Gritty sci-fi action at it's coolest.

Rating: 9/10 (14 August 2009)

When it comes down to things alien, I'm on board.
Well, most things involving aliens.
During the previews for 'District 9' some alien abduction flick with Milla Jovovich came on, 'The Fourth Sign' - and it looked like total crap. Not because I dislike the idea of alien abduction but because it was a stylized and over-done looking piece of Hollywood hogwash. With screeching sound effects, manic editing, and ridiculous over-acting, said Jovovich sci-fi flick appears to be a lame attempt to cash in on this possible booming genre.
Funny, 'District 9' had two of those attributes, yet it still managed to turn them into positives instead of negatives.
As you know by now, 'District 9' revolves around aliens landing and subsequently becoming trapped on Earth. They're eventually sectioned off and forced to live in slum-like conditions. After 20 years of this, the people of surrounding Johannesburg are fed up with the aliens and want them out. So MNU (Multi-National United) hatches a plan to move the alien species hundreds of miles south. But that's easier said than done. While during a preliminary phase, our lead character is delt an unfortunate hand and is treading in deep water that encompasses shady corporations and alien welfare.
Neil Blommkamp is, without a doubt, a bright spot in the world of cinema. If you've seen any of his previous work there should be zero doubt of this man's imagination and his talent to wield such creativity. From a simple sneaker commercial that dazzles the eyes; to a short about a robot who's dealing with human emotions; or to an action-packed short movie which was made for Halo 3, everything he seems to touch is special. And with District 9, it's no different.
Blending social commentary, action-packed fire-fights, ingenious weaponry, slimy and awesome special effects, he is everything a fan of sci-fi/action movies should be waiting for. And when it comes down to the special effects, they truly are a spectacle. He uses this somewhat out-of-focus approach of CGI, fused with remarkable make-up effects to create scenes of tremendous impact.
The movie isn't perfect, obviously, but what it does do, it does well. Very well.
I would have loved a more in-depth story, with more answers (concerning the aliens), but I can easily settle for this, as it ended on a note that I was very content with. The acting was all pretty good for the most part as everyone involved was obviously very dedicated and gung-ho to be apart of this film. But the characters themselves and some parts of the dialogue felt a tad cliché at times.
Overall, 'District 9' delivered a true cinematic experience that I haven't seen in a long time. It felt like an awesome mix of 'Starship Troopers' and 'City of God'. Now how cool is that?
With Neil talking about creating a scifi epic next, the sky is truly the limit for this dude.