Rubix

it always cracks me up when exotic things are given plain human names, like the giant bird in up! is kevin and the alien in district 9 is christopher.

greydt

It was in the beginning of the movie: the aliens were initially allowed in the city, but as they were causing death and mayhem (killing people, train detrailment, etc), protesting from humans eventually forced them to be restricted into District 9 and then the eventual relocation to District 10.

jfoobar

I just got back from seeing District 9 and will recommend it to others, but not with any real enthusiasm. It is a deeply flawed film and very disappointing in that it failed so conspicuously to achieve the greatness that it should have.

The first two thirds of the film were quite pleasing, although peppered with a number of elements that will not easily survive post-viewing scrutiny. These peccadilloes could be easily forgiven were it not for the direction that the film turns later on. It's not that it tries to turn into an action film (as a previous poster suggested), it's that it tries to turn into a really bad action film. For about 20 minutes, District 9 asks its audience to accept a tremendous amount of insane implausibility.

If only the writers had not chosen to be so lazy. If only they had created characters who overcome tremendous odds with their brains and not a long series of ridiculous and far too convenient contrivances. This is the same sort of nonsense that has ruined so many otherwise passable action films that preceded it. Why District 9's creators chose to take the same route I cannot say.

Overall, the film is buoyed substantially by the sheer originality of its premise. Yes, it definitely borrows elements from other films here and there but it is, on the whole, something audiences will not have seen before. This, is the best reason to go see District 9. However, to call this film a “masterpiece” requires a remarkable ability to overlook some pretty glaring flaws.

Too bad. I really wanted to love this film.

mountain_dew

There needs to be a poll so I can give it 1 star.

riotinmyskull

this is a forum, please feel free to state why it deserves 1 star.

jfoobar

He did, in the other (possibly unnecessary) thread after presumably rating it 1 star.

Tracer Bullet

I agree with pretty much all of this.

Defiant1

Really liked this movie. The best "true" scifi film I've seen in awhile (I loved Star Trek '09 but it's a space adventure more than scifi). The basic premise of D9 would also make a great video game with you playing Wikus van der Merwe (talk about the most unlikely name for a hero) battling the MNU mercs and the Nigerians. Those alien weapons and the mech suit were awesome!

I also enjoyed seeing a hard "R" action movie, something I also haven't seen in a long time. Lots of gory, bloody violence that got lots of "whoa!" reactions from my audience.

msblue

Saw it today - I thought it was a very good movie, I've recommended it to friends that I know will like this type of movie. Being a chick, I got a little teary eyed at the end with the wife and metal rose, then the shot of Wilkus (?) making it

What also made me sad was the message that the aliens (mainly Christopher) was acting more "human" than the humans..

Wolf359

Glad you posted this, because while I was watching this I kept thinking "who does this guy remind me of?" And then later it hit me....all he needed to say was "Second breakfast!". He seemed to be channeling Dominic Monaghan...and don't worry about the "spoilers"...sheesh.

Sessa17

I think people are a little insane with calling this a "masterpiece" & going nuts over this movie, but it is certainly solid entertainment. And at the very least, it's refreshing to see an original script, and R-rated sci-fi on the big screen, but even in a dreadful year for film, this is hardly the "best" film of the year, so many people here seem to be saying. 500 Days of Summer, Star Trek, & Thirst were all way way better.

Visually it deserves all of that praise, for 30-mil every second of this film looks 1000 times better than anything in GI Joe which probably cost 6 times as much to make.

This movie is heavy on the borrowing ideas & premises from other films, it has an in your face, beat you over the head with a brick message over & over & over again, which I absolutely cannot stand & is what ultimately hurts this movie. I have no problem with message movies, but they can be subtle & not dumbed down for the audience. Personally, & clearly it doesn't bother anyone else here, I don't like a film that places mankind as evil, & the aliens as basically the good guys. In fact, with the exception of Christopher & his son, there is essentially nobody in this movie to cheer for. Every human in the film is portrayed as being despicable, including the lead.

Also, for a movie that tries to be so smart, there are countless plot holes. For instance, when Wikus

Another plot hole that drove me nuts was. . .

Humans had pretty much no problem understanding the aliens, & vice versa, which in itself annoyed me. But what really makes no sense in this movie is that in the end

Wolf359

My theory on that

Wolf359

And to the people being puzzled at the acclaim for this movie, I personally just think that people are so hungry for good, thought provoking sci-fi instead of constant shit like Terminator Salvation that this seems way better than it is.

I still love it though, and will buy the Blu for sure.

Sessa17

Yeah, but that is the gaping plot hole of the movie. See my first spoiler?

Tygan

My theory

jfoobar

[nitpick]
I think his wife legitimately avoids the "despicable" label.
[/nitpick]

RyoHazuki

A few other gripes I had:

Sessa17

Yeah, I was thinking that when I was typing, but she is an irrelevant character that is barely on screen, only further showing the horrendously negative message of this film, which ultimately is what hurts this film.

Mankind is portrayed as absolute evil. Not just to aliens, but also to themselves. Politicians are evil in this movie, the military is evil, big business is evil. The average man, Wikus is evil. The only good are 2 aliens & a woman on screen for 4 minutes.

DeFan

Well made, thought provoking film that left me depressed. It was a dismal environment that I was happy to leave after two hours. Great visuals but why do we have to always demonize "the others". (Demonize the otters I could understand )

I went to see Ponyo to clear the palette.

Sessa17

This seems like nitpicking just to nitpick.

At the time the Nigerians didn't know that Wikus or any human could use the guns. They literally even say that in the scene. So they had no clue that

slop101

Thanks, I needed that.

Sessa17

I don't get it, what's funny?

Dragon Fly

my thoughts on a possibly sequel plotline. Maybe? Just a thought. Also, I do wonder how/if the prawns got education and whatnot in District 9. I mean they were there for almost 30 years and had no semblance of organization or structure. It's amazing they still knew how to make their weapons.

vhgong

I wish the damn camera would stay still. Good movie but i hate movies where i get motion sickness from it.

slop101

That those movies are better than D9 - Thirst (which I just saw) is pretty great (though not one of Park's better films), but none of those are even in the same league as D9, and saying that they're "way way better" is utterly laughable.