So. I can’t say I expected much from District 9. Rumor had been going around that it was created by the same team tasked to produce the Halo movie before negotiations fell through. Frankly, I’ve never been impressed by Halo. I’ve always seen Halo as a (albeit expertly designed) testosterone infused clone of Unreal Tournament featuring gratuitously shiny, rigid and sterile character models that resemble football players shooting super soakers. So, needless to say, I really wasn’t expecting much from District 9 either - as I expected to see a bunch of brain-dead, muscle-milk drinking space marines shooting it out with a horde of brain-dead, muscle-milk drinking aliens.
Baring my expectations in mind - I made damn sure to be pretty well intoxicated before entering the movie theater. It was a midnight showing (my favorite) and the lines were practically non-existent. I had 9 fluid ounces of vodka beginning to course through my bloodstream and after a rousing game of Time Crisis 4, was ready to sit down and absorb the film.
Shortly after the opening sequence it became clear that I was going to have to chase all that vodka with my poor expectations of the film... as the audience was forced to lean off the edge of their seat, completely slack-jawed at what they were witnessing on screen. Immediately it was apparent that this movie was not going to disappoint.
The film is shot entirely in what us gamers have come to call “roadie cam” or “CNN cam.” This means that the audience experiences the movie much in the same way they might experience the evening news or, in this case, a riveting documentary. District 9 made masterful use of this format to drive the plot forward using “ interview commentaries” to foreshadow events and simulate a journalistic view of the plot unfolding. Furthermore, the action feels visceral, realistic and - in lieu of the plot - cold and unsettling.
As not to ruin the plot I care only to say that this film deals intelligently with themes of “humanity” and how it relates to betrayal, racism and apartheid. The film goes as far to take glimpses into the gritty and frightening prospect of uncontrolled globalism, military industrial complex and private “security” outfits. Humanity is definitely in some deep shit in this film. Other than that - I don’t care to spoil any of the plot.
As far as entertainment value and action is concerned - it’s top notch. It’s explosive, brutal, satisfying and manages to have moments that are both heart-wrenching and other times downright hilarious.
I care only to continue by saying that DISTRICT 9 is a MODERN SCI-FI MOVIE for a globalized, information age world. This is how we do Sci-Fi in 2009 folks. Finally. There needs to be a sequel because like the evening news, it leaves a lot of ambiguities and mysteries to be revealed. And we want to nom nom on the delicious mysteries.
Go see this film.
9/10
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