DISTRICT 9 Movie Review

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to watch DISTRICT 9. This movie had a lot of buzz, especially after it was screened at Comic Con 2009. So without further ado, here is my review of the movie District 9.

Since seeing some clips at Comic Con 2009, I was eager to see the movie. I had pretty high expectations for it. However, District 9 didn't quite live up to these expectations and I partly blame myself for that.

Indeed, I thought that this was going to be a movie about the struggle of a human hero trying to fight hard to save the embattled aliens from the evil government and corporations. Instead I got a movie about a very flawed and not very likeable guy, Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley), who just wants to get his way at the detriment of literally millions of living aliens. Fully explaining this statement would involve me revealing too much about the movie but needless to say that I wasn't really engaged with the Wikus character. Although I really liked the actor, Sharlto Copley, who delivered a very intense and believable performance of what I think is basically a douche. Wilkus wasn't all bad mind you, especially towards the end when he tried to redeem himself. However, by that time, it was really too late for me to like him.

The story of District 9 was pretty well put together but also had a lot of missing bits that were pretty glaring. Certain questions were simply not addressed, and for the sake of expediency, I will quickly fire them away in a list that I shall call "All The District 9 Unanswered Questions" (Warning SPOILERS):

- Where do the Aliens come from?
- Why did they crash land on earth?
- Where were they coming from when they landed on earth?
- Where were they going when they landed on earth?
- 1.8 millions aliens and only two guys who seem to know how to fly a ship. How is that possible?
- Why did they stay months in the ship before being rescued by humans? No one knows how to open a door?
- So these guys have mastered the science of space travel but couldn't figure out a way out of the planet for 20 years?

I can go on but you get the point. What ticks me off about this whole thing is that they could have answered all of those questions with just a couple of lines of dialogue. How hard was that really?

Overall, I gave District 9 3.5 stars because they failed to deliver the basic stuff story wise but still managed to have enough enjoyable and interesting scenes to watch to keep me glued to the screen.

Movies Coming Out This Weekend August 14 2009

Wondering what movies are coming out to theaters this Friday, August 14, 2009? Here is a list with our recommendations (which you can take or leave, it's up to you).

DEFINITELY WATCH AT THE MOVIES

District 9

This definitely the movie to see this weekend, and I personally can't wait.

District 9 Synopsis: DISTRICT 9 depicts a fictional world where extraterrestrials have become refugees in South Africa.

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DISTRICT 9 Movie Pictures

Check out a few pictures from DISTRICT 9, which comes out to theaters this Friday, August 14.

This is definitely a movie you don't want to miss this weekend, and after seeing more clips from it at Comic Con, I am really looking forward to finally seeing it myself over the weekend.

You can watch the trailer for District 9 here.

Check out a few additional pictures and read the synopsis below.

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DISTRICT 9 Comic Con 2009 Panel

At the Comic Con 2009 panel for DISTRICT 9, Peter Jackson made his first Comic Con appearance ever.

But before getting into the movie, he gave us a few updates on his new project, THE HOBBIT:

- While WB has not greenlit the project yet, they are about 3-4 weeks away from giving them their first script.

- They haven't gotten to stage that they can offer anyone a role yet. That will most likely happen in 2 months.

- They will be doing 2 movies, in order to explore all of the information about Middle Earth that J.R.R. Tolkien's wrote in Lord of the Rings.

So that was the news for The Hobbit. But of course, this panel was about District 9, and to present it, Peter Jackson was joined by director Neill Blomkamp and actor Sharlto Copley. Here are a few highlights from the panel:

- The movie was very improvised and spontaneous. There was a storyline but no script, so it was hard to find actors who could improvise.

- The main character ended up being played by Neill Blomkamp's friend from school in South Africa, Sharlto Copley, who hadn't acted that much previous to this.

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DISTRICT 9 Movie Trailer

Check out the trailer for DISTRICT 9 starring Sharlto Copley, David James, William Allen Young, Jason Cope and directed by Neill Blomkamp.

I wasn't too convinced by the teaser trailer released a while ago, but this trailer has convinced me. District 9 looks freaking awesome.

I really like the way the movie is done so that it feels like half movie and half documentary. Really looking forward to it.

District 9 will be released to theaters on August 14, 2009. Watch the trailer below.

District 9 Synopsis: DISTRICT 9 depicts a fictional world where extraterrestrials have become refugees in South Africa.

DISTRICT 9 Teaser Movie Trailer

Check out the trailer for DISTRICT 9 starring Sharlto Copley, David James, William Allen Young, Jason Cope, and directed by Neill Blomkamp.

I'm still a little confused about what this movie exactly is about, so I'll reserve my judgement until I see a little more. Until then, you guys can check it out and make up your own mind.

District 9 will be released to theaters on August 14, 2009. Watch the trailer below.

District 9 Synopsis: DISTRICT 9 depicts a fictional world where extraterrestrials have become refugees in South Africa.