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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Theater review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' in Ashland Coffee with the editor Ashland footgolf event gives players a new way to get around the links Record attendance for Latino student gathering Robotics teams showcase their creations at ScienceWorks in Ashland on Saturday Education Record attendance for Latino student gathering Robotics teams showcase their creations at ScienceWorks in Ashland on Saturday Rogue Valley musicians shine in OLLI’s spring class schedule Work your body to save your braaaaains Ashland robotics team fares well at Oregon City Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Legislature might be divided on clean fuels bill, but these Ashlanders weren't Ashland Rowing Club members put their backs into Emigrant Lake clean-up The birdman of Bellview Business Silvio Calabi: 2015 Cherokee is a modern Jeep Ride & Drive: 2015 Hyundai Genesis Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda Civic sedan Silvio Calabi: Mercedes-Benz ML250 raises the diesel 4×4 stakes Ride & Drive: 2015 Chrysler 300 Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out today Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Federal investigation of Kitzhaber to focus on potential financial crimes Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Death Notices Jolie Ann Eleanor Johnson Henry Allen Hamlin Shiela Marie Death Notices Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society Sports Latest Stories Ashland footgolf event gives players a new way to get around the links Young shoots Ducks into Pac-12 title game Grizz alpine skiers finish strong at state Raider softball team opens league play with split at Northwest West's 32 powers No. 21 Southern Oregon into Elite Eight High school Grizz alpine skiers finish strong at state Ashland High's Honsinger tops field in final nordic ski meet Grizz snowboard team heads to state with repeat potential Grizzlies let second-half lead slip away in season-ending loss to CV Williams named first-team all-star Southern Oregon University Young shoots Ducks into Pac-12 title game Raider softball team opens league play with split at Northwest West's 32 powers No. 21 Southern Oregon into Elite Eight Cold-shooting Raiders fall to Tabor in second round Ducks get hot, fend off Buffaloes in Pac-12 quarters Voices Latest Stories Council Corner: City considers the sharing economy Our view: Keep it simple in developing marijuana rules Herb Rothschild Jr.: Demonizing Putin makes case for war Letters to the Editor, March 14 Matthew T. Mangino: Leniency or smart punishment strategy Editorial Our view: Keep it simple in developing marijuana rules Our View: Ashland is at risk as a bad fire season looms Our View: Ashland backs residents over visitors in lodging decision Our View: No need for blame in Hannah Thomas-Garner case Our view: Ashland tackles school attendance areas the right way Letters Letters to the Editor, March 14 Letters to the Editor, March 12 Letters to the Editor, March 11 Letters to the Editor, March 9 Letters to the Editor, March 7 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report Guest Opinion: Growth carries risks Columns Council Corner: City considers the sharing economy Herb Rothschild Jr.: Demonizing Putin makes case for war Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Jeffrey Gillespie: The opaqueness of Hillary Clinton Editor's Notes: Rooting for Eliza Schaaf in The Arc dance competition Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Movie listings: March 13-18 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' Community blog: Take a peek at poet Scott Wozniak Community blog: Memorize poems with your whole body Theater Theater review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' in Ashland Ticket availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket availability Music The Farr Side: Madonna — ever the trendsetter Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Alice DiMicele plays Unitarian Fellowship The Farr Side: Another career highlight for Kelly Clarkson Music on the Mountain: Ski area launching concert series Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Wrecking Crew’ is a look at the people who really put the bomp Movie review: ‘Cinderella’ is an instant classic Shailene Woodley returns as Tris in ‘Insurgent’ Movie listings: March 13-18 'Chappie' fails to make you care Food and Drink Sammich does it Chicago-style Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Silvio Calabi: 2015 Cherokee is a modern Jeep Inner Peace: A man is influenced by the company he keeps Community Blog: Grievances or Peace: That is the question Ride & Drive: 2015 Hyundai Genesis Life Lessons and Loves: The year of the stamps — and their many values Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Council Corner: City considers the sharing economy ... Ticket availability ... Coffee with the editor ... Council Corner: City considers the sharing economy ... Ticket availability ... Coffee with the editor ... MOVIE REVIEW 'Chappie' fails to make you care Comment By Chris Honoré for Revels DailyTidings.com By Chris Honoré for Revels Posted Mar. 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Chris Honoré for Revels Posted Mar. 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Chappie; 114 min; Rated R Let’s assume that a film such as “Chappie” will have a very narrow fan base. But let’s also assume that there are moviegoers who are attracted to the idea (if not this specific movie) that explores the intersection of man and machines. The holy grail of these often dystopian, sci-fi stories is artificial intelligence (A.I.), meaning a robot that’s created not only to compute, but is self-conscious to include judgment and creative thought. Filmmakers such as Ridley Scott, in the iconic “Blade Runner , ”explored the creation of androids, called Replicants, that were so real as to be all but indistinguishable from their creators. It posed an interesting problem for humans and replicants alike. Of course, robots in films can be traced back to Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis”and not to forget Gort in “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” Recall as well the creepy, murderous Hal 9000 in “2001: A Space Odyssey,” or the juggernaut of androids in “I, Robot.” And who can forget “Wall-E,” starring one sweet little bot. And there’s the familiar trope, the star voyage, that always has at least one replicant of sorts on board (“Alien” and “Prometheus”). With regard to the film “Chappie”: Chappie is a bot (think Robocop), designed (absent A.I.) to backup and protect the Johannesburg Police Department. South Africa has descended into anarchy, and the police need all help possible. Hence a small army of droids has been created, one of which will soon be called Chappie (using motion-capture technology and played by Sharlto Copley). How Chappie goes from a programed bot to a thinking entity begins with the work of Deon Wilson (Dev Patel), a geeky genius working for a weapons manufacturer. His dream is to create a chip that will transform an android into something far closer to a human. Of course, the company he works for is not interested in bots that appreciate poetry — just gun-toting, programmable street cops that can take and return fire. The film is decidedly illogical and at times seems a bit unhinged. For example, Chappie (before he’s Chappie) is kidnapped by three street thugs (who actually become sympathetic characters). Their plan is to use him for their next big heist. Devon wants to rescue him and install his secret A.I. chip. Which he does, in a way. Strangely, Chappie suffers from arrested development. He’s more a tween-teen gone rogue. There is nothing about the film that is cool-original; rather, it’s chaotic with more detours than a construction site. Chappie, with his rabbit ears and vacuum cleaner face, is interesting, but also a tad boring, which begs the question whether androids make more of a connection with the audience if they resemble the audience (OK, Wall-E was perfect for kids) in looks and expressions and voice. Chappie is not even close. It’s hard to care about Chappie, and that weakness is deadly for a bot-centric film of this type. Truth be told, writer/director Neil Blomkamp (“District 9” and “Elysian” ) seems to be losing his mojo regarding coherency, though definitely not his obsession with merging man and machine. The best thing about “Chappie” as a story is the trailer.  By Chris Honoré for Revels DailyTidings.com By Chris Honoré for Revels Posted Mar. 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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