Comments on: Movie Review – District 9

By: Rodney

Rodney — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:50:06 +0000

Thanks Duncan, and welcome to our site. Glad you like what you’re reading. You know, I felt the same about The Hurt Locker, in that everyone else liked/loved it except me. I can recognize that it’s a well made film, and that it has some social commentary to offer, but it’s not a film I’m likely to ever bother with again. I think a few people were of the same opinion as you regarding District 9, Duncan, I know a few people who left the cinema after about half and hour of this and they didn’t come back – I know, because I was sitting right behind them. Thanks for your thoughts!

By: Duncan

Duncan — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:39:35 +0000

Very good review, I’m beginning to think i’m the only person in the world that didn’t like this, apart from the person i watched it with. It was the closest i came to walking out of the cinema all year in 2009. I guess we all have a few films that we can’t understand why they’re liked though. Might be a good idea for a post actually!

By: Rodney Twelftree

Rodney Twelftree — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:20:49 +0000

Well, after a little more time to think, I still rate this film as a dynamite debut, worthy of a high score. The films internal logic may be a little wobbly at times (then again, it is a film and we can’t expect it to be completely scientifically and narratively logical) but I think the impact this film will have, and has had, on audiences remains so powerful you’ll be talking about it for a long time to come.
And yes, I agree, Peter Jackson & WETA have a lot to answer for for this films success.

By: Rodney Twelftree

Rodney Twelftree — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:17:19 +0000

And you mentioned Enemy Mine, one of my favourite all time films from childhood!!! Yipee!!! I must track that down and watch it again…… good old Wolfgang Peterson….

By: Rodney Twelftree

Rodney Twelftree — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:11:49 +0000

No, it wasn’t just you. South African Bruce Willis was a pain in the ass and I clapped so hard when he… well, you know.

By: Michael Kubler

Michael Kubler — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:14:01 +0000

Also, I should mention that Nollywood is starting to really take off (Nigerian Hollywood), and seeing this set in South Africa very much made me think of it.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/franco_sacchi_on_nollywood.html

By: ColinGregBowden

ColinGregBowden — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:09:44 +0000

I just finished watching the film myself. It truly is an amazing film, but I don’t believe that it’s a TEN. More like an eight & a half or nine. Giving a ten for a debut film would place Blomkamp in a group of cinematic peers that very few directors could ever aspire to reach with all their films, let alone their first!
I don’t think he’s quite in that league. Yet.
He does have a lot to be grateful to Peter Jackson & WETA for. The design of the aliens is superb, and you do make a true connection with them throughout the movie, and the humans… well, we truly can be a pitiful bunch of wankers, can’t we?
Having studied South African history in high school gave me some understanding & background knowledge of the problem of segregation (apartheid), and this film clearly resurrects the issue, lifting a dark scab (sorry about the analogy) to expose a serious problem, and that was prevelant in the film even among those who were oppressed during the apartheid era.
But was it just me or did you just want that South African Bruce Willis wannabe to just die…? Hmm, some darkness lingering there too, in me…
Admittedly, the script is excellent, with few faults. Yes, it is a truly gory film, somewhat like some of the early works of a certain New Zealand director/producer…
Yes, the film can certainly be described as a hybrid of Alien Nation (or Enemy Mine, perhaps), Cloverfield and Children Of Men, or something similar (whatever takes your fancy).
It’s certainly now joining The Hangover as being one of the big sleeper hits of 2009.

By: Michael Kubler

Michael Kubler — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:21:22 +0000

WOW. That’s what I said when I finished watching District 9. Absolutely amazing.

I should stress, there is a LOT of gore and violence by the end of this film. It’s almost like Rambo 4, but with a handheld style similar to Cloverfield, but not as nauseating.

As Rodney mentioned, the film really does make some great points about Racism, the Priority of Profit over (Human and Alien) life, and typecasting.

While this movie is really not suited to anyone that would be classified as ‘girly’ or ‘squeamish’, for everyone else it’s a truly awesome movie.
A new way of thinking about Aliens, and at the same time, a gritty, realistic look at humanity.

I watched some of Neill Blomkamp’s previous shortfilms, and have to say, he did well with Yellow, and the Halo videos, but this was a truly remarkable start to his Feature Film career. Neil started in the industry as a 3D animator, working on shows like Dark Angel, and Smallville, as well as adverts, and short films, so he has mastered the art of visual effects like Michael Bay is good at Explosions.

I am really looking forward to seeing what Neil works on next, and hope he becomes the next Steven Spielberg.