District 9 (2009)

Filled with sociological satire, this Sci-Fi thriller hits a deep one to center in a visually pleasing home-run that's sure to appeal to a broad audience.

Neill Blomkamp directs this story of a ginormous space ship full of malnourished aliens appearing over Johannesburg, South Africa. Initially welcomed and cared for, an ever growing populace is beginning to burden an already disheveled human existence. The refugee camp where the aliens are located has deteriorated into a militarized ghetto called District 9, where they are confined and exploited in squalor. Multi-National United is then sent in to forcibly evict the population with operative Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley) in charge. In this operation, Wikus is exposed to a strange alien biochemical, and must join forces with the "Prawns" not only to cure himself, but save their species from destruction on earth.

Why did I never see this in the theater? It would have been worth my $10! It was supremely enjoyable, more so from the middle to the end, but that completely makes up for the beginning. In what felt marketed to me as a Sci-Fi Horror movie, this film really gets its message across. What is portrays of who we are as humans is despicable to say the least, and damned near 100% true. As great as the movie looks and feels, sadly it left me with just so many questions. Where did they come from? What are they exactly? How do they understand English? How do we understand their language? They are bigger, stronger, and more technologically advanced then us, so how have we banished them to India-esque slums without retribution? As aggravated as I was, having connected with the main characters by the end, I got it. My eyes were opened, and I now see what needs to be done... watch this!

8.1/10

Rated: R
112 mins