District 9 is everything I love about science fiction

Rating: 9/10 (25 June 2011)

District 9 is everything I love about science fiction. For me, Science Fiction at its very best is provocative enough to make you question what it means to be human, and consider deeply how you feel about those qualities. This film delivers all that while also terrifying and thrilling the audience with a very interesting story.
What would we do if an alien ship planted itself above any part of our world and didn't move – but also didn't attack us? How would we treat an alien race? Unfortunately, not terribly different than we treat each other sometimes. This movie explores these concepts with such realism and emotion that you almost believe you are watching a documentary. I am heartbroken by human evil, but I don't deny it's a very real thing. This movie touches the very core of that.
The production is phenomenal and the special effects are stunning. The acting is appropriate and raw when it should be. Even the "prawns" evoke real emotion, which is quite an accomplishment. The violence is extreme and not for the faint at heart, so prepare yourself.
So How Does It End? I didn't want to place any spoilers above this because I feel like this movie is best viewed with a clean slate, so please read no further if you haven't seen the film.
I was deeply touched by the "prawn" father/son relationship in this movie and feel it was key to a real connection with the viewer. The scene where the little "prawn" likes Wikus, and Christopher says its because "you are the same" I was deeply touched and tortured. There's something very profound and meaningful about the expression, "walk a mile in their shoes." It doesn't really have a true ending, but the final shot is haunting and beautiful. The mother ship leaves but not before promising to return and save all the "prawns," as well as fix Wikus back into a human. I was sickened as the final MNU mercenary was ripped to pieces by the "prawns" because I was wondering how much of their violence was true to their nature and how much of it was a response to our treatment of them.
This film makes you question what you might be capable of in the face of fear or the unknown. It also makes you wonder whether you would have the strength to achieve redemption if given the opportunity. It is thought provoking and wildly entertaining. While it is not without a few flaws, it is an excellent and unique film. I give it 5 out of 5.