District 9

First off I would like to say sorry for the delay in putting up this review. Between computer issues and a small bit of procrastination I have finished. I am also going to promise a speedy review to the new film in theaters “Zombieland”.

District 9 is a low budget ($30 million to produce) sci-fi flick with a no name and little or no acting experience cast. Those two stipulations will normally net you a straight to DVD movie, but with the backing of Peter Jackson and an amazing script you get a surprise success.

District 9 is directed by Neil Blomkamp, who is known for the halo short “landfall” and more for his visual effects work than directing. The movie is about of a group of aliens, whose ship becomes stranded a few miles above the earth in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1982, and come to be held and not able to leave the slums of “District 9”.

The first item to catch your eye is the visual effects. Not only do they look amazing, but also real to this world. The ship looks to be entwined with the clouds in the distance and the “prawns”, named so for their shrimp like body shape, look to be as real as the actors if not more in some scenes. The detail alone in the effects earns this film enough credit to stand on its own.

The story is a straight metaphor for a number of issues, from racism and xenophobia to forced evictions in South Africa. Those issues are so brilliantly woven in to the main story that they do not take away from the action or take you out of the mythos of District 9. This movie can do more for those issues than most other tactics will ever do.

Last but not least is the acting. The actors in District 9 are not the typical bunch. The main lead of Wikus van de Merwe is played by Sharlto Copley. Copley is known as a commercial and music video director. District 9 is his first major acting role. Even with no acting experience he blows the part out of the water. The rest of the cast is just as unknown to most as Copley yet do the film justice.

This is a movie you want to show your friends. This is a slam dunk by Neil Blomkamp. Movies as visually stunning, as action packed, and that have as thrilling of story as District 9 only come around a few times a generation. This is a must see for any fan of the sci-fi genre.

-The Blind Reviewer