District 9

Rating: 8/10 (19 September 2009)

I have to confess when I saw bits and pieces, and even a full trailer, I was very dubious it was going to be any good, even with Peter Jackson producing, but I am really glad I was advised to go. Basically a massive star ship appeared over Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1990, carrying a population of an alien race, nicknamed "The Prawns". Twenty years later, the human race believe the aliens have outstayed their welcome, and they are forced to live in squalor in the militarised ghetto called District 9. It is now 2010, and Multi-National United, the munitions corporation, is forcing the Prawns to be evicted, with operative Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley) in charge. Things change when while raiding one of the Prawn's houses, Wikus is sprayed in the face by a strange alien chemical, which took years to make, and slowly his health is deteriorating. Beginning with his damaged arm, he finds it has turned into a Prawn arm, and obviously if he is not cured he will turn into a full alien being. Escaping captivity by the scientists and military personnel, the only people Wikus can count on is his two new "friends", the Prawns who not only created the chemical, but are planning to leave the planet. Many experts and people who knew Wikus don't know what happened to him, only believing he is alive, we see he did turn into a Prawn, and in the end, the aliens were moved to a District 10, where their population grew. Also starring David James as Koobus Venter, Jason Cope as Christopher Johnson / Grey Bradnam - UKNR Chief Correspondent, Vanessa Haywood as Tania Van De Merwe, Mandla Gaduka as Fundiswa Mhlanga, Kenneth Nkosi as Thomas, William Allen Young as Dirk Michaels, Hlengiwe Madlala as Sangoma, Louis Minnaar as Piet Smit and Robert Hobbs as Ross Pienaar. The documentary style makes this film interesting viewing, and with some great special effects and gory moments, this is certainly one science-fiction action drama you will be disappointed to miss. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published and Best Motion Picture of the Year, it was nominated BAFTAs for Best Cinematography, Best Director for Neill Blomkamp, Best Editing, Best Production Design, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound and Best Special Visual Effects, and it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay. Very good!