Hey everyone,
I just got back from the theatre, and as the title suggests, I saw District 9, the new sci-fi flick from Peter Jackson and Neil Blomkhamp.
If you don't know what this movie is about, here's an outline of the plot:
30 years ago, an alien ship appeared over Johannesburg, South Africa. The aliens did not go on the attack, nor did they extend their hands/claws in friendship. In fact, they were refugees, fleeing their homeworld for reasons unknown. The South African government placed the aliens in a temporary refugee camp called District 9, but the sheer numbers of them (1.8 million, to be exact), coupled with the inability to harness thier amazing technology, caused the government to lose patience with the aliens (derrisively called "Prawns" by the humans) and turn over responsibility for them to a giant corperation known as Multi-National United, or MNU.
I'm a huge sci-fi fan, so I was excited to see this on general principles, and the reversal on the aliens VS. humans story was icing on the cake. However, I was worried that the aliens would be portrayed as completely innocent and persecuted, while the humans would be painted as evil and cruel.
Fortunately, this was not the case. Although the aliens are the "good guys", and I use that term VERY loosely, neither species is portrayed as either irredeemable or angelic.
What I especially loved was how it toyed with a very old concept: that of "the monster".
The aliens themselves are hideous, insectoid abonminations that look like they crawled out of Hell. Thier huge claws, hanging tendrils, unintelligible clicking language, and quick, anamalistic movments disavow them of any significant human qualities, and thier mryiad illegal activites and hostile attitude towards humans make them hard to root for, even though they are they victims of oppression.
The humans who police District 9 aren't any better, and may be even worse. They constantly call the aliens "Prawns", after a bottom-feeding parasite, ignore the plight of the aliens, and some seem to enjoy inflicting punisment on them, even when that punishment is of the completely innocent (more on that later).
But what most twisted the aforementioned idea was the (literal) transformation of the protaganist, Wikus van der Wewe. In the movie's opening minutes, Wikus demonstrates his contempt for the aliens, constantly using the slur Prawns, easily losing his temper, and frequently lacing his speech toward the aliens with profanity and sarcasm. In fact, when Wikus finds an illegal incubator housing unhatched eggs i.e., unborn alien babies, he calmly detatches the feeding tubes and orders the place torched. As the building burns, the eggs burst with a cacauphony of pops, which Wikus similingly comments "sounds just like popcorn".
Later, however, Wikus is exposed to a virus that slowly changes his generics to that of the aliens.
And there is where the concept of "the monster", which has seemingly been hotwired into our brains since the start of civilization, is completely turned on its head. Wikus' actions are deplorable, and some do warrent the title of "monster". And yet, the only way he achieves redemption is by helping the very creatures he has helped persecute, whose mere appearance can be called monsterous, this brought on by his slow transformation into one of them.
In other words, Wikus' attempts to right the actions that made him a monster are a result of his slow transformation into what he always percieved as a monster.
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As nice as it is for movies to have subtle philosophy, that's no good if the movie isn't entertaining to watch, and District 9 definitely fits that description. Though there aren't any real fight scenes until somewhat late in the movie, but the trek through the titular camp has a good number of suspenseful moments, and does ans excellent job of introducing the principle characters.
The titular camp is perhaps the most visually-striking thing in the movie. It is filthy, crowded, and reeking of desparations, ths effect made all the stronger by the contrast between the camp and the bustling, lively streets of Johanessburg.
The action scenes, though they occur late in the movie are worth the wait. They are visceral and exciting without being overblown.
Now for some warnings:
There are a great number of distubing scenes in the movie, such as the aforementioned burning of the incubator, and a terrifying scene in which a Wikus is tortured with electricity to make him test alien weaponry.
This movie is rated 'R' for a reason. Limbs are ripped from bodies, characters explode in a red mist when hit by alien weaponry, and profanity is abundant. This movie is NOT for the faint of heart.
*Phew!* That was a long post. What did you guys think of District 9?
i actually just saw it too, i thought it was really good. most of your points i agree with.
i disagree slightly with your analysis of the "prawns." yes, they were essentially giant bugs, and moved like it, but when you saw how they interacted with each other, they seemed very... human, for lack of a better word, and were very easy to sympathise wth. i see their criminal activities as a result of their horrible living conditions. in fact, criminal is a really, really tough sell as a description of what they did. basically, they were assumed to be less-than-human, and treated as such. much as blacks were for hundreds of years, the worst of which occured in (can you say irony!) south africa, under the apartheid regime.
back to the movie. two things i really liked was the documentary-style filiming. it was a very good way of filling in background and such. and the nigerians were a really good plot element. cool, a little disgusting, and really added to the realistic portrayal of a first contact possibility that hasnt been explored yet by anyone, until now. another of the things i liked about the movie. it was so original
i have lost all respect for the op....
Ummm, is that referring to me?
Quick tidbit: the name of the camp, District 9, is a refference to a holding camp for blacks during Apartheid, which was called District 6.
Just thought I'd throw that in.
whaddya think? sequel, named district 10?
Awesome, but unlikely. This was an adaption of Blomkhamp's original short, "Alive in JoBurg", so it's more of a passion project.
That being said, I'd love to see some continuation of the story. Maybe a TV miniseries that chronicles the rise of an organized rebellion against MNU?
I doubt they would bother rebelling, it seems like all hell would break loose when help comes from the prawn homeworld.
Given what the alien weaponry can do, I think a better term would be "Pwned homeworld".
i saw it as well. definitly the best movie of the summer.
i thought the plot line of the aliens being opressed was original and intruiging.
10/10
wtf. its MA15+ in Aus.
yeah, its definitly a commentary on the evils of White Supremacy in South Africa back in the day...
2 things pissed me off though
1) that the trailer sold the movie as an action film about humans vs aliens, but with the twist of role reversal, when in fact it wasnt that at all, and
2) that the humans in the movie were so pathetic and despicable. and the worst of that is im know for a fact its not exaggerated. People who have been oppressed come back 10 fold. its not enough that they are free from oppression, but they have to get 'revenge'.
this is true of victims of racial discrimination, age discrimination, sex discrimination, its absolutely disgusting, and i despise humans as a species for it, even if i am a human myself.
however, it gets worse, yeah its a movie, but most people wont even get the meaning, and wose still, that either those that do cant do anything about its message, or, that the people who can do something wont see it.
The Nigerians in the film, for instance. Scum of the Earth, in my opinion. yet the Nigerians themselves who are the best bet for changing that sterotype (or even the occurence of it at all) probably will never see the film.
all in all, a nice film if you look at it from the right angle (that is, a scathing commentary on White Supremacy etc) but from anywhere else, its a piece of crap movie with very annoying and offensive characters (in terms of morals and basic inter-personal relations, the example they made for humans in general was probably accurate, but still offensive for those who dont act like that) nice special effects, lots of cliches, with a terribly misleading trailer, aimed at getting the most people possible to see this film that this guy made as a way to voice (force upon other people?) his personal opinions
all in all, i gave it maybe 2/10... really didnt enjoy it. i go to the movies to get away from the crap that is reality, i dont need to escape to a place where humans are exactly what they are in real life. Movies are entertainment, not a wake-up call, especially not when its sprung upon you as a surprise like: HELLO! NOW I GET TO MAKE YOU FEEL GUILTY FOR THE SINS OF YOUR RACE! HOPE YOU ENJOY IT! OR NOT!
I think the content, though I haven't seen it yet, don't think i will though...was too much for 15+ anywhere, I think the R rating is suitable...
Although the movie is directed by peter jackson, there isn't much hype around it. He sorta hit peak in directing the lord of the rings, thrid installment. After than he just fizz out... even the first of the thee had more hype than this movie will ever get... dispite what the box office say.
South Africa ... the plot seems parallel to the situation under the old Apartheid. Read Africans for the aliens.
all are MA15+, R rated here means its 18+
not entirely true... UP isnt rated MA15+...
but generally, it means us Aussies have stronger stomachs than them Yanks =P
lets wait for trans 3 in 2011 and then a movie after trans 3 to decide that
not really. and btw how am i being ridonculous
Maybe because it's not directed by Peter Jackson at all. It's directed by Neill Blomkamp. Produced by Jackson.
o really
Mooster zips up his mouth.
I had to leave the movie early.....I was really enjoying it but the young lady I brought along was getting ill from the handheld "cinema verite" of the movie. Do not bring people to this movie who are squeamish or require dramamine for car trips. I am going to have to go back to the movie theater and watch it again to see the end...lol.
And yeah, Peter Jackson just produced it. Kind of an interesting story, they were originally getting resources together for the Halo movie, but the deal fell apart / got pushed back. Since he already had Blomkamp there and other resources available, they decided to go ahead and make a different movie. This movie is completely Neill Blomkamp's baby, though it never would have happened without Peter Jackson.
It is also made with a fraction of the budget that movies like Transformers 2 are made with.....from what I've read, they only spent $30 million on it, so it is well on its way to being a very profitable movie.
Hahahahaha!
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