Could have been better

Rating: 7/10 (23 September 2011)

Like many other sci-fi films before, District 9 starts with a fascinating premise and great story and concept, that unfortunately are only enough to hold about thirty or forty minutes of film. A sci-fi mockumentary is a great idea and for the first half hour it holds great. Then, sadly, District 9 turns into a pretty standard sci-fi/action affair with a pretty standard story arc about an anti-hero who starts out as a villain, then learns the error of his ways and goes through a process of redemption. Really not much to write home about. Still - the story is more original than that of Avatar, and even the action scenes are more well-paced. It's just a shame that it could have been a great film and instead it's just okay.