District 9 (2009)

[phend-one]

Was expecting more.

More action/warfare. No big armada battle?

I liked how the story showed that it takes aliens to come to our planet for humans to forget about racism and turn towards a human vs alien conflict. Although our focus shifts, we are still ignorant.

[StealMySoda]

I didn't enjoy the movie in the typically why I enjoy a movie. I liked it because it got me thinking ALOT.

I do wonder however what happened to district 1-8, as its made clear towards the end that 9 and 10 are both alien camps. And from the movie quite obvious that district 9 was the first place 'these' aliens lived.

[macrosslover]

I didn't enjoy the movie in the typically why I enjoy a movie. I liked it because it got me thinking ALOT.

I do wonder however what happened to district 1-8, as its made clear towards the end that 9 and 10 are both alien camps. And from the movie quite obvious that district 9 was the first place 'these' aliens lived.

hmm i'll have to watch it again but I don't think it was that much behind it. I don't think there were other aliens. I think the district 9 name was chosen just out of the blue and not necessarily because there was a 1-8. maybe JHB is divided into districts itself like New Orleans is divided into wards.

[neoxphuse]

Great movie, 9.5/10.

Can't wait for District 10.

[Japlabot]

I didn't enjoy the movie in the typically why I enjoy a movie. I liked it because it got me thinking ALOT.

I do wonder however what happened to district 1-8, as its made clear towards the end that 9 and 10 are both alien camps. And from the movie quite obvious that district 9 was the first place 'these' aliens lived.

You are reading way to far into it, at the start of the movie they says that the world had never seen anything like that and they were surprised that the alien ship chose Johannesburg instead of Boston or New York. If District 1-8 were already alien camps, it would not have been a surprise.

I can see what they tried to do in the movie by making the Whites vs. Black analogy with Human vs. Alien (and more specifically, referring to District Six, Cape Town), and it had a little bit of good action, but overall I was very bored and was getting restless.

Edited August 25, 2009 by Quick Reply

[Dashel]

I'd like to append my earlier review. Last time I go see a movie a little tipsy. Saw it again yesturday under normal influences and was quite disappointed in the movie once it hit the escape parts. Its a good setup but a really bad resolution. I agree with all of sexypeper's cons.

Rental/Matinee

[trag3dy]

I didn't enjoy the movie in the typically why I enjoy a movie. I liked it because it got me thinking ALOT.

I do wonder however what happened to district 1-8, as its made clear towards the end that 9 and 10 are both alien camps. And from the movie quite obvious that district 9 was the first place 'these' aliens lived.

I was under the impression that the districts were actual districts inside the Alien area, so Districts 1-8 were there. It's just that Wikus was put in charge of evicting the aliens in District 9. Also that district 10 was the new place they made for them outside of the the city. Like when he was being chased at the end (and I think he was already inside the alien area) they said something about him being in or moving to District 9. I don't remember exactly so I'm probably completely wrong.

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

I got a chance to watch this early on tonight, a very fascinating film to say the least. I did enjoy parts of the film, one of which was originality, a thing that is getting rare these days. There was also parts of the film that was a bit annoying and made it hard to watch, that was the camera work. The camera view was that of a documentary - an aspect of the film they wanted to achieve, like Cloverfield - that camera work was hard to follow, hard to focus on what is happening and ultimately hurts to watch.

I also noticed scenes from the commercial were not in the film? Was this done intentionally? The scene i'm referring to was when they have the alien sitting down and are interrogating him, saying he just wants to return to his planet.

A bit of an interesting film, definitely recommended to see over this summer, might be easier if you watch it at home and not the big screen. I'm sure i'll watch it again when it hits Blu-Ray!

They also left the film open ended, exactly how they did cloverfield, meaning we could see District 10 in a few years; but they need to stop doing this or all films will be left unanswered

8/10 from me (Y)(Y)

[ViperAFK]

Brilliant movie 8.5/10 for me.

[Elliott]

9/10 from me. I thought the movie had the right mixture of story and action, and the CG was spectacular. The last half the movie blew me away.

[craybox]

oh this was a brilliant movie, it was thought provoking more than normal as i have just been reading up on the holocaust and apartheid and so hit those extra nerves.

9.5/10

[Nomad_]

I saw the movie last night, and I agree with you 100%, this movie Is c***.

I'm not even sure where to begin. I had followed the thread here at Neowin for the most part and seen the trailer for the film and was stoked, especially considering Peter Jackson's name was attached to the film, but boy was I wrong about what to expect and sadly, not for the good.

A compilation of the reviews that pretty much sum up my opinion about District 9: Overall, with aliens that look like a crossbreed of roaches and lobsters, District 9 is a bad episode of Star Trek meets an insipid Apartheid mini-series. This was one disappointing sci-fi spectacle that threads enough thoughtful commentary into its whirligig media-fractured action plot to mostly make up for its lapses into clich?. District 9 represents the sloppiest and dopiest pop cinema -- the kind that comes from a second-rate film culture.

Artsy vertigo, racial profiling from outer space, black on prawn violence, Nigerian gangsters into cannibalistic health food diets, and inter-species creature sex for sale. And no, I did not have sex with that alien.

Essentially, what I'm trying to say is, stay away from this gigantic chunk of ****.

1 out of 5, and that's being generous. I wish now I had seen The Time Traveler's Wife instead.

[houlty]

i saw the movie last night too, and didn't feel it was even close to deserving the attention it has (8.6 on iMDB ffs!!!).

like has been said, it's mainly a film of action set pieces held together by a sparse and often uninteresting plot.

6.2/10 from me, as the action pieces were ok.

[Crompee]

Another 9/10 review for me, The best sci-fi movie ive seen in a while (havent seen startrek yet though).

[Lamp0]

I can't for the life of me understand how some people are rating this film so badly. I don't know maybe some people have unconsciously high expectations

It was a fascinating story, if some what generic at it's route, but very originally put together. Most notably though was Sharlto Copley as Wikus. I thought he did a fantastic job for someone with no acting background.

[svnO.o]

I watched District 9 last night. I give it a 9/10. The CG effects, acting, and overall story were great. I'd like to see a sequel with the alien returning back to earth.

[Knife Party]

loved it 8/10 (Y)

[Hurmoth]

I can't for the life of me understand how some people are rating this film so badly. I don't know maybe some people have unconsciously high expectations

I had no expectations going in, I just didn't enjoy it.

I could always flip your statement around and state, "I don't know, maybe some people have unconsciously low expectations."

[Ayepecks]

i saw the movie last night too, and didn't feel it was even close to deserving the attention it has (8.6 on iMDB ffs!!!).

like has been said, it's mainly a film of action set pieces held together by a sparse and often uninteresting plot.

6.2/10 from me, as the action pieces were ok.

I don't care if you don't like it, but "a film of action set pieces"? I don't think that could be anything further from the truth.

[SimplySchizo]

generous 5/10

saw it once. never again. the trailers totally mislead you into expecting a whole other movie. the main actor was annoying for the most part.

aliens were well done. the movie had potential of being much deeper, but seemed pretty mindless towards the ending.

perhaps the 2nd when the alien brings back his big sister to kick our asses will be better.

[huddy]

I saw it tonight and was a little disappointed. I guess I prefer films with better endings.

[digitalsoft]

I saw it tonight and was a little disappointed. I guess I prefer films with better endings.

But the ending left a huge opening for a sequel! do you not find that a good ending?!

[Hurmoth]

But the ending left a huge opening for a sequel! do you not find that a good ending?!

No, I don't. Hollywood has enough sequels. We don't need to add more.

[Rappy Veteran]

But the ending left a huge opening for a sequel! do you not find that a good ending?!

It was an ending that said "sequel" though in reality if there wasn't one I don't think it would be all bad seeing as the story arc finished.

Edited September 7, 2009 by Rappy

[Owen W Veteran]

This was the film of the year for me, but only following on after "Moon" which blew my mind.