This is a review of the 2009 movie District 9 starring Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, and Luis Minnaar
Plot Summary: An extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth suddenly finds a kindred spirit in a government agent who is exposed to their biotechnology.
Me: District 9 is the debut science fiction film from South African writer-director Neill Blomkamp, and I’ve got to say he really hit a home run on his first trip to the plate, so to speak.
The Honeybee: Well, I never heard of him. But the story was really good.
Me: I bet you never heard of any of the actors either.
The Honeybee: Should I?
Me: Not unless you happen to be a fan of the South African movie scene – although as I understand it this was the big screen debut of Sharlto Copley, who played the film’s protagonist, Wikus Van Der Merwe.
The Honeybee: Gesundheit!
Me: Cute.
The Honeybee: Before you get too under-the-weather, you really should give a quick run-down of the storyline.
Me: Okay. In 1982 a gargantuan spaceship comes to rest over the city of Johannesburg, South Africa – but the expected invasion never materializes. After awhile, it becomes apparent that something is wrong and so a team of humans breaks into the apparently disabled ship and discovers a population of emaciated and stranded alien creatures. The aliens, nicknamed prawns by the humans because of their appearance, are soon thereafter put into a refugee camp in Johannesburg known as District 9, and it quickly becomes a slum-like no-man’s land similar to the Big Apple in Escape From New York. Cut to the present day, where a defense corporation known as Multi-National United (MNU) is contracted to move the alien population from District 9 to fresh new digs further from the city, and Wikus is put in charge of the forced-relocation operation. Unfortunately for Wikus, during the opening phases of the campaign he is exposed to a hazardous alien liquid.
The Honeybee: “Unfortunately?” That’s an understatement, don’t you think? That liquid ends up reacting with his own DNA!
Me: That it does. Soon after his exposure, Wikus begins undergoing a hideous Fly-like transformation. Making matters worse, MNU realizes that his transformation will give them the ability to crack the code that has previously prevented them from using the aliens super-weapons.
The Honeybee: That’s when they begin a massive manhunt to capture him.
Me: With his body gruesomely sprouting alien parts, Wikus quickly finds himself to be a human outcast. His only hope to save himself is to return to District 9 and work with the prawns on their terms. It is here, in the final 45 minutes of the film, where the movie really shines. The story becomes a gripping race against time, and is bolstered by some absolutely terrific action sequences.
The Honeybee: The visual effects were awesome!
Me: I agree. Dare I say they were right up there with Star Trek? They were so good that I find it hard to believe that this movie was made on what today is considered a shoe-string budget of only $30 million. What’s even more remarkable is that unlike most movies that have a lot of special effects, this movie actually tried to make a point.
The Honeybee: What do you mean?
Me: What do you mean, “what do you mean?”
The Honeybee: I’m sorry – am I speaking an alien tongue here? You know what I mean when I say “what do you mean.”
Me: No need to get mean. It’s pretty obvious that District 9 was a platform for political commentary regarding Apartheid using the man versus alien story line as an allegory.
The Honeybee: Unlike our last movie review for The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, I’m glad you’re actually reviewing this film, but would you do me a favor?
Me: What’s that?
The Honeybee: Please don’t turn this review into an English lit class.
Me: Sorry. So, did you like District 9 or not?
The Honeybee: Weren’t you listening to me? I just told you a minute ago that I thought the story was really really good. And you are right: the special effects were awesome – especially in the last half of the movie when we saw the power behind those alien weapons.
Me: Was there anything you didn’t like about the movie?
The Honeybee: Oh yeah. I thought the story was totally unbelievable.
Me: This from somebody who can’t wait for the next Harry Potter movie.
The Honeybee: Come on. I mean really. Aliens living in a refugee camp in Africa? They want me to believe the aliens could jump 10 feet in the air but yet couldn’t escape from a refugee camp that was surrounded by a flimsy fence made of barbed wire? Please. And then what about all those crazy alien weapons: Why didn’t the prawns use them on the humans to escape and take over the world?
Me: So you liked the story even though it was unbelievable – and you enjoyed the movie anyway?
The Honeybee: Yep. I really enjoyed it! I rate District 9 “a buy.”
Me: As do I. So tell me: Does it bother you whenever you watch a Harry Potter movie that he rides a broom and can conjure up magic spells?
The Honeybee: Harry Potter is a fantasy movie. District 9 is sci-fi.
Me: …
The Honeybee: Hey, don’t start getting philosophical again with me.
Me: Fine, I think we’re done here. But I wouldn’t necessarily classify District 9 as “sci-fi.”
The Honeybee: Then what would you call it?
Me: Well, since you asked, I’d classify it as “hard-core prawn.”
The Honeybee: Oh, God. You’re not going to print that are you?
Me: Not me.
we just watched district 9, it was interesting… of course my husband liked it! i too, cant wait until the next harry potter! 🙂
I actually almost turned the movie off in the early going. The movie’s mockumentary style that opened up the first 20 minutes of the film had me wondering if the director was trying to make fools of the audience – it was really over the top, and I was confused as to whether the film was supposed to be a comedy or a serious sci-fi flick. I’m glad I stuck it out though because the film’s intentions became very clear as the movie transitioned from mockumentary to a more traditional story portrayal.
I thought district 9 was pretty good just because it was really different. my wife… she hated it 🙂