District 9 Review
Before I ventured out to watch District 9, I had read a couple of reviews on the film stating that it was excellent. The Daily Mail Friday review, gave it five stars out of five, more than any other movie in the past month or two. After seeing it, I thought that five stars were slightly generous. The film incorporates originality, good acting, a decent plot,blood and gore, as well as many other aspects to attempt to satisfy its viewers…
The film starts off, to my surprise, as a documentary style news broadcast, concerning recent events which include a large alien mothership hovering over Johannesburg, and the place suddenly being inhabited by aliens. When I say aliens, what I actually mean is ten foot prawns from a distant galaxy!
New tents are set up in a camp not far away from the mothership for the aliens to inhabit, in an area now called district 9.
The problem is, that, the aliens do not wish to correspond with the authorities and instead, decide to roam freely around the more slum like parts of Johannesburg. The main character in the film goes with the news team and some armed forces, to try and reason with, or if not, kill the aliens.
The first third of the film therefore acts as a sort of documentary stating events as they have already happened. People who want to see action in this part of the film will be somewhat disappointed, although it is interesting, and does a great job in explaining the plot and filling you in on the main character.
Unfortunately for him, the main character is involved in an accident and his arm subsequently begins to transform more and more into a prawn’s arm as the film progresses. He is sick quite frequently, until his friends and family take him to seek help for his condition.
This “help” involves him being forced against his own will to fire alien weapons activated only by a prawn’s touch. After the medical staff decide that all they need from this now inhuman being is his heart, the main character decides that he has had enough. He breaks free from their clutches and becomes a fugitive, hunted down by the authorities and talked about everywhere, even on the radio and TV. News.
By this time the film is about half way through. Before the medical incident, there hasn’t been much action at all (which will no doubt disappoint action cravers visibly, but not everyone else), save a few small shootouts and scrambles.
Now, the action happens more frequently, with our hero having to take refuge in the slum houses inhabited by the aliens, where he forms a bond with one of them and the prawn promises to cure him.
Shortly after this, the last third of the film is the most explosive, action packed, visually impressive and emotional part, with some quite large shootouts. Finally an extended and fantastic final shootout will fully satisfy the action fans. Eventually the ending enables you to care about the characters fates, and discover the nature of the prawns is not bloodthirsty or violent, but instead harmless and kind. They do not wish to harm anyone, but only act in self-defence against the seemingly cruel and ruthless humans.
Strong acting talent, especially by the lead also boosts the film and remains faithful to the end, as does many other aspects including direction, cinematography etc.
As for violence, although there is only some violence in the film, the violence is quite strong and graphic, resulting in blood splatter from most of the deaths. The medical scenes and the transformation of the man’s arm are also quite intense and disturbing, but these exist primarily in the middle of the film. There is quite a lot of strong language, which becomes rather persistent, as well.
Overall, the first two thirds of the film were good, but the last third appears the most effective and truly makes the film that extra mile better. Very good acting, a decent plot, pleasant cinematography and a sense of originality also make District 9 enjoyable.
8.5/10
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