District 9

District 9 (2009)
Rated R
Action/Drama/Sci-Fi

Wow, wow, wow. The under the cut film, District 9 came upon us stealthily and had many soon squirming in anticipation. In first hearing about District 9 via facebook.com, (the site that can bring together friends and family, can be the initiator to a new relationship or an end to one:http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=114523173025&ref=share), intrigued I was!

The idea alone; a sci-fi film with creatures unlike I’d ever seen captured me. I then learned that the film was based off of a short 6-minute film called “Alive in Joburg”, written and directed (just as District 9) by Neill Blomkamp, a South African native.

Blomkamp was initially directing Halo (also produced by Peter Jackson) but according to internet sources, either disagreements between productions studios and/or budget issues caused filming to screech to a halt and Blomkamp was informed that filming was to cease. This led the way for the Peter Jackson/Neill Blomkamp partnership to fully develop into an original movie-making experience.

What I had thought would be an entertaining, “that’s so cool”, nerd fueled sci-fi experience turned out to be so much more than I expected and RARELY do movies impress me /deem my initial judgment void. **SPOILER ALERT **

The opening alone was unexpected – unaware was I that it was a documentary-style film and thus was thrown into the film featuring commentary on the happenings of twenty years past, when an alien ship had arrived and had stopped directly over Johannesburg, South Africa. It hovered above for three months until the humans decided to investigate and make their way into the ship. They discovered a large group of aliens who were malnourished and sick. The aliens are later assessed as apparently being all "workers", with their leadership gone (they state the possibility of the leaders having fallen ill and died). I can’t speak much more on the story as I’ve given more than most knew when first going to see the film!

Make a note to self (and this is you guys posting a mental note to your temperamental and forgetful brains) that you must see this politically poignant, emotionally compelling, and still graphically amazing story, a reflection of what a group of people can do to one another, ignorance too many ethnic groups have been guilty of. The aliens are looked down upon, treated like dirt because of being misunderstood – no matter how silly (and when you see this movie you will not think it silly) the idea is, the craziness is how it portrays that which many of those who came before us (and into current day) have either been guilty of, directly experienced or been a victim of. It is a powerful film - it made my heart ache on a different level.

To its detriment, the strange and sometimes ridiculous reaction in specific scenes by our main character, Wikus van der Merwe (played by Sharlto Copley) annoyed me. While I have never been in a tense situation with aliens (well…), a purposeful and fairly smart response is expected and was not usually provided here. In addition, I love violence in films (violence, not necessarily victimization) and the graphics were amazing but to some it may be a bit much.

I give this a four and a half out of five frames. Not quite perfect but a powerful film indeed!!



Teaser Trailer below!!!!



Danae signing off!

I beg of you, come to the J1studios.com forum to chat if you’ve seen this film or suggest a film that pleasantly surprised you!