District 9 (2009) – A different kind of superhero movie
Hollywood is truly on the neo superhero movie wave. With stuff like Watchmen, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and G-force, allready been released this year; it was truly refreshing to see that District 9 has a whole new approach to the genre. When taken into account that it was something as unique as a sci-fi documentary as well; I obviously was up for a treat.
In the ghetto
The whole thing starts out as a documentary. 20 years ago, an alien spacecraft with a million catfood-eating shrimplike aliens arrived at Johanesburg; for no particular reason. Despite their super alien weaponry and superior alien technology they were somehow forced to live in a ghetto called ‘District 9′ in the middle of the city. Present day they’re still living there and the citizens of Johanesburg is finding it rather tiresome. So MNU (the international alien police or something) decides to move them to a new district. Bearing the original name ‘District 10′. Head of the operation is Wikus Van De Merwe (played by the director’s (Neill Blomkamp) best friend Sharlto Copley). On his task throwing aliens out of their gettho he’s infected with super alien dark matter. This turns him into a human-alien crossbreed with an alien shrimp claw as his superpower. This makes him/his DNA very attractive to MNU, and other people intrested in DNA, and they start hunting him down.
Last I saw Peter Jackson involved with aliens was Bad Taste (1987). And I’m pleased to see that, allthough ‘District 9′ is more ’serious’, it’s still playfull with the alien culture. Raging from family drama to ailien dog fights and prostitiution. And with the awesome GFX work done to them I could really sympathise to these creatures allthough they looked like a crossbreed between King Zora, Dr. Zoidberg and Dede.
Different approach to refugee policy
The references to present day refugees the previous apartheid ghettos in South Africa is not very well hidden; but that’s obvously not the intention either. It’s delictated integrated into the story and i think alien shrimps is a great way to get a different approach on refugee policy.
It’s also worth concluding that the documentary-style of the movie worked very well, as I didn’t get sea sick as with Cloverfield.
But prostitution and polititcs aside. Once De Merwe gets his super ailien claw the movie kicks into a non-stop action feature. There’s never a dull moment and the ending is as surprising as it is beautifull.
District 9 is a one to watch. And is besides Star Trek the best cinematic experience I’ve had this year. I’m looking forward to the computergame.
Tags: action, alien, apartheid, DNA, ghetto, movie, Peter Jackson, refugee, shrimp
Comments (1)
Peter Jackson is proud to be a New Zealander…it’s good to see he remembers his home land.