District 9 (Blu-ray Disc, 2009)

When I first started watching this movie I didn't think that I was going to like it. It starts off kinda like a weird sci-fi documentary and COPS combined into one weird sci-fi movie. But once it really got into the movie the more I liked it because it kinda went away from the whole documentary style movie. I was really surprised, because I was about to just stop watching it when it changed styles. It ends up being a really action packed movie with a lot of blood and gore like people exploding, body parts flying off, etc.

The only thing that I did not like about this movie was the language. Once it got into the movie it was just none stop f words all the way. I would recommend watching this movie if you are an adult, but I wouldn't let a child watch it.

Here is a little summary...

Humans waited for the hostile attack, or the giant advances in technology. Neither came. Instead, the aliens were refugees, the last survivors of their home world. The creatures were set up in a makeshift home in South Africa's District 9 as the world's nations argued over what to do with them. Now, patience over the alien situation has run out. Control over the aliens has been contracted out to Multi-National United (MNU), a private company uninterested in the aliens' welfare - they will receive tremendous profits if they can make the aliens' awesome weaponry work. So far, they have failed; activation of the weaponry requires alien DNA. The tension between the aliens and the humans comes to a head when an MNU field operative, Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley), contracts a mysterious virus that begins changing his DNA. Wikus quickly becomes the most hunted man in the world, as well as the most vauluable - he is the key to unlocking the secrets of alien technology. Ostracized and friendless, there is only one place left for him to hide: "District 9".

An alien craft suddenly arrive above South Africa, once the government gets inside they find a group of aliens who are stranded and their ship is inoperable. The government sets them up in an area they call District 9.

Twenty years later, after the aliens have become a burden on society a group of MNU operatives is sent in to move the aliens to another location. One man become infected with an alien virus and is hunted by the government. The movie is about this mans flight from his own government and the aliens attempt to get out of the slum they have been forced to live in.

The movie is much like a documentary, it is well done and Peter Jackson has once again shown that he is an excellent film maker.

The only draw back is there is not enough action throughout the movie, it is at times too much like a documentary and not enough like a film.

The cast includes: David James, Devlin Brown, Jason Cope, Kenneth Nkosi, William Allen Young

I will not give away any secrets but will say that the movie left open a opportunity for a sequel at the end of this movie and I would not be surprised to see 'District 10' come out sometime in the future.

I love this movie in particular because it is so unlike the typical Hollywood sci-fi. On one hand it is told sort of like a documentary, adding that extra bit of believability (though it doesn't strictly adhere to this format). Secondly, the fact that the alien ship chooses to land in Johannesburg, South Africa instead of Washington DC or New York City adds to the impression that this is not your typical all-American shootemup--although there is certainly a good share of firepower and special effects, especially towards the end of the film that won't leave you longing. The story itself is also really cool and the protagonist is most definitely not your typical action movie hero. Instead of aliens invading Earth and starting a war of us against them, in this film the aliens are sick and dying refugees.

The movie really has it all, but what really sets it apart is its unique mixing of real-world issues with fully imaginative yet somehow actually believable fantastic situations (in this regard it's similar to Cloverfield, another favourite of mine). It's definitely a must-see for any sci-fi lover and is one of my personal favourites from the past couple years.

Being a fan of sci-fi/monster films, I was glad that a movie of my favorite genre was actually nominated for an Oscar. I rented the DVD and was overjoyed with the plot, humor, and the very good special effects, so I bought the Blu-ray copy, which was excellent. The second digital disk (included) gave me a PC copy for quick viewing. I'm happy with District 9!

The idea is fresh, what would happen is a spaceship full of aliens shows up and they're stranded here? The film tries to play to the dark side of humanity, suggesting that we'd create a Guantanamo Bay type camp to corral them in. And it tries to show the conflict of our actions. But that along with the well paid for CGI of the aliens is where the cleverness ends.
District 9 contains vast amounts of unfounded and cheap gratuitous violence which in films like the Die Hard and Lethal Weapon series can balance the film with good dialog. This film assumes the worst, that you don't notice the dialog and characters are too implausible or weak to accomplish the job. (I almost cringe to mention good movies and this movie in the same sentence.) After watching it, my first immediate thought was "Maybe I can re-sell this". You will go "Ewwwww" many times. (And I'm not the type to look away.)
The poignant parallel of how we treat others in our worst hour isn't enough of a hook to hang the rest of this movie on. Not for the kiddies, not for a relaxing evening, not a date movie, maybe for those who play the game and want to see the movie version, but I'd say skip it and save your money.