Jackson and Blomkamp invent a rich and engaging action drama

Rating: 9/10 (22 August 2009)

With the teaser at Comic-Con '09, inventive ad campaigns on bus stops, billboards, train stations, public restrooms and some effective viral marketing, District 9 had already created quite a stir among the underground world of sci-fi geeks who waited with sheer excitement for the Ring Master (Peter Jackson)'s latest wizardry. Jackson entrusted Neill Blomkamp with District 9 after the duo first attempted a movie version of of the popular video game 'Halo' (which did not see the light of day) and being inspired by Blomkamp's own short film, 'Alive in Joburg' (2005). Thus, Blomkamp's big directorial debut is not only a manifestation of his affinity for science fiction and his South African background in the wake of apartheid, but is an exemplary sci-fi action-drama that ruthlessly supersedes its hype.
An alien ship arrived over Johannesberg 20 years ago and the entire population of the ugly tentacled shrimp like creatures, whom the humans nicknamed 'prawns', were moved into District 9 which grew into a massive, uncontrollable ghetto area of the city that humans could not control anymore. The discontent among the citizens of Jo'berg is expressed through the eyes of news cameras that interview people who demand segregation and alienation of the prawns outside city limits. When black people say this in South Africa, the images turn potent. Those who are interviewed in the beginning are talking about Wikus, an employee of MNU (Multi-national United), with an assumption out there that something went wrong with him and the alien camp. The mystery surrounding these interviews haunts one throughout the movie.
Wikus is assigned the task of resettlement of the prawns to another camp outside the city. Sharlto Copley plays this role remarkably well for a novice especially since his character sees high voltage emotions that are only compounded by his physical and mental change. Something goes wrong while he is serving evacuation notices and this leads to a dramatic turn of events that involve a revolutionary gang of Nigerian thugs, an opportunity for a prawn to re-power the mother ship, a chance for MNU to finally enable the usage of the alien weaponary they've acquired and Wikus' very existence as himself.
Blomkamp's story telling has a lot of thrills and twists to keep one engaged but at the same time, he gives the thoughtful mind some delectable bits to chew on while he stirs the emotions to make one realize that humans are indeed a flawed species. District 9 has all the ingredients for a summer thriller – grotesque aliens, a robot suit that turns Wikus into Iron Man, space ships, 'Halo' type explosive battle sequences, gory scenes of exploding bodies and at the same time, a hard- hitting docu-drama about the prejudice, hypocrisy and savagery inflicted by humans on the otherwise helpless and sympathetic aliens. Blomkamp makes you care about Wikus as he is alienated from his own people. He makes you care about Christopher, the prawn who found the means to re-power the mother ship and his little whiz-kid who is ever so curious about going back home awww!...
On the other hand, Blomkamp throws the reality in your face. Aliens are not the invading type that we have seen so far and they do not appear in the darkness with muted special effects. The prawns in District 9 are out in the sun, with CGI so sophisticated that it's hard to believe that Weta did not have any alien suits. Hand-held cinematography is used only when needed for a natural effect (way better than Cloverfield) but the real action is left explicitly adorned for all to enjoy. He even throws our cruel intentions, selfishness, hypocrisy, innate villainy and physical limitations at our face for us to rather take the side of the aliens. How would you not feel excited when the savage aliens rip apart the leader of the MNU Mercenaries??!
District 9 does what true science fiction does—it makes you think about the world you live in. The world where man's path of righteousness is in direct conflict with his opposing actions. There are numerous instances of real-life parallels in the movie as depicted in the savage and gangster life in the slum, prejudice against certain sects and money-minded corporations that turn against their own. Although, the film gives a bleak view of our world, it proves the undying fact that humans can truly become who they are upon complete alienation.

9.22 on a scale of 1-10.