With Transformers just out of theaters and G.I. Joe somehow making money, it's nice to find a film that has some intelligence behind its weaponry. To that end, I think producer Peter Jackson got his money's worth from District 9--it is a very engaging sci-fi film that explains only what it needs to explain and shows far more than it tells. This movie has been popular in the theaters for its action sequences, but will also thrive on DVD for its ability to engage the audience. It works CGI so well into the tapestry of shacks, garbage, and human actors that we feel compelled by the story and not the special effects.  I have a feeling there are far more details in the movie than I could catch--a sure sign that the filmmakers were deeply invested in this film. Their investment, it seems clear, is more personal than anything. Every review of District 9 mentions the South Africa setting and the blatant parallels between the aliens and the Africans suffering the fate of apartheid. This begs the question--does the movie exploit a humanitarian crisis for the sake of our entertainment?  Though some may view it as exploitation, I argue that it may actually move some people to explore and learn more about the historical events that shaped the film. I, for one, know little about the history, but I feel compelled to learn more on the issue. In District 9, modern day Johannesburg has been invaded by millions of malnourished aliens (derogatorily referred to as "prawns." ) They are disgusting creatures that look like an eight-foot version of every creepy, crawly thing you've ever dug up from under a moist rock. The South African government sets up camps to shelter these creatures, but as in the parallel story of apartheid, the conditions of the camps are deplorable and the aliens are living in squalor. Human-alien tensions soon rise, and a more military-protected slum is created for the aliens--District 9. Our protagonist Wikus Van De Merwe is in charge of evicting the aliens that are to be relocated to District 9. In a convincing and strong performance by Sharlto Copely, Wikus naively rolls into District 9 with a team of SWAT officers to give out eviction notices one by one. These scenes are filmed as a documentary, and are interwoven with testimonies and security camera footage,  all of which makes the film very convincing. As Wikus moves from shack to shack, the audience can feel the tension increasing. I'm not going to spoil where this leads, but like any race-relation movie, the air becomes thick with race conflict.
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The film's ideas are strong and most compelling in the beginning, where the documentary style places you in the middle of the action and the tension. As the film progresses, however, director Neil Blomkamp capitalizes on the mainstream success of the summer action films and indulges in a Transformers-like battle sequence. Life-size robots, guns, and explosions abound, changing the film's tone from one of serious allegory to one of shoot-em-up fun. The problem is, in a movie as promising as this one, are the explosions and gun fights kind of a let down? Due to the strength of the ideas that are touched on in District 9, I did feel a bit let down as I was watching--but I quickly forgave it. The film is very well done, and the production values are strong. Be warned--this is one movie with a high body count and a lot of gore. You can feel the spirit of Peter Jackson's older films in District 9's use of physical special effects, which can be more realistic and convincing than CGI. These low-budget effects work in sync with the mockumentary feel of the movie to really put you inside the story with the actors. Brains and body goo fly onto the lens of the camera, and the shaky-cam view puts us right in there with the explosions and bullet sprays. However, for those who disliked the handheld styles of The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield, you'll find that the camera is not nearly as dedicated to the first-person experience. Blomkamp made a wise move as director to keep the camera steady for special effects and allow the camera to cut away from the given cast. Blomkamp has created a commendable entry in a rare breed of film; a thoughtful action flick. As shamelessly enjoyable as the action sequences are, the moral and allegorical aspects of the movie are extremely thinly veiled. Hopefully some people that just come for the 'splosions will leave interested in the reality of apartheid and more determined to become informed.
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