District 9 - Viewed 1879 Times ( CLICK HERE FOR RELATED WEB LINK )
This has got to be the worst movie we have seen this summer. This cinematography was a rip off from the Blair Witch Project, the storyline and spaceship was a rip off from Alien Nation and Independence Day and the acting was horrible. We kept waiting for something interesting to happen and all the real action did not occur until the last 10 minutes of the film. I’ve lost all respect for Rolling Stone because they gave this one a good review. Thank god we did not pay full price for this one – if you go to one of the multiplex theaters make sure that this is not the first film you see. One side note, I probably won’t be eating shrimp for a few months…
Reply by Jason at 11/06/09 11:05:19 --
Depressing alien squatter drama
Movie makers are always using film for social commentary and the most brilliant thing about this film is that it does just that splendidly.
If you know anything about the District 6 incident during Apartheid, this film is a direct commentary on that event. I wasn't expecting such a political statement from this film and if they had presented it the right way in the trailer I think I would have been prepped for it and appreciated it more. Some of the ads for the movie look just like posters from that era.
But there was absolutely nothing uplifting about the film if you don't go into it with the right frame of mind and they let us down on that front. I'm sure I will watch it again in a few years and have a different opinion. If you can get over the CNN style filming, the special effects and acting were amazing. The biological and political processes of the aliens were also fascinating and on that front it was a big success.
One other already said what I would; its not the average movie. Not a horror, sci fi or drama. Not 100% action, but does have a good fight. For something new and original, it is great.
It is NOT a remake of some older movie, comic book, or cartoon. That is the crap that fills the theaters these days. Lets have more new works like this.
I thought it was one of the most engaging and emotionally compelling movies in years. The last movie I loved this much was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
I don't understand people who don't like the acting. The main actor was incredible, and the emotional, political and spiritual arc he engages in throughout the movie were acted and written with clarity and subtle truth. As with Bill Murray's character in Groundhog Day, he doesn't become a different person, just a more evolved one. Beautiful.
As for the cinematography and direction, the conscious decision to give it a pseudo-documentary look to me added to the realism and emotional connection to the movie. I thought the director was extremely talented, in his first foray into feature films, which Peter Jackson must have seen as well to have hired him.
I found the social commentary compelling as well. It covered the inhumanity of using private contractors for military work (it was a mega-corp, not the military, in the movie) and the inherent bigotry of humans towards the unknown. Seeing black South Africans talk about the need to get rid of the dirty aliens at the beginning was compelling and tragic.
Reply by Tim at 09/26/09 8:22:56 --
a "should see" movie
As already said, using all no-name actors, none of which come from anywhere NEAR Hollywood, can sometimes be a plus. The movie is forced to stand on its own, with no preconceived expectations on acting or FX. One critic I read mentioned that the location (a Johannesburg slum) was like a dig at the same slums indigenous Africans were forced to live in during apartheid, AND how those humans were treated. Still, if one pays attention, one can't help feel empathy and outrage for how these refugees are treated.
Its as much a statement on the human condition as anything else, plus how even the most bigoted slob can sometimes be made to see the light and maybe even atone for their past abuses.
One last note: This movie is definitely NOT for the squeamish. And its true, you may not want to eat any shrimp for a while after you see this movie. . .
This was just "meh" for me. I liked the action and effects, but the story was too preachy and obvious. At least it was not as bad as say...Cloverfield.
Although I enjoyed this film I was somewhat disappointed. It had a very interesting concept of what you do with alien refugees. I just don't think they knew where to take it. Some of the sci-fi things really didn't make much sense and I think it needed to in order to make the film meaningful (which it was trying to be). Contrary to other reviews I thought the acting was good. The main character was excelcent and he made a difficult role very believeable.
Overall it was worth the money. Much better the usually junk coming out.
I went and saw this film over the weekend with some friends. To be honest, the movie had it's flaws as well as it's shining moments... which was towards the end! In the start of the film where they show the spaceship hovering over the city, Alien Nation popped in my head, seriously! Kinda surprised to see some people remember that show. The 20 year refugee thing also sounded familiar. Seeing this, I'd have to agree that some of the screenplay was probably lifted from other tv shows or movies as with most things manufactured these days. Overall, the CGI effects were very good as well as the acting considerng the cast was filled with 'no names'. I suggest people see a matinee to save $$$. The film really isn't worth paying full admission price.
I have to agree, this movie was like nothing you have seen before. There was no needles sex scenes and violence, overpaid and under produced actors who are there only to pull in the audience. It stood merely on its story line and a spectacular story line it was, a lesson mixed in with a sci fi movie like non I have ever been witness to before. In a time of remakes of remakes, part 6 and 7 of movies that should not have gone past part 1, District 9 is a standout.
I thought District 9 was pretty good. It's sort of a cross between documentary and comic book style/theme, and hard-core sci-fi without being overly nerdy (yes, there are some holes, but who cares?...it's easy for everyone to follow without being slow paced).
I found the story fresh, and the special effects pretty cool. Worth seeing with a big bucket of popcorn.
I have one Meet in Portland friend who didn't like District 9 either. I think its because it's so different than other movies. There are no Hollywood stars to be seen. But the production values are nowhere near Blair Witch's B-movie level. The plot isn't a predictable American one like Independence Day. This is neither a horror film, nor an action film. If you're looking for those things, you will be disappointed. But if you're looking for a new cinemanic experience that will haunt you long after you leave the theater, look no farther.
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