District 9: Movie Review
By samuelpeppermint
I love moments like this. Moments where you know something pretty amazing is about to happen… That things might actually change for the better. I am giddy for the rest of the world, and for you. At 12:00 a.m., on August 135h, District 9 a new film directed by Neill Blomkamp (watch interview part 1, part 2) produced by Peter Jackson, and starring Sharlto Copley (watch interview) is going to be unleashed upon unsuspecting moviegoers. And if you’re smart, you’ll have your ass in one of those seats and your shoes stuck to the ground from spilled Cherry Pepsi.
So here is goes…
A Word:
This is the first movie in years which I walked into almost completely oblivious to what I was about to see. Aside from a tiny portion of the first teaser for it, I stayed away from anything District 9. No trailers, sneak peaks, magazine articles, early reviews. Nada. Only a few bits od their viral marketing campaign in Los Angeles. Moments ago, I watched the trailers for the first time. While they don’t reveal a whole lot, they do reveal a couple moments that are spoiler-esque. Even with that, this film will blow your mind. Hopefully, Hollywood will watch and take a lesson from this film.
The Plot:
I don’t want to tell you anything about this movie or the plot. This is one of those times where you just have to go see the film ASAP. If you ignore my advice, I promise you that you will be hearing it from every person around you whether you want to or not. Am I hyping it up too much? Maybe. I don’t care. It will still rock your world. There are aliens. There are humans. It is not what you think it is. The less you know, the better. You really shouldn’t be reading this at all. You should be ordering your midnight tickets right now. Seriously. Hit command-T right now and start ordering.
The Good:
- Neill Blomkamp: The visual effects master jumped into the director’s chair and has created something wonderfully fresh in District 9… I hope Hollywood is watching.
- The Script: Terri Tatchell and Blomkamp’s screenplay is so masterfully crafted, it is hard to point out one thing that makes it remarkable. The characters they create and the journey they take you on will leave you begging for more by the end of the film.
- The Acting: The lead, played by Sharlto Copley, is an unknown actor who arrives on the scene and takes the film to an entirely new level. I don’t know how any other actor could have done what he did in this film. It seems like I’m cheating on him when I try to imagine another actor in his role. Must… be… loyal…
- Cinematography: A good portion of the film is shot in a documentary style. But not the annoying kind. The fluid kind that does not take away from the flow of the film. We weave in and out of “doc mode” and “film mode” so seamlessly, it could sneak out and take your car right in front of your eyes.
- Action/Visual Effects: The film will test your patience. But that makes the nectar all the more tasty when you taste it.
The Bad:
- Nothing: A bold statement, I know. I have let the film sink in for almost 24 hours, and I am still in awe of it. I honestly cannot think of something that did not work for me. Maybe in a week or so I will change my mind. But as of this writing, I can not find one thing that was bad.
Overall:
This seems unnecessary at this point, but here I go. This is the best Sci-Fi movie to come out in years. What they have done with $30 million is mind-boggling. I am not missing a zero there. They were able to create what, in my opinion, is the best movie of the year at 1/6 of the price of the crappiest film of the year (Hi, Transformers 2!). Hollywood, please, look at what can be done. Look at the possibilities. We could have six great movies for the price of one.
Tonight at 12:oo a.m. Tomorrow. This weekend. Whenever. Sit in a room full of people and watch this movie with them. Groan and cheer together with strangers. Let this bad boy make a ton of money. Get your feet sticky with spilt Cherry Coke. I’ll probably be the guy next to you who knocked my cup over in excitement.
Rating: 10/10
The film will be in theaters August 13th.
Editors Note: Due to this reviewers request, we will not place the trailer in the post. He is avid that you see the film, NOT the trailer
Further Reading:
- Comic-Con 2009: Interview with Peter Jackson, Neill Blomkamp, Sharlto Copley
- Exclusive Interview with Neill Blomkamp Director of District 9
- District 9 Sequel News
- Poll: Does District 9 Live Up to the Hype?
Friday, August 14, 2009 9:35AM
[...] 9 | Screencrave Review | Neill Blomkamp Interview part 1, part 2 | Sharlo Copley interview | Peter Jackson, Blomkamp, [...]
Saturday, August 15, 2009 2:16AM
I loved the movie, and thought it was one of the best I've seen in many, many years, way better than that sorry butt of a movie T4 and better than transformers 2, about as good as Star Trek.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 12:47AM
I watched this movie because of all the hype and HATED it! I walked out after 45 mins and came back only because i hoped it would get better. It didn't!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 11:32PM
i watched this movie with my friends. i have to say… this is a bad movie. thirty minutes into the movie and i have no idea what is going on. if you are looking for news experience (bad news with stupid idiotic reporter) i would highly recommend that you watch this. Otherwise, if you looking for an actual movie experience, don’t do it! i watched and hated it. i hate it so much that i am actually typing this up just to stop others from watching it as it will definitely ruin your day and scar your life! this movie is like Quamire in the family guy walking up to your daughter while she is all alone. ONLY God knows what he is really up to!
Thursday, August 20, 2009 1:46PM
As a diehard sci-fi fan, I was more than disappointed with this movie to say the least. It seemed more like a documentary about refugees than a sci-fi film about aliens from outerspace–same place, conditions, government lies and intervention, etc., just different occupants. Equally, there was really nothing new presented: the writer seems to have borrowed many of the sci-fi concepts seen in other films, like the alien black liquid (X Files), the mutation (The Fly), and the giant internally operated robot (Alien), just to mention a few. The $11.50 and two hours of time would have been better spent on doing laundry.
Monday, August 24, 2009 6:57PM
I agree with being completely oblivious as to what I was about to watch as I had only seen a couple of movie trailers on TV.
On the weekend I wondered into the movie theater and sat down with a large soda, I bursted out laughing when I saw the ghetto.
The Bad: The aliens are a little creepy and ugly. It is hard to feel bad for them. I think that they could have been humanized a little more, have them wear pants and enjoy soda, hamburgers and hotdogs instead of cat food. I would also like to see some conflicts of rights that they would have, maybe protests for better living conditions.
Overall, if you like aliens and sci-fi action I would see this movie.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009 6:50AM
I just saw the movie and thought it was very well done. I think they kind of 'stuck it to the man' (HOLLYWOOD) for producing this film for only 30 million. I think its nit picking to say that they should enjoy soda, hamburgers and hotdogs. And protests….gimmy a break, their alien, what makes you think they would understand 1st world concepts as that? If you payed attention, they were a kind of refugee themselves, when they were discovered in their ship, they were starving, malnourished, and in horrible living conditions. I actually thought it was one of the best Sci Fi movies Ive ever seen. I have to say the acting was way better than if there were to be name brand stars in it. I only hope District 10 can live up to District 9.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 12:15AM
this movie was sick!!!!!!!!!!!!! i dunno bout the rest of the pplz who say that this is a terrible movie but this movie is frigging awsum!!!! it has aa lot of moral lessons we can learn from and shows how cruel humans can be…
Friday, August 28, 2009 9:26PM
I just saw the movie and went in pretty cold. It was beautifully done all around. A great commentary on racism, apartheid and immigration. The acting was flawless, the direction clear and production values were through the roof. However I do have a couple of questions: Why hadn't scientists or military people stripped the ship? Potential scientific and or military applications lay untouched for 20 years? Why hadn't the military or even the government hired, bribed or even enslaved some of these aliens in order to work the alien weapons? Why didn't the aliens use that very cool robotic weapon and take as much cat food as they wanted? Maybe I'm applying too much humanity to the aliens, but peolpe are people and someone in 20 years would have found a way to create power or make bank off the aliens.
Sunday, August 30, 2009 3:38AM
I LOVED IT!!! The story line was great – it leaves alot of unanswered questions but we get only a taste of what is yet to come – I HOPE! I have to admit at first I was like … What? But I was hooked … simply, We care more about weapons than well … what really matters (All the aliens wanted was to go home-somewhere along the way WE missed that). Can't wait to see what happens in the next movie – AWESOME!!!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 7:09PM
Those who hate this movie are people with dirty ego and don’t even know about it. I think I am waiting all my life for movies like this to happen, and it happened. Now I am satisfied and waiting for the coming up.
Friday, September 4, 2009 12:45AM
right, all I can say is: this movie is one of the best I have ever seen in the last 5 years. Forget Transformers holliwoody movies, forget everything. To make a really good movie these days you need to come up with something new, something that hasn't been done before. ppl who didn't like it, didn't understand it. That's very true…if you expect aliens against humans, heaps of special effects and same plot "they want to take over the earth" thing ..FORGET it. Don't go. You need to be smart to understand this movie. The prawns had feelings as humans, they were acting "like it was their own land", they had tools to turn prawns into humans …that should make you think. Plus the apartheid issue..hmmm. He had to become one of them in order to understand their feelings and culture. too many questions without answers. Bring the District 10 out
Saturday, September 5, 2009 4:40AM
this movie was in one word "realistic" it took fantasy and brought a reality to it that was so impressive i had to watch it again ….the acting was perfect , the directing was new and different , a breath of fresh air to your conventional Hollywood films …… hope to see more films lie this in the future …….
Oh yes and the aliens in this movie strike me as non military / scientific type who were just interested in survival…..The one called Christopher I believe was the only one who seemed to possess a great insight into the working of the ship and other technologies
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 4:13AM
This is an amazing film. Cleverly crafted. Calling it sci-fi trivialises what is at the heart of this movie. The allegories are endless, the degeneration of human values that we see all around the world today are beautifully capsulated in a 'popular genre'. BRAVO. THE LESS YOU KNOW THE BETTER. Great Story that keeps you at the edge of your seat. Tongue in cheek. I saw it in a cinema full to the capacity and its so quick, sharp witted and understated that a lot of humour and irony were lost on a large part of the audience who clearly came to see 'an alien bashing movie'.
Saturday, September 12, 2009 5:35PM
you are a dummy! verry verry dummy!
This movie is a briliant master piece, if did not got it and it made you angry, so your anger shows how stuped you are
Saturday, September 12, 2009 5:38PM
maybe becouse they are pacifists when they arrived, also they explane that they where all sick inside the ship, easy to be controled and putten aside
Saturday, September 12, 2009 5:42PM
Yes Yes Yes!!!!
Sunday, September 13, 2009 12:24AM
I didnt find it very good at all, there are a lot of better movies that keep me going, I would say forest gump was 100reds of times better than this.I know its a diffrent kind of movie but some films are meant to be and put off energy thats crazy, this was not one of them. I didnt mind watching independence day it kept me on me seat.. Anyway I walked out about 1/2 way through because I couldnt take it anymore, when I first sat down to watch it I thought it was a spoof on alien movies, it really was a joke. We all have different taste so some of you might enjoy this, I guess go watch it than leave your view here so we can keep reading and take a poll.
Monday, September 14, 2009 8:29PM
I just watched it. very enjoyable film… does what the intelligent film goer is hoping for, entertains and makes a social commentary at the same time. i was left wanting more and having my questions about the 'what' 'why' and 'how' of it answered…. but if they make a sequel it has a 99.9% chance of being a formula cash cow…
the price of a good film this time… wanting more but not enough that they cheapen it.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:16AM
WHAT A LOAD OF SHIT! IT IS THE WORST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE! I ACTUALLY FEEL ASHAMED TO BE SOUTH AFRICAN NOW! ONCE AGAIN SA MANAGE TO MESS SOMETHIN UP AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Thursday, September 17, 2009 4:33AM
I think Wikus ill an alien for awhile. after 3 years im not sure if the alien will be back.