Dr. Morbius id:

SPOILER REMOVED 1/2/10-If Franz Kafka were alive today, District 9 would be his Oscar pick for best picture. In fact, it would be, unequivocally, one of his all-time favorites. Regrettably, Mr. Kafka is unable to make his case...So, I will try to make it for him. How do you say "WOW!" in Czech? First, let's touch upon the obvious. Hollywood says: "100 million, bargain basement, to make an epic film!" South Africa says: "30 million!". District 9 is an intricately crafted, intensely hypnotic, cinematic collage of numerous disparate elements. The film itself seems to metamorphosize through several different stages. Initial minutes of the movie have an authoritative, documentary or docudrama feel. Gradually, District 9 transitions into a socio-cultural Sci-Fi drama, adding a totally new dimension to the term "Apartheid"! Next, it's more of a gripping police thriller. The last 15 or 20 minutes are non-stop, adrenaline-pumping action! None of these shifts are awkward or contrived in the least; they flow and mesh quite seamlessly and naturally. District 9 is made to order for those of us who crave Sci-Fi epics with unique, original, character driven stories; something light-years removed from same old, same old contrivances and cliched conventions. Mr. Kafka might ponder, "What is one of the key questions put forth by many of the best movies?" How about, "Precisely what qualities make a being human?" Solidarity, loyalty, respect for others and other sentient creatures, empathy, sympathy and the ability to suppress personal short-term goals for long term ones beneficial to the group, are important traits that come to mind. Think, "2001", "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "The Elephant Man". After seeing District 9, you will have to decide for yourself who the REAL humans are! 5*

WideStance:

A lot of my favorite sci-fi and horror movies have me identifying and empathizing with and even rooting for the monsters. As with King Kong, who didn't asked to be dragged to New York and proclaimed the "eighth wonder of the world" or the creature cursed with life at the hands of a mad scientist, the aliens in District 9 get your sympathies right from the get-go. We never fully understand their intentions in coming to our planet, all we know is they've been stranded over apartheid-era Johannesburg and are exiled in slumlike refugee camps and subjected to a parade of cruelties at the hands of sadistic human captors. Sharlto Copley is terrific in his role as a bullying, mocking, and all around unpleasant petty bureaucrat named Wikus van der Merwe. He harasses the aliens with gleeful gusto until he meets with a comeuppance that transforms him. I'll say no more about the plot other than there's a pretty drastic tonal shift in the last half-hour when the movie switches from a rather low key story about dehumanization and oppression to a full-throttle summer blockbuster action movie. The CGI effects in District 9 are astonishingly well done and are high on my list of the best I've ever seen and though both sides of the movie work for what they are, I found the first hour much more satisfying. The last couple of minutes were downright shameless too. Other than the old James Bond movies in their end credits, I can't think of another movie off the top of my head that so blatantly sets up a sequel.

TheSyfyFreak:

District 9 is a really offbeat South African Sci-Fi that took me by surprise, I did not like the beginning but I was really interested because it was South African. I thought it would be some kind of racial statement. My wife still thinks it is but she did not watch the whole thing. If there is a racial message in it, it is subdued but I just liked it because it turned out to be a fairly decent offbeat foreign Sci-Fi action flic that got intense with the action at the end. It also had great special effects, which really surprised me. The Alien effect was pretty realistic and they were subtitled so it was easier for me to understand the aliens than the South Africans.

Jeremy Thomas:

The first film from director Neil Blomkamp is a fine piece of science-fiction that looks far better than its $30 million price tag should have allowed for. Blomkamp, working from his own short film Alive in Joburg expands that story out to a nearly two-hour story that blends mock documentary footage and traditional dramatic style to create a story with some definite statements on xenophobia and the danger of governmental reliance on privatized military and bureaucratic programs. Sharlto Copley gives a wonderful performance as Wikus van de Merwe, a portrayal that is even more startling when one realizes it is his first professional acting job. The visual effects team does wonderful work in creating the alien race and their hardware. Blomkamp finds the transition to and from mockumentary a little jarring and the themes largely follow in the footsteps of films like Alien Nation, and the final act trends into too much action sci-fi considering the tone of the rest of the movie. Still, this is an impressive debut by a filmmaker who, with a name as powerful as Peter Jackson in his corner, may well be providing us with great movies in the coming years.

videoguy1million:

Although I enjoyed the film and even went to see it in the theater, I don?t think that it lives up to the hype that surrounded it. The messages here about tolerance and xenophobia are important to be sure, but the fact that people in 2009 would find these groundbreaking or profound is a little disturbing. The idea that it is good to put yourself in the other guy?s shoes sometimes is seventh grade social studies class stuff. It?s a little depressing that today that point still has to be made. The film itself was really well done. I usually appreciate films that have a low budget but still manage to put a quality product on the screen and this one was no exception. I recommend it.

Supercords:

A brilliant, original piece of indie sci-fi. It?s so rare to see new ideas on screen these days. In addition, it was so well put together. The CGI, motion capture, and practical effects blended seamlessly. A lot of quality work went into making this film. Story-wise, I was also very engaged. The acting was very believable. The lead actor especially pulled off a great performance?Oscar worthy if you ask me. I hope there?s a sequel and that the same people are involved with its creation. Rating: A-

BlueVoid:

This movie is all about expectations-- destroying expectations that is. Hollywood loves its summer blockbusters. The mindless popcorn movies with huge budges chalk full of CG, explosions and aliens. District 9 has the aliens and it has the CG, but its completely different than your normal summer blockbuster. This alien flick has some thought behind it. It's about an alien space ship which mysteriously lands over South Africa twenty years ago. The low functioning aliens are segregated into a shanty town until the local people conflict with them and want them moved. Again, this is not your typical alien movie. It's presented in the form of a documentary, following a very unlikely hero. The spectacle that unfolds is mesmerizing and much more satisfying then the normal exploitation mess that usually gets served up. There is meaning behind scenes, and the story is more important than the flare. That isn't to say there isn't eye candy. Despite having a budget nearly a tenth of other blockbusters, the CG and special effects are amazing. The seamless integration of live action and CG is natural and almost unnoticeable. And yes, there are plenty of explosions in this too. My biggest problem with the film was that I never really got behind the main character, Wikus Van De Merwe(Sharlto Copley) as he was such a repugnant person he was hard to root for. Despite this, there is a meaningful narrative here which holds the mirror up to our own society and past atrocities. It might not be a masterpiece but certainly sets the bar high for summer popcorn movie expectations. Lets hope this is the start of something new.

Rigel:

I'm so very glad I saw this instead of GI Joe at the theater. This sci-fi reflection of apartheid in South Africa, followed by a grim hunt/chase scenario, is stunning in all ways. The CG'd creatures are in your face from the first few minutes of film, and are utterly convincing and seamlessly integrated into the pseudo-documentary footage. The man's-inhumanity-to-man message of the film is as clear as day. The action and violence are realistic and brutally intense, featuring borderline horror-level gore. What makes it particularly stand out is that in the complete absence of big names in the cast, a $30 million budget, and an unorthodox setting, the movie manages to be more gripping and engrossing than any other film I've seen this summer. The performances are energetic and forceful, from both human and CG characters to the point that I was often rooting against the humans. It has everything a fan of this genre could want, right up to the fantastical equipment involved in the epic final battle. I haven't seen a sci-fi film this great since Serenity. This deserves to be seen and to enjoy great success. Now that I've picked my jaw off the floor, I give it my highest recommendation. Go see this movie.

tick22:

a movie so well done and fleshed out that by the end I was cheering on the Aliens and cursing the Humans. Yes this film made me really ashamed of being a human being. We all know how we are really (at least the major corps and governments) and this film just proves the point... A slow start that is interesting yet slowly you start to see what is really behind it all... Greed and man's inhumanity to himself and others... a sad relection on ourselves but still a movie to see....

tntbaker1:

Enjoyed this movie quite a bit. The special effects are amazing. The movie poses good contrasts on how we (as a people) treat those different from us. Very apartheid like, especially due to the location. Oddly enough, it becomes a fugitive type movie as it goes on also. Fully recommend a viewing/rental of this title.

Mr.Movies:

One of the best sci-fi films I have seen to date. I reccomend not watching trailers, stop reading reviews, and dive into this. The movie is a rollercoaster of action, suspense, drama, and sci-fi awesomenewss. I won't say anything about the plot as you should experiance it for yourself. Peter Jackson does not let down in District 9!

RedSun21:

Wow! This is a movie that evolves, right down to the expressions on the aliens faces. Reminds one of the stories of the Warsaw Ghetto and Nazi concentration camps of World War II. This is how the aliens in this movie are treated. This is a gory and brutal movie to be sure, and some of the weapons inflict extreme fatal injury. Not an average Sci-fi movie. For a low-budget movie, they spent their money wisely. Not for the squeamish, but definitely one of the top movies of 2009.

Agorante:

This movie is rather like Avatar - you are encouraged to hate your own species and cheer for its destruction. One difference is that in Avatar the good aliens are beautiful while in District 9 they are hideous. Indeed just as Avatar is beautiful, District 9 is ugly - very, very ugly. Lots of vomit, filth and icky bugs. Both films also share the fault that they make very little sense. In Avatar after the blue aliens defeat the evil humans they are let go to go back into space. If one of them had ever seen Cameron's earlier film Aliens they might remember Ripley's line, "the only way to be sure is to nuke them from space". A couple neutron bombs and much of the fauna would still survive, but not the blue people. It's hard to fight space ships in orbit with bows and arrows. Similarly in District 9 why didn't the humans just wipe the prawns out? Some machine guns and a few tanks would have finished every prawn on the ground. A tactical nuke delivered by helicopter could have taken out the mother ship. Or why didn't the prawns use their super weapons to steal a helicopter and fly up to the mothership? The idea of spending twenty years developing a transport vessel to go up a couple hundred feet seems crazy. It reminds me off the problem in early Bruce Lee movies of how to make an unarmed Bruce invincible in a modern world filled with firearms. In alien invasions and wars the writers need some strategem to make the aliens immune to nukes. In Independence Day they had the "force field". Otherwise the nuclear option by humans becoames a gaping plot hole.

DW 523507:

For this being one of the most well-received "summer blockbusters" - I don't know what all the fuss was about. It was really a pretty bad movie. I wish I hadn't wasted two hours watching it. Entirely overrated.

fgj 1948533:

I usually do not write reviews. I got District 9 because it was available and ended up loving it. I was skeptical at the beginning due to the mixed reviews but I am so glad I saw it. I think is an original film not sugar coated with great action. To me is one of the best movies of 09.

Andsav:

Peter Jackson has a great eye for finding original stories. District 9 is a real treat on a number of fronts. It takes a tired concept of alien and human interaction and spins it in an entirely new and innovative direction. The usage of South Africa as the backdrop for this story lent the narrative the historical socio-political weight necessary to make it all the more "believable". The inhumanity of the MNU who would essentially sell their souls in order to access the alien technology speaks volume about the arms manufacturers even in the real world. The evolution of the lead character is painful, frustrating, and finally redemptive in the end. While I wouldn't quite call it a happy ending, it is a fascinatingly well done movie by a novice director. This is certainly one of the most impressive recent sci-fi films I've seen. Highly recommend it.

jahner johnson:

I rented this DVD the same week I went to see Avatar on the big screen. Avatar's special effects were dazzling and gave me hope that 3-D does have a place in modern moviemaking. But as far as plot intelligence goes, District 9 is hands down the winner. I highly recommend this film.

JDoors:

We've seen dozens of "usefull" aliens (with some hidden agenda), here the aliens are basically useless, more trouble than anything else. Very heavy-handed allegory. Yeah, humans treat "others" like scum. Kind of depressing actually. Pretty well done, but with a couple of lapses in logic and a really odd choice for leading man (he's almost as creepy as the aliens). Amazing F/X, considering the budget.

Teh Flixor:

Like many sci-fi movies, this one seems to be 90% complete, and as any sci-fi fan could tell you, it's that final 10% which makes a movie great (and is also the difference between sci-fi authors and great sci-fi authors). Everything seems to be in place for an excellent movie. The characters are being developed, you're curious about the aliens, the movie seems to be raising some interesting social commentaries, and then... nothing. Like many movies it seems the writer couldn't come up with a good way to wrap everything up at the end, and didn't bother trying. Some movies do this, and do this well, but District 9 raises too many questions and leaves to many unresolved issues at the end to successfully do that.

Jeff in Durham:

Give this movie 20 minutes (it's hard to watch, not because it's slow, but because it's disturbing), then put on your seat belt. A very fast-paced SF masterpiece unlike anything you've ever seen.

Herplaw:

Waste of time. Like Blair Witch, someone wanted to make a movie on the cheap; hand-held camcorder, no script, no actors, no talent, nothing worth watching at all. Interesting 'prawns', but that's about it.

DB 1401168:

This is a movie that has fantastic execution. When you first start watching, you might be tempted to think it is not worth your time because it has such a slow and methodical start. However as you progress through the film, you will see a movie that slowly but surely picks up the pace, giving you time to feel and understand the characters and become totally immersed in the story until its climatic ending. I think this is one of the best sci movies ever made.

dfwforeignbuff:

(See My list of best foreign film oscar nominated films-Including new list for 2010 Oscar) District 9 (2009).I got to the big city today to see this I loved it. $40 million budget sci-fi produced mainly by Peter Jackson. Paranoia is the name of the game in this flick. A UFO over Johannesburg South Africa documentary/ mockmumentary. The alien SCI FI DNA stuff was cool and interesting. It really is a pretty thrilling film. I am a sucker for science fiction movies. The alien SCI FI DNA stuff was cool and interesting. It really is a pretty thrilling film. I am a sucker for science fiction movies. four stars. Like an alien craft from Independence Day, a spaceship hovers over Johannesburg, a city that's turning into an ET prawn cocktail. Some 28 years earlier the ship bore its alien refugees (nicknamed "prawns") to Earth: they live in slummy, segregated "township" District 9, treated like non-whites in apartheid South Africa. The aliens now want to go home but the Earthlings have other, sinister ideas. You have to go back to 1979 and the premiere of Alien to find a sci-fi ET movie as thrilling and innovative as director Neill Blomkamp's District 9. His satirical fable on racism delivers all the toys and ploys for the fanboys while teasing and teaching them a bit. The "prawns" are so called because of their crustacean-like bodies. They're partial to cat food. Is this a sly joke about Alien Ripley's pet moggy Jonesy? Four stars.

psp 1933410:

The movie is very well done. It's beautiful and the acting is very, very good. That said, the movie couldn't decide if it wanted to be a violent suspense movie or a view on humanity and human relationships. You couldn't enjoy the later if you were too tied up being scared for the next thing. The suspense and suspected violent act that was about to come rarely did, but it had you on the edge of your seat and therefore missing the larger and more important story. It wasn't too violent, but every 5 minutes you were led to believe that you were about to jump out of your seat. That killed it for me.

MOVIELOVER99:

Very entertaining and well written movie. Done in documentary form but still manages to be fast paced and exciting!

Walt D in LV:

This movie was made for pennies compared to other big hits, but you'd never know it. Top NOTCH special effects, a fantastic ORIGINAL story, this movie blew me away! What starts out as a documentary, turns into an exciting, well-thought out, unpredictable thriller. Amazing to watch! All of these "unknown" but talented actors, new director, and did I say ORIGINAL story? So far, it's one of, if not, MY favorite movie of the year! 8/15/09

Skinless Tomcat:

By far my favorite sci-fi film ever. Generally when I watch a movie late at night I fall asleep, but at 2:00 am I was as wide awake as ever. This movie gets the adrenaline pumping through your veins with its incredible action sequences. District 9 feels very real with its part documentary style and security camera footage. The aliens seem very dirty and disgusting and you can see why the locals want them out, but as the main character, Wikus (very fun name), starts to sympathize with them, you do too. In fact I felt disgusted at how they were treated and during a very well done scene at an MNU lab I felt very sick. These are the emotions that pass through you as you are immersed into this very believable science fiction story. The plot is stricken with twists that are purely un-Hollywood, yet aren't gratuitous. Also you haven't heard of any of the actors from this movie but they do an amazing job, especially Sharlto Copley, who may as well be the next big star. Another thing that should be noted is that there is a central message about apartheid in this movie which gives the film meaning and only adds to the list of benefits. Believe the hype- see District 9.

MilesD:

While perhaps not greatest science fiction movie to come out this summer (that honor goes to Duncan Jones's "Moon"), District 9 satisfies enormously. Well thought out, well acted (Sharlto Copley is fantastic), it delivers both suspense and action as well as plot and pathos without sacrificing one for the other.

NayusDante:

I really looked forward to District 9, but sadly, it was a complete waste of potential. The film starts out strong, with a genuinely interesting premise. However, it wastes no time in drilling the story to the ground. It's fine, even good to establish a sense of good and evil, but District 9 does so in such a mind-numbing fashion that the whole thing seems like a joke. From there, the train wreck ensues. It's messy, silly, and overall of little cinematic value. One "buddy scene" drags on for what feels like a full ten minutes, when it could have been shortened to "be careful out there!" Ultimately, District 9 is the epitome of mediocre films. It looks nice, and the production values are top notch, but the plot has no value. What could have been an R-rated ET for the 21st century became nothing more than a forgettable summer action flick.

ChaosCloud:

District 9 is a really good movie and i'd give it a five but something about this film is a little off with me. It feels like the dudes who created it thought everything up in 30 seconds in some random conversation and they were like, " Alright, the film is gonna be about an enslaved alien race and uh...well, i think we'll just make it up as we go along" There are some really ridiculous twists, and they play the fact that you're watching the film from a first person to get away with some of it. During some parts of the film, you'll be like "OHSHIIII awesome!!!!" and then when the movie movie ends you'll say "Wow, did those things really happen? That made no sense at all!". If you've watched films like cloverfield then you'll know what i mean.

w00f:

This is a potent, well-crafted movie with philosophical and political depth as well as crustacean-like aliens and eye-grabbing special effects. There's enough action to keep everyone entertained but it never sacrifices its humanity, either. "District 9" questions that humanity, exposing its dark side as well as its best. It also asks when rebellion is justified in the face of inhumanity (ultimately, I think people of certain political ideals may get around to having big problems with that aspect of the film, but we'll see about that). The ending leaves open a lot of questions, including the most basic: why did the "prawns" come to Earth in the first place? The door is left wide open to a sequel at the end; the basic conflict of the film is never resolved. After seeing what may well be the best science fiction film of the last few years, I look forward to seeing what happens when the next installment comes out in about three years. This is moving, excellent, well-acted cinema here. Franz Kafka meets "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" meets "The Great Escape." Don't miss this one!

virgored:

2 HAIKU REVIEW: Here's a thought: movies should have a plot that's good and actors we don't hate. All the hype was fake. More marketing dollars spent than those on writing.

dc9322b192:

Was unable to enjoy this movie in the theater because the constant movement/shaking of the camera eventually made me nauseous. If "Blair Witch" style camera shots aren't your thing, avoid this movie on the big screen. The constant movement doesn't stop even for a second! The movie itself was different and though not spectacular, well worth putting in your DVD Que. Just avoid watching it in a "Huge Screen" theaters!

Billy Soistmann:

This is an excellent film that finds a nice balance between social commentary on the apartheid and traditional action and narrative storytelling. By focusing on one man being forced out of his element and having to learn, we see the injustice in our world while still being treated to great action. Director Neill Blomkamp's cinema-verite style holds the film and provides excellent imagery. The script is also excellent. The story flows from one scene to the next extremely naturally. Sharlto Copley is fantastic as the main character. I would have never guessed this was his feature film debut. All of these things mesh to make quite a good movie.

bsoist:

This is an excellent film that finds a nice balance between social commentary on the apartheid and traditional action and narrative storytelling. By focusing on one man being forced out of his element and having to learn, we see the injustice in our world while still being treated to great action. Director Neill Blomkamp's cinema-verite style holds the film and provides excellent imagery. The script is also excellent. The story flows from one scene to the next extremely naturally. Sharlto Copley is fantastic as the main character. I would have never guessed this was his feature film debut. All of these things mesh to make quite a good movie.

TJenkins4:

Utterly preachy. Plot holes you could drive a truck through to the point where nothing made sense. I want my 2 hrs back.