Stunning...one of the most brilliant sci-fi films ever. It will be under rated!!

Rating: 10/10 (4 September 2009)

I think the latter part of 2009 will almost certainly show some really interesting science fiction films including my highly anticipated Surrogates (drooling for this release.) District 9 looked interesting and in the little I had seen on it I had the wrong impression entirely of the plot of the movie. I thought District 9 was about Aliens landing in the future and basically imprisoning human beings. This was completely not even close to the plot. Aliens crash land against their wishes on earth in an alternate time line earth in the eighties. The humans usher the Aliens into a small ghetto type area where essentially their social climate erupts into crime and disease. There is without a doubt some social message here but all of that aside the movie is downright brilliant. Full of action, and drama, and emotion and humor the movie is a nonstop thrill ride. Made on a relatively low budget of thirty million the special effects are spot and brilliantly done. While there aren't a lot of so called "battle scenes" the ones that are there are just eye dropping and brilliant. The story, the direction, the action and every other part of the film just falls into place to create one of the most entertaining movies of the summer and it has heart and intelligence to boot.
Sharlton Copley is apparently a newcomer to the big screen, this being his only acting credit. That only makes his performance as by the book alien relations office all the more impressive. His character goes through incredible changes physically and emotionally and his performance is mind blowing. Some IMDb reviews call it Oscar worthy and while that is probably very true it would never happen given the mainstream quality of District 9. Still he has an incredibly fascinating character and is just simply incredible to watch. On top of that he is basically a one man show when it comes to this film. Yes there are supporting characters but they are very small roles all around and the only other characters that have any substantial screen time are the aliens themselves. I'm sure the lack of actual actors in the film made the budget restraints better for the special effects.
Director and writer Neill Blomkamp is fairly new to the big screen as well but clearly if you look back to his live action Halo shorts you will see the man is potentially a visionary director and loves science fiction and that will most certain bode well in the future if he is kept on to director the "Halo" film. District 9 is entirely his baby and he is brilliant. The world he creates is so incredibly realistic and the documentary style shooting is not overused like it has been in the past with films like Cloverfield or Quarantine. He uses it rather to immerse you into the story and then doesn't hesitate to return to a more stylish and normal film style. He gives the Aliens personality, and heart and emotion whether it be anger or sadness, hatred or love and the one thing you will be left wishing for is more on the intriguing character of Christopher Johnson (the Alien father trying to do nothing more than save his son.) District 9 begs for another installment and yet no one should touching this except Neill Blomkamp because this is entirely his creation. Science fiction fans, action, horror fans you must absolutely see this film...it will be under rated most certainly and yet is probably one of the best films of 2009 hands down. Absolutely breath taking!! 10/10