I saw District 9...

[The_Echo]

I liked it but it was a bit dark for my tastes. Movies are meant to be an escapist medium; why make them depressing?

Well if every escapist medium were about happy fun times, we'd probably be running out of ideas, now, wouldn't we?

District 9 was brilliant and original, unlike many movies nowadays. The best part is, it was ended in such a way that a sequel is possible, but not forced. That way if a sequel does come around, we can ignore it if it ends up sucking. Another thing I don't see a whole lot of. I also thought the documentary-esque style was a nice change of pace.

Definitely one of the best-if not the best-movies of this year.

 

[Speccr]

I thought it was a pretty good movie and it was plenty original.. you ever seen a main character like Vikus or whatever his name is before?

 

[awsome117]

I thought it was a pretty good movie and it was plenty original.. you ever seen a main character like Vikus or whatever his name is before?

You mean a character who is bipolar, not very bright, and a weaking?

 

[Captain Pancake]

I still don't see the orginallity here.

Maybe because it's a sci fi film not set in LA? it's a different setting, and from what i hear, it has a very compelling storyline. It's very original, it's only inspiration was a shorter version filmed by the director Neil Blomkamp. Apart from that, there are no outside influences.

You mean a character who is bipolar, not very bright, and a weaking?

A flawed character is an interesting character. Always remember that.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

well if you say it's been done in movies before, please give an example of the same type of plot

the thing is it is a new and refreshing twist on an old message and frankly goes into the whole idea of what sci-fi is and should be. it should be an interesting moral story wrapped in a fantastical story about the future. this is exactly what District 9 is.

the message behind it is a timeless one and one that needs to be repeated, HOWEVER the movie and the story is a new and original one.

It seemed like the movie Terra with the roles reversed and humans still be the dicks they are.

sure it is exactly like the movie unless you take away the fact that earth was destroyed in Terra, the humans weren't imprisoned in interment camps like they were in District 9 and the aliens in District 9 didn't try to take over the earth

if you change the whole plot of Terra then yes that and District 9 are exactly the same

 

[andrat]

It really hit me when a friend of mine that didn't want to see the movie asked me to summarize it for her and I realized how all the details of the movie fit together so nicely. It was complex, it had depth, and it all made sense. A science fiction movie hasn't been able to do that in quite some time. Also, Wikas is officially part of the dweeb-turned-hero club.

I think this answer
PLUS
The weapons made me jizz. Good thing I wore two pairs of pants

 

[Instant K4rma]

It was the only original movie of the summer. I really enjoyed this movie, and the great part of it was the near perfect acting/directing.

 

[Cavouku]

...The aliens couldn't get on the ship. The fuel was to power the control module, the part that fell off the ship. I know, they used a tractor beam, but I guess the computers in the module couldn't run without the fuel.

That part does make sense. And your opinion is your opinion, I don't see any reason to dislike it, but you're just saying you didn't find it perfect. I didn't either, it left me craving some more, but diff'rent strokes.

Yes, but the fuel is from there technology. Human tech is worthless to them. So, for three months, they couldn't find the amount of fuel(which was a small amount if you think about it) on their own ship, but they could find it in a human slum?

Like I said, maybe I just looked at it the wrong way.

I think they were all starving in the back, but if that doesn't do it for you, maybe they needed organic materials that they didn't have on the ship. See, the thing is, you can't expect a movie to tell you everything and anything, that's movies-for-baby. A movie that makes you ask questions is a marvel, not a flaw. It's cool to be discussing something, because there's something to discuss, isn't it?

You could've looked at it the wrong way, sure. Maybe you held your expectations so high that eagles were bumping into them. You can't expect a movie to cure cancer, only Duke Nukem Forever (game) is inclined to do that.

It was a great movie, I think, and I don't see a particular problem in being left in the dark on key points. It makes you think, and that's a great aspect to a movie.

A master poet is one who makes a masterpiece with as few words as possible. You are left to decide why and what.

 

[awsome117]

I still don't see the orginallity here.

Maybe because it's a sci fi film not set in LA? it's a different setting, and from what i hear, it has a very compelling storyline. It's very original, it's only inspiration was a shorter version filmed by the director Neil Blomkamp. Apart from that, there are no outside influences.

You mean a character who is bipolar, not very bright, and a weaking?

A flawed character is an interesting character. Always remember that.

I didn't say he wasn't interesting, he asked if I've seen a character like that before.

 

[hermes]

Ok, if you don't think it's original, name ONE movie that's similar to District 9.

I can't even think of a single movie involving humans and aliens where the aliens were portrayed in a sympathetic light, let alone one that has a rich allegorical layering like District 9.

AlienNation.

Thanks...

Actually, when I saw the trailer the first thing to come to my mind was that TV show. I guess it is not fair to compare them, since I still haven't seen district 9 (damn uruguayan theaters and their backward timing) but I was looking for someone to tell me how much of it is social commentary and how much is action (I also saw a robot-like thing catching a rocket with its hands in mid-air, in the trailer)

 

[Cavouku]

Ok, if you don't think it's original, name ONE movie that's similar to District 9.

I can't even think of a single movie involving humans and aliens where the aliens were portrayed in a sympathetic light, let alone one that has a rich allegorical layering like District 9.

AlienNation.

Thanks...

Actually, when I saw the trailer the first thing to come to my mind was that TV show. I guess it is not fair to compare them, since I still haven't seen district 9 (damn uruguayan theaters and their backward timing) but I was looking for someone to tell me how much of it is social commentary and how much is action (I also saw a robot-like thing catching a rocket with its hands in mid-air, in the trailer)

(that's nothing, the robot also

Spoiler

Launches a pig at a guy. Comedy gold, in a non-comical movie.

)

 

[Arbitrary Cidin]

I?m happy for you.
it?s one of the only original Sci-Fi movies this year so be happy.

I don't see how it's "orginal". I've seen things like this before.

quick comparison:
latest star trek: familiar cast as a bunch of newbies on the good old enterprise. movie about nothing.

latest transformers: a movie about a college kid who has robots for friends. movie about nothing.

district 9: visitors from an alien world are treated in the typical human fashion of "denigrate what we don't understand" and are forced to live in ghettos. a figure of authority will come to terms with this by becoming one of them and in the end sympathize with the visitors. movie about something

action movies with rich subtext are a precious rarity

Basically, they just copied WW2 and replaced jews with aliens...? I'm sure there's more to it, but the creativity of "alien's are sympathized with" routine has been dried up in the film community.
Also, I hate it when people summarize movies, games etc. by cropping the plot out of their description to make a point that there isn't one.
Star Trek was about a confused time traveller wrecking havoc in the name of understandable vengeance and a legendary crew being united under completely new context.
Transformers was about.. actually I haven't seen the new Transformers, but you see my point.

 

[awsome117]

I think they were all starving in the back, but if that doesn't do it for you, maybe they needed organic materials that they didn't have on the ship. See, the thing is, you can't expect a movie to tell you everything and anything, that's movies-for-baby. A movie that makes you ask questions is a marvel, not a flaw. It's cool to be discussing something, because there's something to discuss, isn't it?

You could've looked at it the wrong way, sure. Maybe you held your expectations so high that eagles were bumping into them. You can't expect a movie to cure cancer, only Duke Nukem Forever (game) is inclined to do that.

It was a great movie, I think, and I don't see a particular problem in being left in the dark on key points. It makes you think, and that's a great aspect to a movie.

A master poet is one who makes a masterpiece with as few words as possible. You are left to decide why and what.

I wasn't expecting everything being explained, just some obvious things. I felt it made you ask too many questions. I just expected a great movie, and got a good movie. Nothing wrong with that. I just didn't seem to get the "praise" it got from everyone.

To each his own.

 

[DigitalSushi]

To be fair it sounds like you love District 9 a bit too much (which by all means, great, i'm glad you enjoyed it) but you're cherry picking a mildly negative comment to bolster your case, others could do the same with District 9.

Alien Nation was a film about racism and prejudice, it was deep especially when it swam with 80's high concept movies.

I'll take your word for it since I haven't seen Alien Nation. It's funny that you mention that I "love District 9 a bit too much" since after watching it, I simply felt that it was a really good movie that deserved the praise it received. It's not like I'm going to join the District 9 fan club or anything; internet debates have a tendency to make people polarized on the most trivial of issues. For me, I was just upset that someone would write off an entire movie because it didn't meet their flawed litmus test of "originality."

I suppose all this has to do with a simple fact of life; it is far easier for someone to criticize a work for its flaws than it is to appreciate it for its beauty/depth. Yahtzee himself admits this from time to time in his reviews. Even the best works have something that can arguably be considered a flaw (for example, the pacing in Akira Kurosawa films) but those flaws are minor compared to what the work achieves as a whole. All I'm saying is appreciate District 9 for what it is-- of course, it is virtually impossible to defend such a position on the internet without becoming a fanatical zealot defending the honor of said movie.

Well I applaud your discussion skill, great fun to read, I was merely saying that earlier you cheery picked a negative comment with regards to Alien Nation, we can all do that.

Cherry picking comments on the internet to further your own agenda, thats naughty!.

I've not seen District 9 yet, I personally can't wait, its been likened to Alien Nation so I can't complain, yet I can complain about having to wait for it to come out in this country.

Same goes with Up by Pixar, i'm in an English country yet i'm having to wait till October before the theatrical release, are you fucking kidding me hollywood?

 

[awsome117]

Sucks you have to wait so long. UP was a good movie, and if don't mind viewing quality, I know a place where you could see it right now.

 

[black-magic]

I saw inglorious basterds last night and district 9 last friday, the former was more intelligent, had better action and far more likable characters then the latter.

 

[meatloaf231]

I liked it but it was a bit dark for my tastes. Movies are meant to be an escapist medium; why make them depressing?

You seem to be missing a few genres of film. I recommend you go watch The Godfather as soon as possible.

Saying all movies should be fun escapism is like saying all drawn art should be cartoons. Sure, it's got a place, but it'd be wasting so much potential.

I'm not saying that you must like serious movies and if you don't you are an uncultured swine, I'm just saying that movies can be serious and depressing, and do it very effectively.

 

[Brown Cap]

It really isnt original

But its good enough to be called original compared to the rest of the sci-fi genre this year


Either way i want to see it

 

[awsome117]

It really isnt original

But its good enough to be called original compared to the rest of the sci-fi genre this year


Either way i want to see it

It's a good movie, and I would recommend it to people who want to see it. I(agian, my personal opinion) was it just wasn't a great movie.