District 9

Neill Blomkamp’s “District 9” is perhaps the most anticipated film of the summer blockbuster season. Its clever, mysterious marketing schemes and unique premise have garnered speculation that it will be a “must-see” movie. For the most part, the film lives up to the massive amount of attention and positive reviews it has received.

The film tells the tale of an alternate history in which a humongous ship of aliens (derogatorily referred to as “prawns”) is stranded over Johannesburg, South Africa. After first contact, humanity learns of the aliens’ peaceful intent and desperate situation. As humanity decides how to deal with the extraterrestrials, a corporation called MNU (Multi-National United) handles the creation of a sort of slum to house them. The bulk of the story takes place 28 years later, where a man named Wikus van der Merwe is put in charge of the operation to move the creatures to a new location further away from the city. During this process, he contracts a virus that slowly morphs his DNA into that of the aliens’. MNU then tries to experiment on him to activate the highly advanced weaponry found on the aliens’ ship. He escapes, and a massive chase ensues. Much more happens in the film, but is better seen than read about.

The film is well-paced throughout. While an entire movie could have been made about the arrival of the aliens, “District 9” manages to clearly convey the facts and humanity’s response in a documentary-style introduction that only eats up the first few minutes of the movie. The rest of the action develops quickly and naturally, from Wikus’s appointment by MNU to his contraction of the virus and the ensuing manhunt. The film takes place over three days, and so the audience never loses its connection to the intensity of Wikus’s situation.

Visually, the film does not disappoint either. The aliens often look amazing, particularly when the shot is close up on them. CGI is often hit or miss, but “District 9” contains none of the distractingly fake instances where computer graphics would be better left out. The slum of “District 9” is reminiscent of human slums, and spares none of the brutalities. The film’s realistic, rarely over-the-top approach to set and setting is one of its greatest strengths. The tremendous, grimy mothership that looms over District 9 reminds us that we’re watching a sci-fi movie and not a documentary on the poverty-stricken portions of Johannesburg.

The plot gets perhaps a little cheesy towards the end with the somewhat streamlined alliance of alien and man. However, the lack of the expected ending does much to dampen this slight instance of Hollywood predictability. Overall, “District 9” is a creative, thrilling summer blockbuster. It manages to combine the visuals of the summer blockbuster with the profundity of arthouse cinema. Skip “G.I. Joe” and go to “District 9” instead.

Written by: Kris Lorenz

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