MovieChat Forums > Chappie (2015) Discussion > The rap group people... they were good!

The rap group people... they were good!

posted 10 years ago by tyrexden
20 replies | jump to latest

All this behind the scenes gossip where they were supposedly causing drama on set... i can't speak to that, but i think both of them did a really fine job... i was convinced by both of their characters, and enjoyed when they were on screen. The director said he used them because they are interesting, and i agree. From what i saw, they took their performances seriously. Frankly, they were more believable than Dev Patel in that their motivations were clearly apparent.

They even said that they would've featured Ninja even more had he not been so troublesome, which i sorta doubt considering he was already in nearly every scene.

[–] opaz 10 years ago

Publicity stunt. They are just actors.

[–] shanayneigh 9 years ago

They were absolutely horrible actors.

[–] chunkiefroth 9 years ago

"absolutely horrible"

Have you even seen a Jai Courtney film before? Ninja is De Niro compared to that bum. Die Antwoord was perfect in this wacky B movie. That last statement cannot be made for:

Paris Hilton in House of Wax.
Vin Diesel in Babylon AD
That guy from John Carter in John Carter
Vince Vaughn in The Lost World
Casper Van Dien in CASPER VAN DIEN'S ENTIRE CAREER

Yes, there were some awkward Ninja and Yolandi moments. I'm not arguing that. Even the weakest moments were more enthusiastic than anything in the brief list above. In all seriousness, Ninja and Yolandi had some amazing moments, a lot of good moments, and enough "serviceable" moments to more than redeem the awkward bits.

[–] shanayneigh 9 years ago

That other actors suck too is hardly an excuse for these hipster clowns.

[–] chunkiefroth 9 years ago

Hello, tyrexden.

I thought they were fun. Ninja came off as a total single track minded lunatic for most of the film, and that still remained largely comical. His character alone could have easily been too sick to enjoy, but the film kept it entertaining. He had a few serious moments, and some of those were pretty dark, but he delivered there too. I'm not saying I'd cast Ninja in the lead for Top Gun. I'm just saying that almost any actor, including Tom Cruise, would have sucked. The same goes for Yolandi. Cruise Tom couldn't walk a mile in her cute little booty shorts.

. . .behind the scenes gossip where they were supposedly causing drama on set. . .They even said that they would've featured Ninja even more had he not been so troublesome, which i sorta doubt considering he was already in nearly every scene. . .

Some of the studio union "professionals" had a problem with him. . .not Blomkamp. I have seen a recent interview with Ninja in which he practically worships Blomkamp for 15+ minutes. He has "D9" tattooed on the backside of his bottom lip, and has referenced D9 and Neill in multiple songs. He's a super fan, and Chappie was a dream come true. He wouldn't screw that up. One of the biggest complaints came from the Art Director, because Ninja was allowed to design Chappie's gangsta look himself. The art department on Aliens had a similar gripe with James Cameron for allowing the Colonial Marine cast to personalize their armor, guns, and helmets. All complaints are equally ridiculous and egocentric. Haters gonna hate.

[–] divaofdeath 9 years ago

chunkiefroth, just to put a few things straight.

Neil and Ninja did have a fall out, period. The Art Director had no complaints about Die Antwoord designing their own set, I am the Art Director, the Production Designer, my boss, had the problem.

Not everybody on the movie got a taste of Ninja's bad behaviour. I personally found them to be professional in my conduct with them, just saying.

[–] norman-dostal 9 years ago

The truth is on-screen. They are awful and will never get in a movie again. They cant emote-you cant just get up and act-it requires training. Sigourney and Jackman are experienced-contrast them with the nobodies-its painful!
The girl looked semi-retarded-horrible haircut, could barely speak English.The audience feels NOTHING when she (SPOILER) goes
And the fifty year old "Ninja" guy?
The movie failed mostly because of them.
Sad.
Neill gets one more movie-Alien-and that's it.
I don't have high hopes anymore.

[–] The-last-to-know 9 years ago

well fortunately for us you dont have a say in the matter, who do you think you are?

You call that a cameltoe? Put your cheeks into it!

[–] norman-dostal 9 years ago

I do actually-as an audience member I choose where to spend my money. Hint-the movie bombed-im not alone-those with good taste get to choose which movies get made-that's how it works

[–] The-last-to-know 9 years ago

nope, you get to vote (not decide) for what movies are successful. Now if films were kickstarter projects you might get to vote (again not decide) what movies get made, but thats NOT how it works. Clearly unsuccessful movies are made all the time, nobody knows if movies like this one will work until they are out.

Anyway, your vote and mine obviously cancel eachother out so consider yourself just as powerless as me in deciding the way movies are made.

And if you voted by not spending money on it, then did you watch it?

You call that a cameltoe? Put your cheeks into it!

[–] norman-dostal 9 years ago

Wrong. You're thinking small picture. We do decide what gets made.
When a film bombs like Chappie- critically and commercially, the producers and directors are affected. Their reputation is affected. This decides future funding from the studios.
Your vote doesn't cancel mine- that's silly. If you and five people like a movie and spend money on it, that means nothing if 100 people don't see it. A movie is a business product. Money talks.
As a manager at Fox, believe me that had Chappie bombed prior to Neil being green lit for the Alien movie, it would have been re- thought.
I didn't spend any money on Crappie- thank god! It was a screener sent to me.

[–] NeoDeMover 9 years ago

You're right, the movie business is business.

But success and quality isn't the same thing. Transformers was an okay movie at best, after the 2nd one I was bored to tears and never wasted my life watching another transformers movie again, including the first one... or anything that Michael Bay directs.

Yet, it makes a ton of money at the box office.

Chappie is different, and it appeals to people who don't want to watch the same old Hollywood crap over and over and over again.

[–] norman-dostal 9 years ago

Good Points, but Chappie isn't original. Its basically Short Circuit with better effects and less acting ability (IMO)

[–] NeoDeMover 9 years ago

Yup, even down to having the silly Indian tech too!

How much of anything is actually original? Watch Short Circuit again - its quite old, and quite dated. What I liked as a young teen back then, when computers were 1Mhz / 4K~16K ram for $400 that only made beeping noises and 8 colors.

Watching it as an adult, its quite silly and un-watchable. Chappie's AI was made on purpose. Number5 never really had AI as all the robots were pretty much Remote control and it was Frankenstein-type accidental lightning strike that makes him "alive".

Or what about WALL-E? A junk robot with Johnny5's Eye's and emotions that learns about love?

What about the 500 episodes of the various Star Trek episodes? Come to alien planet, get laid, save the planet, fight borg/Klingon/whatever, a few one-liners, warp factor 10, ship captured, time-travel into alternate universe episodes?

What about real life?
We wake up, take a piss - maybe morning sex, feed the kids, go to work. fart all day, feed the kids again, watch TV, wank off to porn, go to bed - maybe have bedtime sex before sleeping, rinse and repeat... mundane life.

Even a terrorist must be about the same thing, wake up. Shoot and kill people while avoiding being shot and killed. Eat, sing, Shoot and kill again before going to sleep.

[–] elgaspo 9 years ago

For those interested in the rappers...I found the lyrics to 1 of their songs- I think it's "enter the ninja"

I'm taking over amerika blowing up everyfing
Physically fit da ninja very energetic
If u haven't got it by now yo you never gonna get it
I whip my dick out an piss on all dis horrible fokken rap
Got a off-shore account 4 da dollar bills dat I stack
Yo *beep* rap! I'm sorry my china we not related
I cum mad fresh like da 1st time I ejaculated

2 observations: it's the same [c]rap that's been out there since Kurtis Blow- I's the baddest mofo in the hood, i's be having so much money, i's be having lots of hos....yadda yadda yadda.

As far as taking over "Amerika"...only 3 US dates on their latest tour, all in CA. That's alright, they'll be in good hands, plenty of fruits & nuts to keep em company. Got a off-shore acct for all your big dolla$, uh? Yeah, dream on, jagoff.

Greetings from The Humungus! The Warrior of the Wasteland! The Ayatollah of Rock n Rolla!

[–] NeoDeMover 9 years ago

Wow... Sorry to hear they had a falling out. Hopefully they'll patch things up in the future; its up to them of course. I had watch the EXTRAS showing the work on the power station. I noticed on some stills showing the bathroom, the amount of detail that went into it - and we didn't see any of that in the movie itself. :(

I'm still a fan of Die Antwoord. Some people clash, eh? I was introduced to them by my mother when she showed me a DVR recording from the Dave Letterman late night show. She hates rape and freaky stuff. But she fell in love with "I Fink U freaky". I showed videos of DA to my wife and friends and they became instant fans. Even at a local goth/industrial club I go to, they'll play some of their music which gets people on the floor and I DO DANCE too. I hope they'll play in my city some day.

BTW: I like their characters on CHAPPIE. I think your whole production team did a great job on the film. I admit I sometimes take it a bit too seriously - like murderous criminals would let the tech-geek, Deon Wilson leave, knowing where they live. And having our "super hero" Hugh Jackman play an ego-manic douche was FUN. When I saw his sink in the bathroom, I knew this was sometimes with issues. BTW: If I worked at such a place, I would *SO* mess with his things. I'd move items around, just a bit and leave. Knowing it would drive Vincent nuts, likely ruining his day... but wouldn't tell a soul, after all he walks around armed, at work and controls a killer robot.

I *really* did shed some tears in the theater when Chappie was set on fire, running for Mommie. It's the father in me. I have a toddler, who dances and copies dancers or actions in video - so the Chappie watching He-Man scene worked for me quite well. I was amazed that Copley was used to play the character. I gather he's a long-time friend of Neil when he talked about being in his child-hood home. I've loved the work he's done in D9, etc. I felt for the guy in D9 - while many people hated him right from the start.

I thank you and the rest of the team for making such movies. Looking forward to many more.

[–] elgaspo 9 years ago

Ninja...has "D9" tattooed on the backside of his bottom lip

...and that's all ye need to know to get a handle on this 'man'. I'd say his 15 minutes are up. We'll see!

Greetings from The Humungus! The Warrior of the Wasteland! The Ayatollah of Rock n Rolla!

[–] Nack-Jicholson 9 years ago

I grew up in Australia and have had the displeasure of encountering many low-lifes who look and act just like 'Ninja'. So, even though I thought the character was a sh!tty person, I enjoyed watching him because his portayal rang true for me.

It's Chinatown

[–] reaseltbim 9 years ago

I grew up in Australia and have had the displeasure of encountering many low-lifes who look and act just like 'Ninja'.

they were awful

[–] Seth_Rogue_One 9 years ago

Yeah I didn't know they weren't actors I thought 'Mommy' was just excellent one of the most unique characters in movies in a while

Also maybe Ninja was troublesome because his character is supposed to be troublesome so he stayed in character, method acting

Somedays you just can't dispose of a bomb.