An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Critic rating
Reader rating
Dir: Neill Blomkamp.
Cast: Louis Minnaar, Jason Cope, David James, Mandla Gaduka, Kenneth Nkosi, Vanessa Haywood, Sharlto Copley
Description: In the near future, aliens are granted refugee status on Earth and segregated in the titular containment facility in Johannesburg. When the increasingly xenophobic human population turns against the extra-terrestrials, the Alien Affairs Office of Multi-National United (MNU) co-ordinates a mass relocation to a new facility. In the process, field operative Wikus van de Merwe is infected with an alien virus.
Country: US. 2009. 112mins
Hardcore prawn: one of the crustacean-like aliens who take up residence in a Johannesburg shanty town
Before he hit paydirt with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson made bad science fiction films. District 9 has been marketed as Jackson’s return to his roots. And it is, in the sense that it is science fiction, and often quite bad. But perhaps Jackson’s involvement can be overplayed. He is merely the producer of this alien shoot-em-up.
The South African-born writer/director Neill Blomkamp previously worked on short films connected with the video game Halo, and was slated to direct a feature based on the game, which may explain why this film has the enervating quality of a wet Tuesday in the arcade. More interestingly, it is based on his short, Alive in Joburg, and the battle between corporate jobsworths and an alien species with an unfortunate resemblance to prawns draws parallels with apartheid. This is not, mind you, a subtle allegory.
At the beginning and the end — though not so consistently in the middle — the film is a spoof documentary, following the efforts of Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley) of the MultiNational United corporation’s Department of Alien Affairs, as he attempts to serve eviction notices on the prawns/aliens who live in a Johannesburg shanty town, while their broken mother ship hovers helplessly above. (How the abandoned craft stays airborne isn’t explained. Presumably decapod spaceships employ very advanced technology.)
The prawns are to be moved to less comfortable refugee camp, 200km out of town. All goes well until Wikus unwittingly releases a canister of alien rocket fuel, which has the unfortunate effect of turning his hand into a giant prawn claw. This is bad news for him, but good news for MNU, which has been trying for years to operate alien weaponry. Human hands can’t operate alien guns. Giant prawn hands can.
Soon enough Wikus is being shot by all sides, as the evil corporate types try to harvest his organs, and the prawns remain unforgiving of his previous misdeeds. In a subplot which undermines the film’s anti-apartheid pretensions somewhat, he is also pursued by some angry Nigerians, who are black, as in blaxploitation, and seem to belong to an alien species derived from the DNA of Mr T.
It goes on for quite a long time. Many guns are fired, the walls of the township are splattered with seafood, and the annoying Citroën commercial with the robot car is evoked, as Wikus continues his transformation into a Prawn Terminator.
He’ll be back. Oil the wok.
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The thing is - movie that did all that human/alien/racism question raising was the movie that you didn't expect it from - Starship Troopers. ST looked like a bug hunt action movie and yet managed to portray all issues far better that District 9. In opossite, District 9 tries to do that, but ultimately become a bug/adrennaline action movie. Aliens signing documentss? One human and one alien joining together and kicking ass? U kiddding me? Still, lots of impresive stuff to see.
- Bane, Belgrade, Serbia
I agree with the review. I find the film unwatchable and I left the theatre an hour before the end of the film. The filming and editing are so fast and unstable that my eyes started to hurt after ten minutes. The story is so stupid that not a single scene was without at least one stupendeously illogical element. It is humourless, charmless, and way to stupid to convey any satirical message. A complete aimless mess.
- Emil, trondheim, norway
This reviewer clearly didn't bother to watch the whole film, "prawns remain unforgiving of his previous misdeeds" - which bit was that Alistair?
By no means a perfect film but a few duff performances and lazy stereotypes don't spoil what is a dazzling and inventive social commentary, with a tour de force central performance from Sharlto Copley. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
- Mike, Northampton
Just seen this movie. Oh thank you thank you thank you dear reviewer for clearly expressing what has been brooding in my mind for the past 2 hours. Sorry, this movie DOES NOT deserve to be called a "science fiction" movie.
It's very clear (and more than one commenter has explicitily admitted this) that people loving this movie have no idea on what sci-fi is (no offense intended). Oh please. Scifi is something else. This is a brainless action movie with a brash, elementary allegory.
I can understand the enthusiasm of our South African friends for what is, after all a good yet oversimplified account on their socio-political problem. However scifi lovers please spare your money for something better!!
- Giuseppe, Edinburgh, UK
I thought this movie was excellent. Great to see a completely different take on what happens when aliens turn up on Earth. Obviously, the director has been greatly influenced by apartheid in South Africa, and it is great to see a different take on racism and discrimination.
As for the reviewers comment on the "annoying Citroen ad" - Neil Blomkamp made that commercial, and it's put to much better use here.
- Allen Grove, Bolton, UK
Absolutely loved this film and I don't usually like films about aliens or anything sci-fi. I'm South African, hence I went to see it and was amazed at how much I enjoyed it. It had me on the edge of my seat. My favourite laugh out loud line was "one prawn, one bullet" which harked back to the apartheid era saying of "one black, one bullet". Sheer brilliance!
- Melanie, milton keynes, bucks
I have to say I wasn't that keen until half an hour into the film at which point it started to pick up. I think the point of Wikus is valid, he's not likeable until the latter half of the film, I don't think any of the humans are supposed to be likeable, we're pretty much the Nazi's of the piece. Yes, it's been done before in films like Enemy Mine but it's still a good (not great) sci-fi flick, not bad for £30 million.
- Bob, Cheam
This is a mad max of scifi - shows how it should be done without the dumb holliwood stars
- Sean Dempsey, hayes london.
The sci-fi genre has been crying out for a shot in the arm and Neil Blomkamp has provided. Exciting and engaging on every level, it's hard to believe that this film cost 30m dollars. An awesome film.
- Wayne Brown, Ulverston, England
Not flawless by any means, but damn good, nevertheless!
- Richard Weston Smith, Santa Barbara, USA
"This movie sucked."
And yet, Ed, you bailed after 25 minutes? Please don't review a film you haven't seen.
D9 was brilliant - didn't resort to cliche, was well acted and brilliantly shot. It was never clear from the outset what was going to happen and it's another step in making sci-fi acceptable in the mainstream. What an amazing debut for Blomkamp!
- Alexmagd, Liverpool
I understand that I am among the minority, but I agree with the reviewer's score, just not the reason behind it. I found it extremely hard to enjoy the movie when I despised Wikus' character. The story felt (unceremoniously) fragmented and Wikus' actions and attitude were highly incongruent throughout the film. I was horribly let down by this movie. Perhaps my expectations due to the hype given to me by friends and family was a bit too high.
- Cain, Pennsylvania
I agree. " Cloverfield + Alien + Black Hawk Down = Unoriginal
I'm sure I'd LOVE this movie if I were a 12 year old. We bailed after 25 min.
" Hmmm.....an alien lab....container with liquid....I think I'll open this up with
my mouth open...Oh my God,.. I'm turning into an alien" gee, didn't see that coming !?! This movie sucked.
- Ed, Mysic,CT
very original... almost perfect characterisation from newly emerging actors such as sharlto... although some were a massive letdown, such as the shiny headed responce team captain.
- Jkl, Sheffield/England
I'm afraid this critic has got it all wrong - District 9 is by far the best sci-fi flick in years! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this movie and I only wish other sci-fi movies were made with this much realism, grit and excitement. Sorry Alastair, I think you should find a new day job.
- Martin, Worthing, England
Tsotse and now District 9. I think south Africa has finally made it into Hollywood. A great sci-fi movie which highlighted the recent xenophobic attacks that took place in our country. Well done. And what a brilliant performance from Sharlto Copley. Yay!!!!!!
- Tallyann, johannesburg south africa
I'm left wondering whether the reviewer watched the same District 9 that myself and everybody else has watched. I found it so original, entertaining and gritty. What a pleasure to have all the bangs and whistles without an insult to the intelligence. Refreshing.
- Guy Smith, London
I thoroughly enjoyed this little jewel. There is a few glaring holes in the movie but the acting is flawless and the blunt references to a new South Africa reflecting a broader international reality, but with the very same past problems, is striking.
- Tbear, Frankfurt, Germany
Morning:
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