[HEADING=1]My Two Cents Reviews[/HEADING]
I've decided to brand my reviews from now on, although I'm not sure how many reviews I'll actually write. This will be my second review after my Prototype review [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.127937]. I was in the process of writing a FarCry 2 review, but somewhere along the way, I gave up. I hope that you will enjoy my review, and I hope to write many more on the Escapist. So, without further adieu, my review of District 9.
I've decided to brand my reviews from now on, although I'm not sure how many reviews I'll actually write. This will be my second review after my Prototype review [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.127937]. I was in the process of writing a FarCry 2 review, but somewhere along the way, I gave up. I hope that you will enjoy my review, and I hope to write many more on the Escapist. So, without further adieu, my review of District 9.
District 9 follows Wikus Van de Merwe (Sharlto Copley), an employee of Multi-National United. MNU is a corporation that engineers and adapts new technologies for the betterment of society. MNU also holds power in many industries such as mining and healthcare. They also happen to be a private military company.
In 1982, a historic moment took place. An alien mother-ship glides to a stop above Johannesburg, South Africa. But for three months, nothing happened. Finally, the humans decided to cut their way in. But, instead of finding sophisticated, intelligent beings, they found a dirty, hungry mass of refugees, huddled in the dark recesses of the ship. The aliens were moved to a camp on the outskirts of the city. With heavy policing, it soon turned into a slum.
The international community, concerned about the conditions of District 9, tasked MNU with relocating the aliens to a clean, safe camp, called District 10. Wikus is put in charge of the operation, but becomes wounded in the line of duty. As a strange infection begins to alter his DNA, the MNU turns against him. He soon becomes the most hunted man in the world. Wikus soon forms a friendship with an alien who might know how to escape.
The most intriguing part of District 9, in my opinion, was the theme behind the movie. The central message comes in the form of the human's attitude towards the prawns. From the get-go, humans, even Wikus, are bigoted and and biased against the aliens. Armed forces willingly open fire with any provocation. Koobus Venter, head of the security division, seems to find any excuse to shoot a prawn.
Prawns are dirty animals to them. Wikus doesn't see this until MNU begins hunting him. He realizes that humans are naturally inclined to shun anything unnatural to them. That humans hate rather than accept. The feeling of absolute terror that Wikus projects to the audience is powerful. Sharlto Copley does an amazing job of projecting his emotions to the audience. You truly feel what you feel. I can only hope that Copley has the opportunity to act in more films, because the characterization he brings to the screen is amazing.
Wikus serves a eviction notice to a prawn
District 9 does a wonderful job of immersing the viewers. As with Copley's character, District 9 retains the feel of a classic sci-fi movie, while keeping it believable. The slum gives the viewers the gritty, dirty, dog-eat-dog feel of the real thing. The aliens' plight can be felt just by looking into their eyes. The immersion also links to the film's brilliant special effects.
District 9 is a pretty film. Everything from the aliens to the explosions felt and looked realistic. Wikus's transformation is amazing as well, but I don't want to go into details on that. I even stumbled across a forum for helicopter enthusiasts that had a discussion about how realistic the helicopters in the film were. The camera work also brings immersion to the film. Third-person camera work merges seamlessly with documentary-style and news-style cameras.
My only problem with District 9 is that it seems to subscribe to the same plot holes and cliches that many sci-fi films fall prey to. One big problem is Wikus's infection. The prawns use a genetic fuel inside their technology to ensure that only the prawns can use it. When this liquid enters his bloodstream, he begins to transform. But District 9 makes no attempt to explain it. It doesn't make any sense. The only thing that really turns me off is that most of the science behind it is, as Yahtzee would say, "so soft you can spread it on a croissant". Another plot hole is the conflict between Wikus and Koobus. Wikus zaps, burns, smashes, and blows his way through platoons of Koobus's men, but when confronted numerous times with a chance to kill Venter, he never takes it. Plot convenience is one thing, but when they stare each other in the face without even pointing their weapons, that's a little ridiculous.
Wikus (Sharlto Copley), alienated and on the run.
In conclusion, District 9 is beautiful, well-written, and immersive. The only things that set it off are a few plot holes and cliches. I highly recommend it. If there is a theatre that is showing it, see it when you can. I would even recommend buying it on DVD if you can't make it to a theater.
Thank you for reading my review. If you have any comments or points to make, feel free to post.
