Even though i am not a fan of sci-fi or fantasy movies i kinda liked this one..Directing was superb and after 20 minutes movie got my attention till the last minute..Super plot and something refresh in this kind of movies.. 7.8/10
People seem to either love or hate this film. Personally I love it. It's a great story of aliens on earth and their situation is a commentary on real life refugees. Overall the film has a gritty documentary feel that gives it an added edge.
I love the thought behind this. Valuable history lesson in a futuristic setting
One of my favorite alien movies.
probably the most original movie about aliens, well directed with incredible special effects, neill blomkamp first movie and it kick ass
DISTRICT 9
Nailed it, bailed it or failed it?
Let’s play!
Writing: NAILED IT!
The highly original story features strong political undertones, emphatic characters and a gritty realism, which all contribute to the down-to-earth atmosphere present during most of the runtime.
The basic storyline itself is, for the most part, quite classic in its basic themes, but it manages to be powerful and scary as well.
Despite starting out as a mockumentary, introducing the realistic storytelling that becomes the groundwork for the rest of the film, the final act is more akin to a science fiction war flick.
Those aliens are probably the most fleshed out and human aliens we’ve seen in a very long time. Some of them are bad, and others are nor, just like humans.
Characters and Acting: NAILED IT!
The cast is comprised of largely unknown actors, with debuting Sharlto Coupley in an impressive leading role. Coupley’s input is what makes this movie extremely memorable, particularly when he starts to descend into the realms of madness.
Coupley largely carries the weight of the film on his own shoulders, but his performance is so enjoyable and so impressive that it really doesn’t matter.
The prawn aliens are the most interesting - and in many ways most human - characters in the film. They fit seamlessly into the world of the film and by making us know very little about them, they become mystical and creepy.
The rest of the cast doesn’t leave any lasting impressions, but they manage their parts well.
Direction: NAILED IT!
Overall, Neil Blomkamp’s directorial debut is a strong feat, utilizing both the gritty landscapes of a South-African ghetto and the talented cast to weave a memorable and enjoyable film. The documentary style present at the beginning of the film creates a high tempo for the first half of the film, and make some things confusing to follow. This style is slowly pushed aside in favor of a more traditional type of storytelling which, while fully understandable from a storytelling perspective, is kind of a shame considering that the mockumentary parts make this film original in comparison with the plethora of other similar movies.
Visuals: NAILED IT!
Highly impressive, incredibly realistic and so slick it’s almost hard to believe it’s all actually CGI. The setting and the set decoration closely resembles Tatooine from the Star Wars films.
Sound: NAILED IT!
The alien clicking language is surprisingly beautiful and the music fits perfectly into the mood of the film.
Pacing: BAILED IT!
It takes a while to find its footing, throughout the fast-paced and somewhat confusing first act. When the documentary style is dropped, the film settles down on one direction and continues its brisk pace but stays significantly more comprehensive in its storytelling.
Themes: NAILED IT
Apartheid and xenophobia, madness, man vs. alien, neither man nor alien is wholly bad or good - big and familiar themes packaged in a original and interesting package.
Atmosphere: NAILED IT!
It’s realistic, it’s violent and it’s gritty. It’s like Ridley Scott and James Cameron sat down to make movie together.
Rewatchability: NAILED IT!
Come for the original story, the interesting setting and the high tempo, stay for the undisputed realism, wonderful prawn aliens and killer performances.
Expectations: NAILED IT!
I went into his film expecting a different take on the sci-fi genre and what I got was a highly unique masterpiece of storytelling.
Bottom line: NAILED IT!
This highly original, incredibly realistic and vastly memorable sci-fi mockumentary goes from a documentary style to all out war and is strengthened by amazing performances.
remember watching this ages ago and I loved it. to make the movie like a documentary was brilliant. Much reflection of marginalized communities, oppressors, what humans do to each other. seeing an oppressor become the oppressed gaining back his Humanity once he's no longer human. all raises the question of; what does it mean to be human?
also still makes me cry
Mind blowing and stunning. Good story
This movie is a masterpiece. I love it when the plot, rife with bigotry and zealotry, keep stabbing you like a strong bass beat. the special effects pitted against the shanty towns was startling.
Plot is really silly. From SCIFI point of view, it's REALLY weak. But as action movie it's worth to see.... The are valuable lessons in here too. I've really enjoyed operators work! There are some really nice action scenes which deserves respect to whole team. If not the plot, and I mean a rushed story, and a weak prediction how things could ago if this would really happen, then this movie would deserve at least 9 stars.. but for now sorry not more than 7.. There's too much silly situations, if any creature that has intellect would exist in such huge amount... just imagine what would happen.. I'd say that all countries of the world, with all possible troops, would isolate that territory by 500 miles around.. and not even a bee would fly near borders. Ahrr anyway.. plot could be lot better!
You are not welcome here.
Simply love how it was a completely unique and different take on the alien invasion genre. It had enjoyable characters, solid action, and fascinating tidbits.
So happy to have an alien movie NOT BASED IN AMERICA. This was a great twist and amazing concept of Refugee status. The animation is flawless, way ahead of the times. This felt rough and real. Highly recommend you stop reading and just watch it.
And yeah can't wait for District 10.
Three Years. I promise!!!
Very nice UHD transfer. Natural film grain offer real movie experience. Colors are great as great as micro details. Sometimes is visible non focused objects but I suppose it is caused by old objectives focused for 35mm film not for digital shooting. Naturally shaking camera wasn’t good for big screen and disturbed me a lot. It’s most suitable for TV. But this is about personal preferences. I like more stability in picture because visual aspect of screen must have a time to be attractive in audience.
This is going to be tough to write because I wanted to like this movie. I should be thrilled because so many people loved "District 9". And it’s science fiction, a genre that I love that is largely viewed as silly and irrelevant. So I'll just come out and say it. I've watched this three times and its just not for me.
The mock documentary style of the film is interesting at first, but as the movie continues, the style keeps flipping between documentary and straight up action flick, and it gets annoying quickly.
I felt little sympathy for the aliens, which is the desired mood of the filmmakers. There was not enough time given to portray the aliens as sympathetic creatures because they have basically devolved into savages by the time we enter District 9. The implication made about why this occurred was because they were forced into slums, but we never see them as anything but savages.
The main character named Wikus is an unintelligent stooge. The story is structured around him and he's not likable. He's a racist, pencil-pushing bureaucrat who eventually learns what it's like to be an alien. Then once his life-changing event occurs, we are expected to feel sympathy for him. He has done nothing to deserve it, only his depressing decent into the horrors of District 9 earns him any. We learn pretty early on that Wikus was being used by the agency that he works for. He's so stupid he's the only one that doesn't realize that something stinks about his promotion. Later, Wikus discovers cruel experimentation being performed on aliens by his company, but I'm not buying that he didn't know about it even though that's what the filmmaker desires.
The relationship between Wikus and his wife was barely developed and there was even less chemistry between Wikus and the primary alien. The military agents were portrayed as the typical gun-toting murderous freaks. They showed no restraint in gunning down aliens, who weren't exactly avoiding violence-free conflicts themselves.
The special effects were interesting but they were certainly not groundbreaking. There was no more than about a 30-second period that went by without someone yelling "F@*k!". I am not offended by the word, but I don't think it's a stretch to say it loses its impact when used 300 times during a movie.
If you have any issues with copious, on-screen gore, you'll want to stay away. "District 9" ranks right up there with "Robocop" and "Starship Troopers" in the bloody Sci-Fi category.
This movie is great on many levels. First it works as a really good sci-fi/action movie. But there is also a message, intentional or not, and it raises questions. But it's not being put on the foreground. Yet you clearly see the references. And it still works today.
The mix of documentary and cinematic style adds a certain level of realism, as much as this is possible with an alien story, but you are much more drawn into it because of that. The story itself is interesting. You don't have aliens coming to conquer or destroy mankind. They are pretty much a sorry bunch with little hope of existence. I like that angle.
Putting this not into the hollywood realm and not placing it in America also just adds to the positive attributes this whole movie has.
I am on the fence if I would want a sequel to be honest. If that would mean it gets the hollywood treatment I'd refuse. I mean - look at the Terminator franchise for a reference.
In any case, after re-watching this movie I raise my rating from "8" to "9" because I really think it is that good. Unfortunately, from where I stand, Blomkamp hasn't even come close to repeating with any of his other movies following District 9.
Very Bad Movie Don't watch it
This is a movie that keeps me at the edge of my seat the whole time. I love how it betrays mankind
Where is part two!!!???? I want to see the return
District 9 was interesting, the very first time I watched it. Interesting, despite the very simple characters and the barely better plot. Watching it again, leaves you with only all the disappointing elements.
Included among the "1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die"
Thinly veiled allegories and social commentary couldn't save this film.
amazing Science Fiction film.from the start till end i just don't stop thinking it was really beautiful cinematography.very rarely to see any other movies like this one.
Perfect balance between good sci-fi and a deep message behind the plot ! I really enjoyed it.
By the very beginning I had to wade through, but then it was already very good. Great stage xenophobia, cruelty and intolerance. At the same time just a very good sci-fi.
One of the best movies I've ever seen!
And people liked this movie, why?
Seemed a good idea. I was looking forward to it. It soon seemed stupid. Very stupid. Then the forced social messages, like calling aliens prawns which is supposed to be a message about racism. And setting it in Johannesburg is meant to add extra social reflection...cheap. Prawn Lives matter!
The prawns look like something Star Wars dreamt up and then decided to never use because they had no redeeming quality.
The shaky camera to give it a documentary feel was annoying and just too much. The editing had the same issue. It makes The Blair Witch seem smooth in comparison. Not much information about the aliens at all, and can anyone believe the way they are treated for no reason? Really? Most ridiculous alien movie ever. Pushing trolleys like the homeless and eating cat food for another social commentary. It's all for that cat food. Farcical.
What are the sci-fi elements we are presented with at the start? An advanced alien race that uses spaceships hovers or breaks down in Africa (for years), until humans break in (Why? savage human commentary?), and the aliens (who are adapt to earth's environment) are completely helpless, hated, like cat food and are in human contact with some bloke who's an idiot. Riiiight.
This movie should never have been made. We just needed a global warming message and an LGBT prawn to top it off. Why not? The acting was non existent. Characters? Meaningless. Plot? Why bother. Proof people will watch and buy into anything because of hype and fake ratings/ critics. This movie will age unbelievably bad. This movie is a conspiracy. A gullibility test for the masses. All that money for a movie with an insulting ridiculous story and it looks awful?
Peter Jackson has lost the plot.
One of the best sci-fi/action movies I've seen in my life. This movie is seriously underrated , and I feel like more people should know about this. Not to point out , this was made in 2009 and the graphics look stunning.
9/10
This movie was shot interestingly and had cool worldbuilding moments. I do feel like there was difficulty in finding what to enjoy here. The story itself is interesting on paper, but I feel like it didn't really grip me. The characters themselves were also hard to understand. I felt no connection between the alien and Wikus. It felt very forced.
At Time of Review:
Low 6/10
Story and Characters: 6/10
Presentation: 7/10
Enjoyability: 6/10
I really dig this film. I like the story, effects are great, well acted, and leaves you wanting more. Speaking of which, where is that sequel?
This movie is such a unique take on the alien sci-fi drama that it somehow changes its style in how it's shot so seamlessly I barely noticed. The major theme I feel in this movie is how these aliens are basically just refugees, and shows how refugees in our real world are treated just because they are not the same as us. This movie still has great action and a great plot somehow, I went from hating the main character to rooting for him in the first 30 minutes of this.
A fine film that feels a little dated now. It’s not consistently exciting enough to work as a visceral experience, and not profound enough to work as a dramatic film. I’m certainly seeing the apartheid allegory in here, but in the end that’s very much a backdrop, it’s not saying much about any of that. I like the design of the creatures and the world, but I’m not a fan of its artistic approach besides that. A faux-documentary style works for a quirky television show like The Office or Parks & Rec, but for this sci-fi/action film it tends to looks cheap and uncinematic. It’s also a great device for delivering a lot of unnecessary exposition in the first half. The main actor made me laugh on a few occasions where it definitely wasn’t intended, which is mostly due to the tone and cadence of his voice. At first I thought it might’ve been a cultural factor, with the actor expressing himself in a way that seems natural within the South African culture, but then I realized that none of the other actors had that same problem for me, so I’m led to believe that it’s simply a case of overacting. What you’re left with is a decent story that includes a nice emotional hook, and some good set pieces in the second half, but I think even those probably would’ve looked better if they were shot and edited by Paul Greengrass.
6/10
Really underappreciated. All sci-fi action movies should be this thoughtful. Okay, the apartheid allegory is not subtle–but the world-building is top-notch and the filmmaking lends a sense of immediacy and potential peril that is hard to find in movies like this. Love the faux-documentary approach that characterizes the first half of the film and wish that would have continued throughout. If you haven’t seen this, I highly recommend it.
The first half is quite good, well put together, and introduces non trivial topics. unfortunately this good foundation is thrashed away by a second half similar to Emmerich's catastrophic movies.
I thought this movie was amazing, and I can't help but feel that those people who thought it was a bad movie completely missed the entire point. This movie should be presented in college-level sociology courses as a perfect analogue to the way we humans treat other, marginalized humans, along with In the Flesh and The New Mutants. Yes, there are a few plot holes (mainly being why didn't the aliens just use their huge supplies of clearly superior weapons), but overall it was a fantastic watch. I judge movies and TV based on how much attention I pay to a secondary activity at the same time, usually doing jigsaw puzzles online. After the first 15 minutes, I put the puzzle aside and full-screened the movie and settled in, because what I was watching was so engrossing. The music is great, the pseudo-documentary feel to it made it stand out, and the alien designs are cool. Once the alien weapons came into play, Peter Jackson's involvement really shone; he loves blood and guts, and weapons that physically explode people are right up his alley.
I havent seen this before, And read very promising comments about this movie. So I watched this yesterday. And I can see the most. But what the hell was this? Worst movie that ever made? Is this kind of a joke? 0 of 10 from me.
"Focken' prawns" .... all I'm saying!
Not as bad as I thought it would be after hearing comments about "District 9". While I don't think that D9 is a great film I would still called it decent.
The one thing that I absolutely dislike was the missing explanation why the aliens didn't use their 100% workable weapons against their human captivators and why most of them were acting absolutely stupid while others seemed quite intelligent.
Shout by SinaxxrBlockedParent2019-06-09T01:05:15Z
The tech was amazing; Probably my favorite part. The story left me wanting but it was still enjoyable.