Not just overrated, actually terrible

Rating: 1/10 (3 October 2009)

Seeing District 9 for me was a gruelling and fatiguing experience. The ugly cinematography serves only to rub salt into the combined wounds of an aimless, uncompelling story and a heavy-handed, uninspiring attempt at an allegory on contemporary issues which horribly shoots itself in the foot.
For a film that un-subtly trumpets itself from the off as a commentary on racism, District 9 scores a spectacular own goal with its vulgar and offensive portrayal of Nigerians. The pacing of the storyline is appalling and after the half-way mark I was looking for ways the film could end, only to be confounded at every turn by another unwelcome plot-twist which prolonged the mediocrity to a painful degree.
There isn't a single likable character in the entire cast, and Peter Jackson's fondness for long films means your patience will really be tried as you sit this one out. Avoid.