The Infallible District 9 (Movie Review)

So when my Warcraft playing husband eagerly followed the reviews and trailers for District 9, I had my doubts. “I’m not sure” I mused aloud, ” Transformers sucked and that was your idea.”

But there I was opening day, armed with a large popcorn and Coca Cola to make some part of this experience worthwhile.Science fiction movies need a review from someone who has a general aversion to such subjects, and as that person I am here to tell you what a surprising and unparalled delight District 9 is.

*Slight Spoilers Ahead,Obviously

Over the skies of modern Johannesburg, South Africa hovers a spaceship that has left the city’s residents puzzled and slightly worried.Not content with staying in their present state of bafflement, the military investigates (can’t say ‘aliens’ would have sufficed my curiosity either) the large vehicle to see what’s aboard, and discover an immense population of incapacitated aliens. Deciding(somewhat stupidly) that bringing the aliens down to Earth is the best course of action, the government attempts to have the aliens live unquarantined within the city limits. From here the film masterfully sets a scene of human prejiduce and a disasterous inability by the aliens to integrate into the human society they’ve been thrown into. Filmed documentary style complete with shaky camera movements and interviews, director Neill Blomkamp thrusts his movie into a realm of reality for the viewer.

And particularly in the beginning of the movie, Blomkamp’s ability to harness the viewer’s interest is inspired.Through interviews with various South African citizens, elements of foreshadowing are revealed and contributes to a sense of suspense the viewer will feel throughout the film. But Blomkamp doesn’t end with suspense and action for his cinematic triumph; the film also alludes to the infamous District 6 of the 1970s, where racial prejiduce was abound just as it is in most of the scenes for District. However, this allusion isn’t a permanent fixture of the movie. The movie later devolves into more traditional camerawork, and the message takes the backseat to heavy action.

The plot centers around a pretty unlikeable guy by the name of Wikus, who is a bureaucrat working for the alien relations corporation(MNU) established to deal with the “prawns”, as the aliens are not so affectionately dubbed. Wikus also happens to be married to the boss’s daughter, so a bit of nepotism lands him the newly opened position of directing a project that is anything but uneventful. The aliens have become a nuisance to the community, so the plan is to evacuate them from the shantytown of District 9 (where the prawns were sectioned off to after some violent uprisings and unrests) to the newly built District 10.

Actor Shatlto Copley plays Wikus, and he builds the character wonderously.Wikus is a clumsy, incosiderate oaf who doesn’t possess enough savvy to make the transition of  the remaining aliens in District 9 as fluid as possible.But what’s great about Wikus is that he is a real,flawed character.Any revelations or insightful changes you expect from him he bumbles into, and anything good he does always has a touch of selfishness to it.

Sooner than expect, Wikus’ story becomes an unfortunate one, as his story intertwines with that of a smart, English proficent alien by the name of Christopher. Christopher is a stark contrast against the his fellow aliens; he isn’t the impulsive rule breakers the other aliens have found themselves to be, and his adjustments to Earth life are decidely noneventful.

With the intersection of these two characters, something very,very bad happens to an unsuspecting Wikus. And this is where the film delves into pure action territory,but it’s still enough to keep the viewer intrigued and happy. The ending can’t be beat, and I can only tell you that I had a tear in my eye as the credits rolled.

With the exobitant price of a theatre ticket these days, don’t waste your hard earned money on anything but the gem that is District 9. With an amazing human interest story(really puts you in the protagonist’s shoes), loads of action, and a plotline that dwarfs all others, this is the movie to go to.

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