Blu ray movie review of District 9

After the deal to make the Halo movie fell apart, Peter Jackson gave Neill Blomkamp $30 million to make any movie he wanted. Blomkamp promptly turned his short science fiction film into a feature length movie. Through word of mouth and positive reviews from the critics, the movie did fairly well in the box office. Even with relatively unknown cast and director, the movie looks very professional and polished. Without asking too much question, the movie stands well as a science fiction film. However, as a science fiction genre fan, I was left with a lot of question and unfulfilled expectation. Before I watched the movie, I liked the overall premise of the film of aliens stranded on Earth and having to interact with humans. However, after watching the movie, I felt little let down by the movie.

The movie opens up with the arrival of the aliens on their spaceship. While hovering over Johannesburg, South Africa, the aliens do not make any attempt to come out. The South African government sends in the troops to assess the situation. They find disoriented and confused aliens cowering in the ship. We move forward in years and see that they are settled in a shantytown called District 9. The overall story involves a weapon manufacturing firm’s quest to use the alien weapons. They get their chance when Wickus is exposed to alien substance that transforms him into human/alien hybrid that can utilize the alien weapons. While being chased, Wickus meets an alien who is attempting to get back on the ship in order to leave Earth. Together, they attempt to reverse the mutation by getting the alien back on his ship.

Taken as whole, the movie is fairly well made. It has entertaining plot line and some good special effects and action scenes. You can see the influence the Apartheid had on the director. The District 9’s setting was an actual shantytown where the poor populace inhibits. The overall treatment of aliens is clearly reminiscent of the treatment of black population by the whites in South Africa. I had no problem with the incorporation of Apartheid theme in the movie. However, I did have problem with the overall story. How can an advanced civilization be reduced to animal like creatures depicted in the movie? How can a civilization that’s capable of producing powerful weapons be reduced to being caged in District 9? The director doesn’t explain any of these questions. Instead, we are to believe a civilization that’s capable of space travel reduced to fighting over cat food. He does nothing to explain or hint a plausible story line. Instead, he focuses on the Apartheid theme and we are left to fill in the blank. With small explanation, I could have liked the movie much more. Instead, I’m left with some dissatisfaction.

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	District 9 [Blu-ray] List Price: $39.95 Sale Price: $16.58 Used From: $13.45 Average Rating: