually eliminating all criminal activity. Having just developed new artificial intelligence (AI) software Deon is denied the use of his robots to try it out. So stealing a damaged unit, Robot 22, Deon, on the way home, is kidnapped by gangsters who need to stop the robotic police force and pay a debt. In order to revive Robot 22 to help the gangsters, Deon installs his new AI software and so starts the birth of Chappie. The first robot that can think, feel and make his own decisions. As Chappie learns and grows with his new owners he is presented with all the same dilemmas as a human child. Meanwhile, within the same company, Vincent Moore (Hugh Jackman) has developed a more aggressive peace keeper that neither the companies CEO, Michelle Bradley (Sigourney Weaver), nor the local police want to deploy, stirring animosity and jealousy of Deon. So plotting his revenge against Deon’s robotic force, Vincent waits for the right moment to pounce.
There is an interesting twist to the movies ending!
What I did find strange was Sony’s attempt to try a different approach to the main menu. The front screen presents you with just two options “Play” and “Languages”. Pressing the right arrow then takes you to different feature pages. The whole access and selection process just seemed a little time consuming and awkward. Nice try Sony!
There is lots of bad language in this movie but it is not gratuitous. Initially I was not too sure that the film was for me. However, as it moved on and Chappie developed his character I eventually got into the swing of things and ended up quite enjoying the movie. It will definitely take a few viewings to finally decide what I think about the movie as a whole. Definitely not too sure about the AI sentient being approach having a consciousness and sole.
