Not bad, but not a masterpiece

Rating: 6/10 (5 September 2009)

If you prefer "intelligent" Sci-Fi (2001, Blade Runner, Moon etc.) then this isn't going to push all your buttons. It's more akin to the fast-paced, action and FX-heavy movies like Transformers, the latest Terminator movies and J.J Abrams' Star Trek.
So why all the hype? One reason might be the cinematography. It's extremely effective; set against the dusty Johannesburg backdrop of ghettos and garbage, one can almost feel the heat and smell the decay. Another reason might be the originality. Despite the heavy nod to Alien Nation, the idea of a segregated society of aliens living in human-imposed exile, while their seemingly broken-down mother-ship hangs uselessly above the city, is presented in a novel and darkly humorous way. And, finally, the CGI is the best I've seen. There's so much to like here, in a Cloverfield kind of way.
But there's also so much missing. While the lead character is well developed and the acting solid throughout, there's a real lack of support from everyone else. It's pretty much a one man show. The shaky, hand-held camera work in the first reel becomes tedious and unnecessary. The editing in places is surprisingly abrupt and the whole film suffers from 'political metaphor overload'.
Had the pace been slower at the start of the film to allow the supporting characters to establish themselves and the alien back story given a chance to breathe, the frantic final third would have been more in balance.
But life isn't perfect and Sci-Fi is a difficult genre to get exactly right. Striking the balance between slow, introspective intelligence and explosive CGI action has eluded all but the best directors; lessons can be learned from Spielberg, Lucas and Scott. But, such movies are rare - so "District 9" gives us something to watch while we wait for the next 'classic' to come along.