GaryDDistrict Nine (2009)
April 6th 2010 01:25
District 9
I really love science fiction movies and take every opportunity to see them at the cinema (other than on DVD). I always expect so much from science fiction movies. Unfortunately I have noticed that many of the sci-fi films being made do not, as Jane Austin said, match my sense and sensibilities. Perhaps I anticipate more than can be delivered? However, Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 is a brilliant sci-fi movie because amongst its many other attributes it hooks the imagination. District 9, is an enjoyable and skilfully produced movie with first-rate visuals, a myriad of extraordinary characters, complete with an engaging storyline. The story consistently darts to and fro through a fog of possibilities and outcomes that hinder the audiences’ ideas on the resolution of the plot and the destiny of its characters.
The aliens (know as Prawns – because of their crustaceous appearance) arrive on earth and hover above the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Their impressive spaceship is like a gargantuan floating city. The aliens are silent and for three months the world watches, waiting for something, anything to happen. Yet, it’s the humans who finally decide to crack open the ship’s door seals. What they discover is nothing short of a ghost ship set adrift in space with starving and dying aliens. The aliens are a marvel of form and function with insect like bodies that communicate by using a metallic-clickaty-clack verbal language (think Predator or even slightly reminiscent of the African Xhosa language). On earth the alien refugees are separated from the humans and resettled by force in designated Townships, a South African Apartheid era control, a ghetto. The story blasts off from there and keeps firing until its unforeseeable conclusion, which is excellent because if any film deserves a sequel this is it. District 9s co- writer and director Neill Blomkamp has been quoted as saying he has, “An inclination for an idea” (Brown 2009).
I don’t want to spoil an entertaining movie but Science fiction and contemporary culture intersect at the boundaries of, gender, politics, religion and technology. Whether by design or inquiry, sci-fi reflects these issues in narrative. Science fiction films are entertaining because of their inventiveness, creatures, monsters, deep space travel (where no one can hear you scream), the allure of the impossible, time travel, spine chilling fear, thrilling claustrophobia and the idealistic romantic notions of deep space (amongst countless other ideas). Still, District 9 can be viewed as a film that recounts the horrors of South Africa’s Apartheid period. In District 9 this juxtaposition is played out against a backdrop of re-settlement; segregation, exoticism, fear and hate when state sanctioned speciesism and murder are carried out with impunity. The significance of signs in District 9, such as Humans Only, No Aliens Allowed, Human’s Keep Out, mirror the historical actions of discriminatory language that was used to maintain minority power. (Whites only and Blanke-in the state language of Afrikaans Blanke = white) were painted on bus stops, water fountains, toilets, and busses and literally stamped into the consciousnesses of its citizens. This concept if realised adds an extra level to the ambience of reality present in District 9.
District 9 is an awesome film. It heightens your imagination and inspires the creative juices with its range of over the top characters, fantastic lifelike aliens and a storyline that ‘just don’t quit’.
Reviewed by Gary Daly (I paid to see this movie)
I really love science fiction movies and take every opportunity to see them at the cinema (other than on DVD). I always expect so much from science fiction movies. Unfortunately I have noticed that many of the sci-fi films being made do not, as Jane Austin said, match my sense and sensibilities. Perhaps I anticipate more than can be delivered? However, Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 is a brilliant sci-fi movie because amongst its many other attributes it hooks the imagination. District 9, is an enjoyable and skilfully produced movie with first-rate visuals, a myriad of extraordinary characters, complete with an engaging storyline. The story consistently darts to and fro through a fog of possibilities and outcomes that hinder the audiences’ ideas on the resolution of the plot and the destiny of its characters.
The aliens (know as Prawns – because of their crustaceous appearance) arrive on earth and hover above the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Their impressive spaceship is like a gargantuan floating city. The aliens are silent and for three months the world watches, waiting for something, anything to happen. Yet, it’s the humans who finally decide to crack open the ship’s door seals. What they discover is nothing short of a ghost ship set adrift in space with starving and dying aliens. The aliens are a marvel of form and function with insect like bodies that communicate by using a metallic-clickaty-clack verbal language (think Predator or even slightly reminiscent of the African Xhosa language). On earth the alien refugees are separated from the humans and resettled by force in designated Townships, a South African Apartheid era control, a ghetto. The story blasts off from there and keeps firing until its unforeseeable conclusion, which is excellent because if any film deserves a sequel this is it. District 9s co- writer and director Neill Blomkamp has been quoted as saying he has, “An inclination for an idea” (Brown 2009).
I don’t want to spoil an entertaining movie but Science fiction and contemporary culture intersect at the boundaries of, gender, politics, religion and technology. Whether by design or inquiry, sci-fi reflects these issues in narrative. Science fiction films are entertaining because of their inventiveness, creatures, monsters, deep space travel (where no one can hear you scream), the allure of the impossible, time travel, spine chilling fear, thrilling claustrophobia and the idealistic romantic notions of deep space (amongst countless other ideas). Still, District 9 can be viewed as a film that recounts the horrors of South Africa’s Apartheid period. In District 9 this juxtaposition is played out against a backdrop of re-settlement; segregation, exoticism, fear and hate when state sanctioned speciesism and murder are carried out with impunity. The significance of signs in District 9, such as Humans Only, No Aliens Allowed, Human’s Keep Out, mirror the historical actions of discriminatory language that was used to maintain minority power. (Whites only and Blanke-in the state language of Afrikaans Blanke = white) were painted on bus stops, water fountains, toilets, and busses and literally stamped into the consciousnesses of its citizens. This concept if realised adds an extra level to the ambience of reality present in District 9.
District 9 is an awesome film. It heightens your imagination and inspires the creative juices with its range of over the top characters, fantastic lifelike aliens and a storyline that ‘just don’t quit’.
Reviewed by Gary Daly (I paid to see this movie)
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