MOVIE REVIEW: DISTRICT 9

08/13/09

In a summer where the most impressive movies have been comedies, spin offs of iconic comic characters, poor sequels (composed more by impressive displays of special effects than an actual decent story) of successful and impressive blockbusters, a descent gangster movie, and a conversion of a great book series into just a magical chick flick, I was seriously loosing my hope to find an impressive movie this summer. Seriously, after watching Star Trek back in May, my only hopes left to watch a blowing mind, original movie were between GI Joe, 9, and The Time Traveler’s wife, and none of those really seem as good as any of the already released fiascos. Fortunately for me, I was overestimated what seem to be in my opinion the number one movie this Summer, or at least a descent adversary to Star Trek: District 9 . Producer Peter Jackson and of course director Neill Blomkamp did their homework, they understood and created a movie that translates just to one thing: A Real Mind Blowing Summer Blockbuster.

District 9 is a movie that takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa in an office where we meet a man name Wikus Van Der Merwe. Wikus is apart of a team called MNU (Multi-National United), which is a private company that is not interested in the welfare of the aliens. The company's main achievement is to use alien weaponry, which has failed to make them work for humans. Even though the people of the Johannesburg, South Africa does not want anything to do with the alien, they wish for them to return back to their homeland and stop taking over their land. As the company because more eager to learn how to work the alien weaponry they decided to nominate Wikus as captain of the team for MNU to go out to District 9 and deliver information about a new relocation to the aliens that have come twenty years or so ago. As Wikus is going door to door explaining to the aliens their rights and what's going on something strange captures his eye, when retrieving a piece of evidences he think may should be confiscated from the aliens, he will soon discover that his life will be in grave danger. District 9 that will completely change his life and way of thinking forever. It will be up to Wilkus to help uncover the truth behind District 9 his life will depend on learning the truth from an species that is not as different from ours.

I was skeptical about this movie because to me it looked kind of like a better version of controversial sci fi classic Cloverfield combined with Independence Day. Well, it is nothing like it, as a matter of fact, this alien / monster movie is as different to any alien movie as Alien is to ET. The movie is mind blowing from beginning to end. It actually has a perfect combination of story, setting, characters, and visual effects. Mr. Blomkamp took a great risk introducing the alien race since the beginning, without hiding them in shadows, or fancy technological equipment , and it paid off. They seem as real, menacing as any alien could look, but it also added a more sensitive and sympathy to the characters, and as the movie develops the audience understand that the movie is just not centered around this creatures. As matter of fact what I like the most about the movie is that the most scary stuff does not look like it is out of this world. The movie magnificently displays and critiques some of the scariest realities seen in humankind.

The documentary/ first person style combined with a runaway movie used by the director in this film might upset many viewers, but in my opinion it actually improves it, as we watch the movie from the perspective of the main character, the audience could not help to bond to him and feel his emotions. It also added some kind of realism to the story, as well as excitement. The cast, although I know little about them, added extreme realism performing each of their characters, specially Sharlto Copley, which performance gives depth and emotion to a character who although looks simple an ordinary at simple sight, it is full of complexity and contradiction. The setting is also great, taking place somewhere different than the states makes the movie even more realism, this plus adding the actual political and social condition of the country to the story also creates the perfect stage for the movie.

Visually, I could not be more satisfied, it is not an extraordinary mind blowing visual film like the producer’s previous films, but it is as good as it could be. They added realism, even the aliens, their instruments and technology looked very combining, their physiology matched their function. The language were well thought and creative, and their way of thinking is way more advanced than ours. I am pretty sure that District 9 is not going to break any meaningless opening record or would have extensive lines at midnight, I can only hope for people not to let this one pass away. This is a great example that shows what summer movies are all about, it does not only have top notch visual effects but its story is strong and original from beginning to end. Congratulation Mr. Jackson, and Mr. Blomkamp! You have just save the Summer with this one.

Review By Milo
milo@smartcine.com

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People Movie Review District 9

GrinningBear	0
District 9: A waste of time, effort, and hard earned cash. Subject matter had deep moral and ethical tangents, but the director's choice of filming the entire movie with a handheld camera was sickening. I'll never get those two hours back and I feel cheated!

NM	10
Absolutely the second worst movie I've ever seen. Second only to Meet the Spartans. Don't waste your money... You will never get those two hours back. The optimist in me will admit... The alien design/costumes/computer generation etc, was very creative.

Mymie	90
For a while I though it was a documentary that was relating a true situation. It did not appear to be as SyFy as classified. Instead, it appeared to be a very real story and a well kept secret. Are you doing to do a seque? From the ending comments, I think it should.