In many ways, there aren’t many surprises from movies nowadays. Living in the 21st century has spoiled us with the multitude of available reviews, previews, spoilers, clips, interviews and thus, we have traded the secrecy of movies for the knowledge of the generation. Take a moment to jump back to when you were a child when movies had that uncertain surprise to them into the unknown; how you never knew what to expect. This is how I saw District 9, having come across nothing of the plot, I began to want to see it, as the poorly executed marketing had done the movie no justice. District 9 is truly a film you have to see for its sheer brilliance. It is a science fiction masterpiece. It brings Beautiful documentary filming, character-development, action & destruction, and builds a unique world for the stage at hand. Every scene with the computer generated Prawns is jaw-dropping and suspenseful. It has decisions most viewers will not stand by from the main lead and a world full of plentiful secrets. Indeed, it feels unlike anything I’ve seen before it. Neil Blomkamp’s mind is hard at work with District 9 as he defines the sci-fi genre for years to come. The movie takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa, when an alien spacecraft descends from the sky’s above, the world is in awe when they discover the helpless alien population, but because of the eyes on them from the citizens below, the government has no choice but to do the right thing and bring the aliens down to a facility called District 9. The aliens or Prawns as the humans call them have fully settled into Johannesburg, but things tend to heat up as MNU intensifies the relationship between the two. The multi-national united (MNU) corporation is put together to handle the human-alien entanglement, as they attempt to remove one million Prawns from their homes. Wikus Van de Merwe who is nothing more than an everyday MNU worker who loves his wife, is unwittingly chosen to be the key to the human’s plan to utilize the alien’s weaponry. On the run with an unlikely ally (Prawn) Christopher Johnson, Wikus must decide between helping himself and the prawns or just himself. District 9 is incredibly detailed and undeniably heartfelt, with spectacular effects and strong leads when it comes to making science fiction feel real, Blomkamp displays fire in the moments that matter when it comes to delivering the thrills and then some. The massive alien ship floats above Johannesburg, in the sky above the city and Looks spectacular to look at. The aliens are some of the best computer animation I have ever seen for its time, with Christopher giving a well-rounded performance as the Prawn, but the standout of this movie is Wikus himself, Sharlto Copley. Wikus is one of the most confusing characters I have ever seen in cinema and downright steals the show, as his multi-layered decisions throughout the movie make him one of the most intriguing characters in cinema today. With this being Copley’s first acting performance Copley, creates an undeniably fascinating character, but he is rather unlikeable, but that is what makes him so compelling, as he is a multi-dimensional character, flawed, broken, and damaged. Nonetheless, however, the movie has action scenes and boy do they deliver. The weaponry is powerful and ingenious. Watching action scenes unfold was of pure might. The alien weaponry is such a focus of the movie that when you finally see them in action you can’t help but be hooked. Blomkamp displays accurate-precision and point-blank range with the alien weaponry beyond our wildest dreams. Be warned though that this movie definitely earns its R-Rating for being violet. There were moments when I jumped when seeing the inevitable demise of MNU soldiers and aliens alike, and some of the gruesome scenes, could turn some people off, as mechs, lasers, and Prawns tear people apart. District 9 also takes documentary storytelling to an entire new level, as we get tips and bits into what will become the ending of the movie. Dare I say, it is the best type of hook and tends to keep you invested throughout the movie's duration. The way Blomkamp films each scene is precise and never feels out of place. They serve to inform us of why the aliens have come and how they interpreted all of the alien situations. For example, what Blomkamp has created here has absolute suspense, unknowingness, and plenty of surprises if ever a sequel is to come, as the aliens bring so much mystery to what has befallen them that one can only keep wondering until the credits have rolled. The sci-fi genre has been going strong for decades now, yet not that many sci-fi movies require so much thought to be considered a masterpiece. District 9 demands the viewer’s attention span at full frontal. Wikus, while multi-dimensional, is one character you will either love or hate. You will stand beside him or you will wish for his fall. District 9 will demand this of you, because what’s shown here is not everyone’s cup of tea. Even when the credits rolled I wanted to immediately return to District 9, to see what I missed and how much I thought I presumed about the movie from the beginning. Yet, I couldn’t have been more wrong. All in all, here lies the truth about District 9. It deserves the perfect score as its strong leads, effects, and presentation are second to none. It surpassed my expectations and went beyond them. My advice to you is to not watch any spoilers and to go in fresh. Be patient and watch Wikus unfold. Take in the scenery with a deep breath of fresh air because more than likely you will book a return back to District 9.
Free · every Monday
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.