District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
08-14-09, 05:57 AM
#151
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Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
Loved this movie! I think it just took Star Trek's place as my favorite of the year. The best thing a film can do is take you out of the theater and drag you into their world, and that's exactly what D9 did.
08-14-09, 10:31 AM
#153
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Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
In a hypothetical world, can this film be retitled "AREA 51"? Could this movie actually stand as a cinematic adaptation of the video game with just the title change (and if District 9 within the movie was just re-titled Area 51)? And then people would be saying "you see, good movies can be created from video games."
08-14-09, 02:43 PM
#154
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Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
I saw it and liked it a lot. It kinda went downhill after
but overall it was very enjoyable. It's one of those movies though where you shouldn't really think about it too hard because things start not making sense. Once I just kinda settled in and took it more at face value I enjoyed it much more. I think Blomkamp has a great eye for visuals but you can tell this is his first feature. The story is rather unfocused and the acting is kinda poor in some places. The good outweighed the bad though. It was good to see a serious sci fi movie made for adults.
Spoiler:
08-14-09, 03:11 PM
#155
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Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
The only thing that bothered me was
Otherwise, a great film that is still resonating with me. I can't wait to watch it again.
Spoiler:
Otherwise, a great film that is still resonating with me. I can't wait to watch it again.
08-14-09, 03:27 PM
#156
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Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
I just saw this today, and I was blown away. I would say that this is my favorite film of the year right now (I need to see Moon and 500 Days of Summer for it to be official). I would put Christopher and his son up there with Gollum and Davy Jones as far as CG characters go.
I also saw Ponyo, so it was a great day for film for me!
EDIT: I just looked through my film ratings since 2000 and the only Sci-Fi films that I rated highly were this, Minority Report, Children of Men, Sunshine, The Host, Serenity, and WALL-E. Eternal Sunshine, too, if that counts.
I also saw Ponyo, so it was a great day for film for me!
EDIT: I just looked through my film ratings since 2000 and the only Sci-Fi films that I rated highly were this, Minority Report, Children of Men, Sunshine, The Host, Serenity, and WALL-E. Eternal Sunshine, too, if that counts.
Last edited by Aegean2007; 08-14-09 at 03:45 PM.
08-14-09, 03:33 PM
#157
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Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
Spoiler:
I'd give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars though. Highly original. Loved the weaponry. Maybe some DVDTalkers can help me with a few nitpicking problems I had and can convince me to love it even more!
Spoiler:
08-14-09, 05:11 PM
#159
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Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
Any problems taking a 14 year old boy to this movie? We let him play Halo, L4D, and Gears of War if that helps.
08-14-09, 05:12 PM
#160
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Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
^ No. I'd be fuckin' stoked to see this as a 14-year old. It's not overly violent or excessively gory, just a blast.
08-14-09, 05:18 PM
#161
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Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
I liked it a lot....I didn't quite love it though. I thought the documentary framing was working great and then it sort of falls by the wayside - which is fine, but I'd have liked a bit more of that interspersed with the action. I also felt that while at first I was identifying with Wickus, I really started to loathe him, especially when he hits Christopher... I think Christopher and his son are clearly the stars of the movie and really steal the picture. I liked the ambiguous ending and will probably see it again. Very well made but a few issues here and there stopped me from proclaiming best movie of the summer. (Hurt Locker, (500) Days of Summer and Star Trek are still leading the pack IMO). 4/5.
08-14-09, 05:39 PM
#162
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
^I'm surprised that you started to loathe him that late in the film, when he was meant to elicit that response from the film's opening scenes.
08-14-09, 05:56 PM
#163
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Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
I thought he was a bit of a naive douche in the beginning, but I can go with that... sort of a David Brent/Michael Scott type... how he got that wife though, I'll never know.
08-14-09, 06:01 PM
#164
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
08-14-09, 06:45 PM
#165
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Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
He was meant to be naive and a douche at the beginning. Of course, once MNU threatens to chop him up, you immediately feel bad for him, but I think the scene in question only makes the ending more poignant.
Ah, what we've come to.
08-14-09, 07:12 PM
#167
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Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
Wow, what a great movie! I had the same nitpicks as MBoyd, but they are not fatal to the film. Wikus goes from annoying to likeable to sympathetic to asshole, and a combination at different times. Just like a real person.
What they did with Christopher's son was perfect - I was worried that they'd try to go the cheap sympathy for a kid angle, but they didn't.
What they did with Christopher's son was perfect - I was worried that they'd try to go the cheap sympathy for a kid angle, but they didn't.
08-14-09, 07:16 PM
#168
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
I didn't immediately feel bad for him. He was a violent racist who said things like "shoot first, ask questions later." It was a much longer and gradual change for me than just jumping to his defense as soon as he ended up on the losing end. He somewhat deserved the torture he received. I think someone who is openly racist, for violence against a particular group and who is knowingly moving these aliens into "concentration camps", is getting off too easy being called just naive and a "douche."
08-14-09, 07:20 PM
#169
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Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
Holeeeeeee shit! Alien masterpiece film!
I liked the robocop and neon genesis nod!
Fuck - thats how u make a film. Awesome and worth all the hype.
The main dude was a great actor!
I liked the robocop and neon genesis nod!
Fuck - thats how u make a film. Awesome and worth all the hype.
The main dude was a great actor!
08-14-09, 07:50 PM
#170
DVD & Video Game Reviewer
Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
Spoiler:
I do agree on the main character being flawed though. I didn't quite understand why he nailed Christopher with the board, maybe because he
Spoiler:
I didn't immediately feel bad for him. He was a violent racist who said things like "shoot first, ask questions later." It was a much longer and gradual change for me than just jumping to his defense as soon as he ended up on the losing end. He somewhat deserved the torture he received. I think someone who is openly racist, for violence against a particular group and who is knowingly moving these aliens into "concentration camps", is getting off too easy being called just naive and a "douche."
Last edited by Dragon Fly; 08-14-09 at 07:54 PM.
08-14-09, 09:17 PM
#171
Senior Member
Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
great movie. best film of the year for me. the most realistic alien movie i could conceive. can't wait for the next one. the alien weaponry was insane. would be a shame if crap like g.i. joe earns more than this masterpiece.
08-14-09, 09:58 PM
#172
DVD Talk Legend
Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
Saw it. This movie is what good sci-fi is all about. After having had some time to think about it, this might be the best movie of the year next to UP, though they are both totally different in nature. This movie really had a David Cronenberg type vibe to it, but still utterly original. Good story, great subtext, and lots of action to boot. I hope we get a sequel, my guess is that if one does happen, it will be in about three years. 
Question:
Question:
Spoiler:
08-14-09, 10:19 PM
#173
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
One of the best movies I've seen this year, although the shaky cam got me a bit seasick feeling (might have been my breakfast though). This is turning out a GREAT year for science fiction with Moon, Star Trek and this. (I won't dignify Transformers 2 and GI Joe by calling them science fiction).
08-14-09, 11:01 PM
#174
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Re: District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009) — Ex-Halo director fleshes out "Alive in Joburg"
Area 51, refugees, Robocop, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and The Fly - what a great mix!
Last year, I had a thought in my head - where are the South African movies - just Gods Must Be Crazy and Tsotsi? Well, I can add another one to the list...
I also loved the Prawn language which mixed in Swahili/bush clicking...The main dude also was not unlikable at all even in the beginning of the film - he was just a regular guy, sad sack, almost Boratish. He is a great, realistic protagonist.
I snuck into G.I. Joe (for the second time) and practically fell asleep. The difference between a perfect action movie (District 9) and a fair one - G.I. Joe - is massive.
Last year, I had a thought in my head - where are the South African movies - just Gods Must Be Crazy and Tsotsi? Well, I can add another one to the list...
I also loved the Prawn language which mixed in Swahili/bush clicking...The main dude also was not unlikable at all even in the beginning of the film - he was just a regular guy, sad sack, almost Boratish. He is a great, realistic protagonist.
I snuck into G.I. Joe (for the second time) and practically fell asleep. The difference between a perfect action movie (District 9) and a fair one - G.I. Joe - is massive.