Saturday, August 22, 2009

'District 9' Review


Sharlto Copley in the Sci-Fi thriller District 9, directed by Neill Blomkamp

One of the aliens. Watch the trailer: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/district-9/31920/main

Here's another really grand Sci-Fi film that delivers the goods and never disappoints. All the good reviews and word of mouth have made District 9 a hit. It will remind you of several films of this genre as it takes their best parts and transforms them into cinema magic. What looks familiar at first (The giant spaceship hovering over the city like in Independence Day or the aliens reminiscent of countless films from First Men In The Moon to Predator) is given a new spin. I was totally enthralled for two hours and so should you.
The plot concerns an alien spaceship stuck floating over Johannesburg South Africa. Its inhabitants are rescued and placed into camps. Many reviews refer to their plight as an Apartheid allegory but not knowing this info will not detract from enjoying the story. A corporation plans to move the aliens to a new facility but has a hidden agenda planned for these stranded creatures referred to as prawns. A nervous, unctuous bureaucrat marvelously played by an unknown actor, Sharlto Copley, is in charge of their relocation and will soon learn what it's like to be one of them as he becomes pursued by his company and Nigerian profiteers. I don't want to give away the rest of the plot of this intriguing film. The trailer tells you enough to lure you into the theater.
The film cleverly opens as if you're watching current TV news with its jerky photography of handheld cameras, screen titles, interviews, and voice overs that make it look authentic and gives you a you-are -there feeling. Be prepared for a skillful mix of action, comedy, social commentary, and some great special effects that don't look fake. You need to see District 9 in the theater to truly appreciate the jarring surround sound which is the best I've heard in a while as it heightens the intensity of action scenes.

No comments: