A Review By Edward W. Stanley
“3 Years.” Sometimes it’s all in the little details that makes or breaks a great film. This movie covers all the details; the narrative style fits the classic space invaders plot, the pace is brisk while not being all Tony Scott, the characters motivations are clear, reasonably mutable, and visuals are top notch.
District 9 is a great sci-fi film where Alienation meets a pseudo - documentary style film. Peter Jackson stomps through familiar science fiction themes in a dark, way too real, fairy tale world revisiting apartheid, the fears of differences, indifference and corporatism of war.
Our protagonist / anti-hero / hero / fifth business / unwittingly Marxist placard and therefore the obviously central character Wikus, is ironically summed up, “And you know Wikus, he never was very strong.” Sharlto Copley, A newcomer as well to the big screen and provides a solid performance but did need a hand throughout the film from the well placed supporting cast.
The director reveals his penchant for referencing the typical plot devices, for example of reversing roles of through ‘internalization’ of the alien’s plight. He also seems to have been watching some of my favourite movies; if you liked them then you will enjoy the well paced 112 minutes. The generous homage’s include Blood Diamond and Black Hawk Down, to The Last Star Fighter and Starship Troopers with X Files and a touch of Robocop thrown in for good measure.
If there is one fault to District 9, is that provokes the audience to think about various issues, but never really drives home how its ‘us’ who create and maintain these devices that are in place that create ‘districts’.
You can’t deny that fear: of others, inter-racial sex, and how it is a continuance of money and power paying to sustain it, are brought to the forefront in this film.
What is refreshing is how its peoples actions that make or break situations, not some mysterious ‘force’ or ‘mystical song’ that fixes everything.
This kind of great entertainment can overshadow the seriousness of the issues at hand, and there’s “A fine for that."
See this film.
8 out of 9
