Not as good as it could have been

Rating: 7/10 (25 August 2009)

It was entertaining. Innovative, even.
However, when a filmmaker begins with a premise that just shouts out 'Allegorical telling of Apartheid', you expect him to say something. To say something about man's corruption, about man's evil.
The beginning of the film is pretty good at tapping into this. However, the allegory is wholly abandoned within the first hour, and it becomes a Sci-fi flick. It's a fine film. But could have been much better.
Also disappointing was the xenophobia and corruption by the native Africans. They don't pity the 'prawns', they prey on them. They become indistinguishable from the Afrikaners that created Apartheid.
Which then begs the question: Why South Africa? It served no purpose, other than taking the allegory and rubbing our faces in it. If the history of South Africa taught South Africans nothing.... Well, it makes sense, because this film also teaches nothing.