See it. Now.

Rating: 9/10 (26 December 2012)

District 9 probably isn't what you think it is. If you've seen any of the trailers or recent TV spots for the film, one might expect that it's a slightly more intelligent version of Independence Day. Ominous shots of an alien mother ship hovering above Johannesburg have no doubt fueled speculation that this Neill Blomkamp/Peter Jackson collaboration is a movie that's strangely "arthouse" in its aspirations, which are awkwardly offset by the inclusion of what appears to be a fair amount of mainstream Hollywood-type alien/human warfare. Forget all that. It's a piece of cinema that's not flawless, but it's very close–it's a movie I could talk about all day, but it's something that you need to experience to truly appreciate.
If you want my thesis, though, here it is: District 9 is an alien epic that's simultaneously exhilarating and affecting. Even though it occasionally surrenders to certain filmmaking and storytelling clichés, this is a must-see film for any fan of science fiction, and it's commentary on racism, prejudice, and the inherent violence found in all organic beings makes it, in a few brief, gut-wrenching moments, as thought-provoking as anything else out there.
The aliens in this movie, known as "prawns," were extracted from their ship by humans after it came to Earth and showed no signs of activity, floating quietly over South Africa, for a long period of time. It turns out that the prawn were malnourished, stranded, and didn't have anywhere else to go. Because of their large numbers (somewhere on the order of 1.5 million), it was decided that they be kept in a restricted area known as District 9 for their own well being.
During an attempt to relocate the prawn, our protagonist, Wikus Van De Merwe, an employee of an organization titled Multi-National United (MNU), is accidentally sprayed in the face with a prawn biochemical. Soon, he starts having a really bad day (in true Peter Jackson fashion, I might add, that's directly reminiscent of one of his especially gory features–the classic Dead Alive). Before long, it's clear that the MNU has a more sinister motive for keeping the prawn in captivity, and the whole thing essentially becomes one long chase film (albeit a wonderfully crafted one).
When the movie begins, the story unfolds in the form of a documentary, but, as the action is amped up, Blomkamp opts for the more traditional method of directing, and we're allowed to see things that could never be revealed via documentary. On the whole I think the decision to shift the mode the story is told in is a good one, but there are times where, in the middle of the action, the perspective reverts back to that of a documentary. When this happens, it often seems as if it's done for a sense of continuity–it doesn't really add anything to the story itself, and seems to be more of a stylistic decision. I suppose this is a minor gripe, but it can be a little distracting. I think the movie would've benefited from having a contained documentary placed exclusively at the beginning that explains the origin of the prawn–the random switch-back to the "security camera/handycam" view, especially in the heat of the action, could interrupt the trance District 9 will undoubtedly have you in. There are also one or two "Hollywood" moments that may have you rolling your eyes–especially when they're in stark contrast with the realism found at the beginning of the movie–but the story is so cleverly constructed and the transition into a more traditional mode of storytelling is so subtle that it ultimately shouldn't hinder most people's enjoyment of District 9. In fact, it will make a movie that could've been alienating–please forgive the horrible pun–accessible for a wider audience that might otherwise be put-off by the unusual approach Blomkamp initially takes in terms of telling this particular story.
In light of all that District 9 accomplishes, the minor flaws I've just referenced almost completely disappear. The attention to detail, for example, in the movie is staggering; everything from the prawn technology (you can see the moving parts in each and every weapon) to the strikingly human emotion incorporated into the beautifully rendered CGI creatures will mesmerize you. Blend this with some strong acting from Sharlto Copley and the universal theme of bigotry (and how it's handled) and you'll see why many critics have praised this as the best piece of sci-fi to come along in quite some time.
So, despite my nitpicking, I absolutely loved this movie. It's an almost flawless piece of sci-fi cinema–it's emotionally engaging, thought provoking, and is filled with original, jaw-dropping technology and action. I want so badly to comment on how much I loved the ending, too, and what it suggestsbut I won't do that because I would be doing District 9 a severe disservice. The only way to appreciate this movie is to get out of your chair and go see it. Now.