Keep the Prawns Out

Rating: 9/10 (19 August 2009)

So I was like really excited to see this film for weeks before it was released and then last Friday when it was released I ran out and saw the very first showing. District 9 is directed by a first time director, and produced by famed director, Peter Jackson. Just from the previews I knew I was in for a huge treat for the mind and the eyes, and you know what I was right! This movie is directed by a professional special coordinator, Neill Blomkamp, this happens to be the first film that he has ever directed. When his initial movie fell through Peter Jackson provided the money and the resources for him to bless the big screen with the phenomenal film, 'District 9'. I saw an interview with Neill Blomkamp in which he said that if the special effects were not up to par, he would quickly lose his audience. So in this film we are presented with extraordinary visuals, which are extremely believable. Many time through out this film, my jaw dropped open in suspense and surprise. For this movie is unlike anything I have ever witnessed in theaters. I have to give a huge amount of kudos to the director, for first time directors usually fail on their initial film, 'District 9' however is a huge success. I will buy this film probably on the first day it is released, and I will put it right there in my amazing movie collection with all my other sci-fi films. I usually rate films on, whether or not they have an impact in the cinema community, or if they will be quickly forgotten. I can see 'District 9' being remembered for a very long time. We have another first for this film; main character Sharlto Copley is a first time actor. In witnessing this film I would have assumed that he had been acting his whole entire life. Thus making this film, more enjoyable, strong, and surprising to watch his character Wikus Van De Merwe fighting for everything in his life that he loves. Many scenes are so hard to imagine that he's not a professional actor. The surprising amount of emotion portrayed by this character is hard to fathom. I enjoyed watching his work, for it really was a piece of art not to be overlooked. This movie has an incredible story line, written by the director Neill Blomkamp, many times towards the end, I was gasping in horror, that he might have made a spectacular film but didn't quite know how to end it. That wasn't the case at all, from beginning to end; I was surprised, shocked, and amazed at the impact of the story line on his film. Towards the end, there were times when I thought, "oh that's it, that's how it's going to end" then the story would twist in an opposite direction. It does this throughout the last quarter of the film probably about 5 times. 'District 9' has an immensely perfect story line with underlying political statements, of segregation, population, and occupying of an assembled area. Only with a twist to the story line in which Americans are not occupying a falling community, not even humans are, but an alien species. Most of the time, my film critiquing gets in the way of noticing subtle political points. However, I was very proud of myself for understanding it in this movie. The political statements in this film, is just another pro about this flick. It doesn't take away from the storyline it only emphasizes it. The special effects in this film were so up to date; I wondered how they ever managed to stay under budget. It was so realistic to watch it almost made be believe that somewhere hovering over Johannesburg, South Africa would be a huge space ship filled with cockroach looking extra-terrestrials. 'District 9' has an immensely perfect story line with underlying political statements, of segregation, population, and occupying an assembled area. Only with a twist to the story line in which Americans are not occupying a falling community, not even humans are, but an alien species. I recommend this movie to everybody. I saw this film on Friday, and I was initially going to go by myself, until my mom looked up the overall rating, and saw that it was getting a 9.2 on it's first day. So she came and witnessed it perfection with me on the first day at the first showing. I then took my little sister and my four little brothers, they also enjoyed it, on the following day I took my best friend, and he enjoyed it just as much as I did. So yes, I do recommend this film to almost everybody. I feel privileged to have been able to see this film and critique it. So in conclusion, I loved Neill Blomkamp's first film 'District 9'.
-Wannabeanalice- I have a running movie of the day blog if you would like to read it on myspace.