_**DISTRICT 9**_
Nailed it, bailed it or failed it?
Let’s play!

-----

**Writing: NAILED IT!**
The highly original story features strong political undertones, emphatic characters and a gritty realism, which all contribute to the down-to-earth atmosphere present during most of the runtime.
The basic storyline itself is, for the most part, quite classic in its basic themes, but it manages to be powerful and scary as well.
Despite starting out as a mockumentary, introducing the realistic storytelling that becomes the groundwork for the rest of the film, the final act is more akin to a science fiction war flick.
Those aliens are probably the most fleshed out and human aliens we’ve seen in a very long time. Some of them are bad, and others are nor, just like humans.

**Characters and Acting: NAILED IT!**
The cast is comprised of largely unknown actors, with debuting **Sharlto Coupley** in an impressive leading role. Coupley’s input is what makes this movie extremely memorable, particularly when he starts to descend into the realms of madness.
Coupley largely carries the weight of the film on his own shoulders, but his performance is so enjoyable and so impressive that it really doesn’t matter.
The prawn aliens are the most interesting - and in many ways most human - characters in the film. They fit seamlessly into the world of the film and by making us know very little about them, they become mystical and creepy.
The rest of the cast doesn’t leave any lasting impressions, but they manage their parts well.

**Direction: NAILED IT!**
Overall, **Neil Blomkamp’s** directorial debut is a strong feat, utilizing both the gritty landscapes of a South-African ghetto and the talented cast to weave a memorable and enjoyable film. The documentary style present at the beginning of the film creates a high tempo for the first half of the film, and make some things confusing to follow. This style is slowly pushed aside in favor of a more traditional type of storytelling which, while fully understandable from a storytelling perspective, is kind of a shame considering that the mockumentary parts make this film original in comparison with the plethora of other similar movies.

**Visuals: NAILED IT!**
Highly impressive, incredibly realistic and so slick it’s almost hard to believe it’s all actually CGI. The setting and the set decoration closely resembles Tatooine from the _Star Wars_ films.

**Sound: NAILED IT!**
The alien clicking language is surprisingly beautiful and the music fits perfectly into the mood of the film.

**Pacing: BAILED IT!**
It takes a while to find its footing, throughout the fast-paced and somewhat confusing first act. When the documentary style is dropped, the film settles down on one direction and continues its brisk pace but stays significantly more comprehensive in its storytelling.

**Themes: NAILED IT**
Apartheid and xenophobia, madness, man vs. alien, neither man nor alien is wholly bad or good - big and familiar themes packaged in a original and interesting package.

**Atmosphere: NAILED IT!**
It’s realistic, it’s violent and it’s gritty. It’s like **Ridley Scott** and **James Cameron** sat down to make movie together.

**Rewatchability: NAILED IT!**
Come for the original story, the interesting setting and the high tempo, stay for the undisputed realism, wonderful prawn aliens and killer performances.

**Expectations: NAILED IT!**
I went into his film expecting a different take on the sci-fi genre and what I got was a highly unique masterpiece of storytelling.

------


**Bottom line: NAILED IT!**
This highly original, incredibly realistic and vastly memorable sci-fi mockumentary goes from a documentary style to all out war and is strengthened by amazing performances.

This is going to be tough to write because I wanted to like this movie. I should be thrilled because so many people loved "District 9". And it’s science fiction, a genre that I love that is largely viewed as silly and irrelevant. So I'll just come out and say it. I've watched this three times and its just not for me.

The mock documentary style of the film is interesting at first, but as the movie continues, the style keeps flipping between documentary and straight up action flick, and it gets annoying quickly.

I felt little sympathy for the aliens, which is the desired mood of the filmmakers. There was not enough time given to portray the aliens as sympathetic creatures because they have basically devolved into savages by the time we enter District 9. The implication made about why this occurred was because they were forced into slums, but we never see them as anything but savages.

The main character named Wikus is an unintelligent stooge. The story is structured around him and he's not likable. He's a racist, pencil-pushing bureaucrat who eventually learns what it's like to be an alien. Then once his life-changing event occurs, we are expected to feel sympathy for him. He has done nothing to deserve it, only his depressing decent into the horrors of District 9 earns him any. We learn pretty early on that Wikus was being used by the agency that he works for. He's so stupid he's the only one that doesn't realize that something stinks about his promotion. Later, Wikus discovers cruel experimentation being performed on aliens by his company, but I'm not buying that he didn't know about it even though that's what the filmmaker desires.

The relationship between Wikus and his wife was barely developed and there was even less chemistry between Wikus and the primary alien. The military agents were portrayed as the typical gun-toting murderous freaks. They showed no restraint in gunning down aliens, who weren't exactly avoiding violence-free conflicts themselves.

The special effects were interesting but they were certainly not groundbreaking. There was no more than about a 30-second period that went by without someone yelling "F@*k!". I am not offended by the word, but I don't think it's a stretch to say it loses its impact when used 300 times during a movie.

If you have any issues with copious, on-screen gore, you'll want to stay away. "District 9" ranks right up there with "Robocop" and "Starship Troopers" in the bloody Sci-Fi category.

This movie is great on many levels. First it works as a really good sci-fi/action movie. But there is also a message, intentional or not, and it raises questions. But it's not being put on the foreground. Yet you clearly see the references. And it still works today.
The mix of documentary and cinematic style adds a certain level of realism, as much as this is possible with an alien story, but you are much more drawn into it because of that. The story itself is interesting. You don't have aliens coming to conquer or destroy mankind. They are pretty much a sorry bunch with little hope of existence. I like that angle.
Putting this not into the hollywood realm and not placing it in America also just adds to the positive attributes this whole movie has.
I am on the fence if I would want a sequel to be honest. If that would mean it gets the hollywood treatment I'd refuse. I mean - look at the Terminator franchise for a reference.
In any case, after re-watching this movie I raise my rating from "8" to "9" because I really think it is that good. Unfortunately, from where I stand, Blomkamp hasn't even come close to repeating with any of his other movies following _District 9_.

This was an outstanding debut by the New Zealander Blomkamp. Consistently enthralling and keeping one at the edge of his seat. THIS is a recent film, like 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World', that should have spawned sequels. Much better than his follow-up, 'Elysium' (I haven't watched any others he's made since; hope he doesn't end up a cinematic one-trick pony like M. Night Shyamalan...).

A gritty and original story that is as entertaining as thought-provoking, combining xenophobic satire and political allegory with raucous action.

8/10