Movie Review: District 9

District 9
2009
Directed by Neill Blomkamp
Starrring Sharlton Copley

Alright, I'm going to start this off by saying that I really don't like monster/ alien invasion movies. Sci-Fi has never been my favorite genre unless its something classic like Star Trek or 1984. I had no intention of going to see this movie at all. But then, I read a review of it by DJ Dustbunny (http://djdustbunny.blogspot.com) and he said that it was very good and that I should see it. So, I went to see it with EP.

This movie is SO GOOD! I cannot say enough how much I enjoyed this movie! It was a very exciting ride that will make you squirm in your seat.

The movie starts out intruducing the characters and the situation in a documentary style intermixed with News footage. It reminded me a lot of Baz Lurhman's style in his first two Red Curtain movies (Strictly Ballroom and Romen + Juliet). Actually, a lot of the movie reminded me of Baz Lurhman's movies. The way they set the movie up was perfect because there was so much that needed to be explained that if they tried to just let it all come out in the wash, most of the audience would be confused. It also did a good job in introducing Wilkus, our lovable protagonist, as one who finds the aliens (or "Pranws" as the deroggatory terminology calls them) just as disgusting as the rest of the humans. This of course sets him up to develop into a really good dynamic character.

Extremely brief plot overview: After a failed eviction plan for the aliens living in District 9, Wilkus finds himself behind enemy lines and has to decide who are the real monsters.
I don't want to get to into the plot because it is really easy to spoil and that would be no fun for anyone, so I'll just skip it for now.

The effects are pretty solid and a lot of the twists are pretty clever (the cat food and the guns that respond to Alien's DNA, for example). Some of the more gruesome effects could have been left out (I'm talking the fingernails and teeth...I actually had a nightmare about that last night!) and I'm not sure that EVERY person obliterated into pink mist had to shower the camera, but oh well...The real surprise is the acting performance from Sharlton Copley. When you think that he did a majority of this film as a one man show (the aliens were added later), then it is pretty amazing. He does a great job at giving the emotional punch that is often missing from these types of alien movies.

On a political note, it is interesting that they chose to set the movie in Johannesburg, South Africa, a place that is known for it's segregation (Apartheid, anyone?) because most of this film deals with issues of xenophobia and segregation. I really like how they incorporated the theme without hitting the audience over the head with it. Maybe it's me, but it seems rare that movies like this have themes this political in them.


Overall: This movie is a must see! Go see it right now!!! A+