Cabba's ReviewsAll Praise District 9
August 11th 2009 13:53
The most original, stunning, challenging and hilarious film I have seen in a LONG LONG time. And one of the best first films by a first time director. Trust me, Neill Blomkamp will do great things. The film combined modern technology, documentary camera work, unknown actors and science fiction to create the most unsuspecting emotional film capturing not only the ethical issues of society but also the unethical. It explores the governments, it explores race, discrimination, hybridization in a very strange way... (you'll know what I'm talking about when you see it) and brutality in a very audience friendly fashion. I was sure each and every person in the cinema were caught up in the action and thrill of the ride but at the same time were able to identify the issues being presented to them. I mean, yes it had its flaws but man oh man were they forgotten when the credits started to roll.
Overall Plot:
You know what? I'm not going to enclose much information. District 9 is one of those films that you want to know as little as possible about. I mean, most people who have seen the trailer can gather that this is a mockumentary and is a film about aliens who come to earth and remain here and proceed to live in conjunction with humans. That is pretty all you need to know. The CGI in the film is impeccably done so there will be little people (minus those who have no belief in computer technology) who will be able to be annoyed at the existence of a CGI character and a flesh and blood character appearing alongside in any scene.
What makes this film interesting is it really just follows a pretty ordinary structure of a one man struggle against the world. He is pitted as a hero by the audience but has done something or become something that makes him an enemy of the people he once served. However literal it may all seem though, this story is like no other. The premise for one thing is different. VERY different from anything we've ever seen on film and second, the change in the main character played very very well by Sharlto Copley is unlike any we've ever seen.
What is also interesting about the film is that throughout the whole thing, I was in my seat thinking..."man, if extra terrestrial life did one day decide to come to earth and say hi, this may be what our government actually decide to do". I mean, why else would we want to contact other species? For one sole and purposeful reason...TO ADVANCE OUR OWN RACE through whatever means necessary. Especially if we found out that we could overpower these aliens, we would certainly keep them here for scientific testing to 'understand' them and 'make sense of their genetic compositions'. Obviously the 'why are they here' and 'what do they want from us' will come first, but once those questions have been answered, the scientists and the military will surface, ready to dehumanise these creatures and make them into commodities to benefit ourselves. We humans are selfish animals...
This film had flaws, I mean that is undeniable. It is Blomkamp's first feature film and even though he was under the guidance of one of the most efficient and talented directors, even he could not save the film from minor flaws. One being a scene near the middle where the main character and his newly found best friend blow up an entire agency full of men with guns and appear on the other side, unscathed and alive. But hey, if this was the most unbelievable element in the film, that mus be saying something!
I really cannot praise this film enough for its originality and power. It truly has revolutionised filmic storytelling and visual storytelling without going too outside the box as to alienate audiences. District 9 will remain a favourite for years to come.
I give this film 5 STARS OUT OF 5.
Peace.
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