It was just a few days ago that I was lamenting the loss of the socially aware and poignant science fiction films of the late 60’s and 70’s. I felt that Moon was a welcome change from the soulless CGI/3-D effects extravaganzas that we have been treated to lately. Then I saw District 9. Suddenly, we have not only an anomaly, but a Movement!
District 9 is set in an alternate history where an alien spacecraft stalls over Johannesburg South Africa in the 1980’s. These aliens are not here to make contact or take over, they’re just lost! The nations of the world decide to house them in slums and assign a company called Multi National United to deal with the alien problem. After 20 years in District 9, the populace of Johannesburg wants the aliens as far away as possible and it’s up to MNU to relocate them. The task of removing the aliens is a mousy desk jockey named Wikus Van De Merwe (played by Sharlto Copley), who is oblivious to the tragedy around him.
District 9 relies a lot on the performance of Sharlto Copley, whose portrayal of Wikus is multi-faceted. As the protagonist, it’s difficult to like Wikus at times. He is weak and stupid and impulsive. It’s those characteristics that are played up throughout the movie and one of the aspects that makes District 9 such a compelling movie.
Director Neill Blomkamp, whose history is in special effects for Peter Jackson, has crafted a unique blend of handheld documentary-style footage that gradually gives way to standard storytelling. The early footage does an excellent job of setting up the situation and fully introducing you to Wikus and the aliens. Blomkamp’s experience with special effects is on full display with both the aliens and their weaponry. For a film that was made for around $30 million dollars, the effects are particularly tight, so much so, that you have to wonder why they couldn’t get Wolverine’s claws to look right in a much larger production.
It’s too easy to give kudos to Blomkamp for the effects though. The direction and editing is very sharp in District 9. The screenplay creates a highly plausible world and manages to both be an indictment on the human race, while also showing that good people can emerge from a bad situation. District 9 is smart and exciting. The pace is consistent and engaging. Plus, once we see those alien weapons in use, it’s literally a blast!
District 9 is a much bigger film that I expected, and far more exciting. While it may suffer box office because it doesn’t have any big name actors, that turns out to be one of the most powerful aspects of the movie. District 9 is not a typical predictable Hollywood offering, and that’s something that everyone should support. As a straight science-fiction action movie, it’s a great ride, but the underlying questions about the nature of man, about subjugation of the poor and the power of the individual make District 9 something truly unique.
Dig it!
- The Beefboy
Unofficial Disinformation Czar for the Obama Administration
Over Five Million Hits a Month and Growing!!!
Leave a comment for me below.
Related posts:
- Robert Rodriguez to Produce Predator Movie
- Movie Review: Moon
- James Cameron’s Avatar Trailer
- Television Review: “V”… or should it be called “O”?
- Ridley Scott to Direct Alien 5
- Defying Gravity Review
- Congratulations to NASA and the Mars Probes
- More Photos and Posters from Tron Legacy
- Jessica Biel Beil Naked Photos from Powder Blue Film
- Tron Legacy High Definition Trailer Concept Art and Info
D-9 definitely has a lot going for it — character development, great acting a at least a few people, awesome alien weapons; it felt a bit preachy at times at different times though