Neil Blomkamp's debut feature film is a sterling effort.

Rating: 9/10 (30 September 2009)

Neil Blomkamp's debut feature film is a sterling effort. The South African director's talents were first noticed when he made short film Alive in Joburg, and it didn't take long for Peter Jackson to hire Blomkamp to both direct and write District 9, a full length version of the aforementioned short. Blomkamp obviously wasn't overawed by the prospect. D9 is one of the freshest and most original sci-fi films to hit our big screens in a very, very long time. With a hint of comedy, a splash of drama and two big cups of action, science fiction has rarely been so rewarding.
With a meagre budget of only $30m you would expect there to be some shortcuts taken with the special effects but wouldn't you know my surprise when I found the CGI to not only be seamless but inventive to boot. The disgusting 'prawn' aliens are a sight to behold, their slimy faces and emotional eyes are perfectly executed and they interact with the actors fluently. I was shocked to learn that no physical effects or makeup were used to create the creatures such was there realistic appearance. Those who have seen Jackson's earlier film Bad Taste will see the definite influence he had on Blomkamp when it comes to the amusingly gory deaths in the final scene.
Lead actor Sharlto Copley has never acted before yet his transformation from bumbling idiot to South African Rambo (via outlaw on the run) is highly believable. The accent can sometimes cause unwanted laughs but I reckon Blomkamp and Jackson knew this already and subsequently turned the joke on us, the choice of humorous dialogue designed to ham up the Efriken accent proves this.
I didn't notice it until I was walking out of the cinema but D9 also features one thing seldom seen in a movie that also features exploding heads and grotesque aliens: a remarkable story. Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell have crafted a tale that incorporates messages of racial discrimination (most apparently the Apartheid) and profiteering, but never do they rub it in our face. Instead they choose to allow the audience to get involved as much or as little as they want. Don't want to think about the issues? Well sit back and enjoy the glorious action. Like a bit of deeper-thinking in your sci-fi's? You're covered too. No-one is left out and this is what will make D9 a long term favourite like genre classics Alien and The Thing.
I wait with baited breath on what Blomkamp decides to do next, but in the meantime directors Michael Bay (Transformers 2), Stephen Sommers (G.I. Joe) and McG (Terminator Salvation) should be taking notes: this is how you entertain an audience.
4.5 out of 5 (1 - Rubbish, 2 - Average, 3 - Good, 4 - Excellent, 5 - Classic)