MOVIE GEEK: 3 and a half buckets
FILM FREAK'S REVIEW:
Thirty years ago, aliens made first contact with Earth. Humans waited for the hostile attack or the giant advances in technology, but neither came.
Instead, the aliens became refugees, the last survivors of their home world. The creatures were set up in a makeshift home in South Africa's District 9 as the world's nations argued about what should be done next.
Fast forward to today, and patience over the alien situation has run out. The tension between the aliens and the humans comes to a head when an MNU field operative, Wikus Van Der Merwe, contracts a mysterious virus that begins changing his DNA.
Van Der Merwe quickly becomes the most-hunted man in the world as well as the most valuable. He holds the key to unlocking the secrets of alien technology. Ostracized and friendless, there is only one place left for him to hide: District 9.
A movie trailer often promises more than the movie delivers. The great moments in the trailer lure me to the theater, but once inside, the movie fails to deliver and I leave disappointed.
This is not one of those movies.
"District 9" has a narrative style that feels very much like a documentary film. For the most part, however, it also incorporates a more standard Hollywood aesthetic.
The opening scenes give the viewer a good overall understanding of how the aliens arrived and encountered discrimination and discomfort from humans.
I have to admit that I wasn't initially impressed with lead actor Sharlto Copley as Wikus Van Der Merwe. However, my opinion changed as the movie progressed.
Viewers get to see a man caught in the middle. He's not entirely innocent, yet he's still a victim of circumstances. He appears to be somewhat prejudiced, just like the other humans. When he has to walk in the shoes of the aliens, he begins to understand much more than he bargained for.
"District 9" delivers everything promised in the movie's trailers, and succeeds in bringing a new perspective to the "First Contact" scenario.
3 and a half buckets.
MOVIE GEEK'S REVIEW:
Like my fellow geek, I will say that "District 9" is the most original take on the alien invasion scenario in twenty years.
Write/Director Neill Blomkamp has made an extraordinary science-fiction film and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
"District 9" is one of those films that gets better and better as it barrels through it's 112 minute runtime. While the first half of the film stars out as a mockumentary, by the end of the second act, the viewer is right in the middle of a full-fledge action thriller.
One thing I wasn't expecting was the level of 'gruesomeness' this film has. While it's not really 'gorey' per se, there are plenty of moments in the film that just make you cringe and you really have to try to not loose your popcorn right on the movie theater's floor.
Perfect little film, if I have any complaint it would be the release date. It's a shame this film was released in late August, as it's begging for a big Hollywood blockbuster June or July release date. I'm sure it would've doubled its initial take.
3 and a half buckets.
