6. District 9
Dir. Neill Blomkamp
Why I Like It So Much: This is the second of the three great 21st century science-fiction movies I mentioned (Inception being one). For me, District 9 was a revelation, not just for it's special effects, cinematography, action sequences or the coolest weapons ever put on screen but because of the story, penned by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, who is currently involved in Blomkamp's next sci-fi: Chappie. Part of the story is told in the very fashionable mockumentary style while the rest is told in a more conventional way. It's a good composition, which allows us to see what has happened to the world, or rather South Africa with the advent of alien life.
In the center of it all is Wikus Van De Marwe, a slightly clumsy, some what arrogant civil servant who loves the opportunity to be on screen...then things go south. He is infected and starts losing skin, nails and blood. It looks like he is transforming into one of the aliens he so despises and looks down upon and his only hope is that some of them maybe able to help him. It's not an original plot device but it works here perfectly. Sharlto Copley also delivers a stand out performance.
On top of all that, the visuals are simply stunning, it's not the in-your-face CGI of the Star Trek reboot or the Star Wars prequels but it's something better, sometimes it's the little touches that really help. Every frame is well thought out and no special effect is wasted or unnecessarily allowed to distracts us from the story or characters. In fact, the aliens or "Prawns" as their known as are more convincing and
human than any of the heavily CGI characters of recent cinema, I'm looking at you JaJa Binks.
Why It's Here: There's a message here, that of racial segregation, class warfare and the advent of technology. Has technology and new scientific research really bettered our lives? Or we closer or further apart? Have people, all around the world but in particular, in the new South Africa, the "Rainbow Nation" really united? Has anything actually changed?
It's true that the social and political motivations of the movie can sometimes be shoved down our throats in this movie but then again they are in several great movies of the past. But in doing so, Blomkamp never fails to entertain and at the end of the 112 minutes, we are left wanting more.
Blomkamp at his best: Connecting with the Prawns Christopher Johnson's Son: How many moons does our planet have?
Christopher Johnson: Seven.
Christopher Johnson's Son: This planet only has one. I can't wait to see our planet again... it's bigger than this one, isn't it?
Christopher Johnson: [turns off holographic atlas of what seems to be the Alien home planet] Enough.
Christopher Johnson's Son: We go home now?
Christopher Johnson: Not home, no. This is where we must go.
[shows his son an MNU brochure outlining "Sanctuary Park Alien Relocation Camp" aka District 10]
Christopher Johnson: See that tent there? That might be ours.
Christopher Johnson's Son: I want to go home!
Christopher Johnson: We can't go home. Not anymore.