Great movie- more than just special effects!!

Rating: 10/10 (4 February 2010)

District 9 started off immediately grabbing the viewer's attention. The film dives into news footage of an alien space craft hovering over Johannesburg, South Africa in 1982. The news footage continues to show the outcome of the space craft up until present day. The inhabitants of the space craft were aliens that are later named "prawns" as a derogatory term. These prawns were designated to live in District 9, a filthy slum. The news footage then switches to interviews with staff and friends that knew Wikus Van De Merwe (actor Sharlto Copley), an MNU field operative. Interviewees exclaim their disgust and shock of the actions of Wikus. Wikus was in charge of evicting the prawns from District 9.
Wikus is ambitious, kind, and wishes the prawns no harm. The viewers have no idea what Wikus could have possibly done to upset his friends, co-workers, and the general public that were interviewed. Eventually Wikus finds himself in a battle for human dignity. Wikus is forced out into a world that is not necessarily on his side. He must choose his path even though many do not agree with him.
Wikus experiences many struggles throughout the film, internal and external. Wikus is intent on sparing as many prawns lives as possible, even though the general public does not like the prawns as many of them have performed unfavorable acts. In time Wikus finds himself on the side of the prawns as his fellow MNU co-workers attempt to experiment on Wikus after an unfortunate accident. Wikus finds himself fighting for his life throughout the rest of the film.
Wikus's experiences are beyond himself, representing a universal theme; similar to the theme in the film Avatar. Both movies reveal the struggle between the human race and another species. This is only the theme on the surface; a much larger theme is represented. The visual effects in District 9 are incredible. The prawns have a unique appearance, not like any alien that we have ever seen. The setting is perfect to give the feel for a true "slum" that the prawns live in. The lighting exemplifies this in the film. When viewing District 9, the scenery is dark and dirty. The shacks have hardly any light. On the other hand, the MNU building is bright and white. This contrast reveals subtly the difference between the two races, human and alien. Another affect that was used in the film is hand held cameras. In the interviews and during the evictions, the use of hand held cameras was used to give the viewer the feel that it was real.
Overall, District 9 was an excellent movie. It surpassed my expectations that it was only going to be great special effects and action. The film not only had action and great special effects but it had a storyline with a universal theme that everyone can relate to. There are several themes in the film that anyone can relate to; it is open for interpretation. My interpretation is that you have to do what is right no matter what the majority thinks.