District 9

[mrhaines]

I hope the guys review District 9. It looks really interesting. Aliens in South Africa.

Check out the trailer:

http://www.ctv.ca/generic/generated/static/movieTrailers/18610.html

Edit: My bad, looks like they are reviewing it for next week. I'll leave the post up for the trailer anyway.

[Bret]

saw it tonight, was pretty damn good. the lead character got a bit annoying at points but overall i really liked it. very thought provoking.

[yssman]

It is a stellar movie, especially when considering the $30M budget. But, I didn't love it nearly as much as what a lot of the critics have. Furthermore, looking at posts at AICN and /Film, I'm on the mid/low end of the scale of love. Its a great movie, but its not my favorite movie of the summer.

[starthorn]

just saw it. It was Ok. The main character was a weasel so I didn't like him. The ending wasn't very satisfying either. I don't know if that means there will be a district 10

[axtimus_prime]

I kind of liked the fact that the main dude was not a stereotypical call to action hero.

[satori]

I really liked that it was real Science Fiction with real world issues that it was trying to address.

[cptn-vortex]

Great movie. I went in with high expectations, and was relieved to get a great movie. There were some flaws, as all movies have, but all in all I left with a great sense of satisfaction, and awe. Also, the whole story is left open. Who are these aliens? where did they come from?

I wish I could say the same for the score. There WAS a score, and it was good, but it did not stand out. I never got the sense or feeling of a proper score. That is the ONLY part that I was somewhat disappointed with.

Props to my Vancouver Peeps!!

[tsmith15]

I said the exact same thing, about the score, Vortex. As soon as it ended I said "I wish the score was better, had more of an impact." Alas no, but the rest of it was awesome. It's definitely in my Top 10 of 2009 and the perfect counter-argument to Transformers 2, Terminator 4, G.I.Joe.

[sugarsickness]

The parts where the audio and/or video was distorted due to the main character being affected by the spray were all ery awkward and poorly executed given the way so much of the movie is interviews/camera footage. Even the parts where there is no camera present don't take you out of it, but when they deviate so much from how we get used to watching this movie makes it very awkward feeling.

Still, I LOVED it and have no problems with the open ending, or the main character at all. A few choice moments that were a little dumb, but I loved it.

[lavahot]

This movie was awesome. It's funny how this was supposed to be Halo, because it turned out to be much more like Half-Life. Aliens living amongst humans, force guns, a big lanky robot. Even the weapon design was very similar to Valve designed gear. During the last 30 minutes of this movie I kept thinking, "I want to play the District 9 game, badly."

[mrbook]

I frickin' LOVED this movie. I can't believe it was the main actor's first movie, and also that Neil Blomkamp is only 29!

[rse2]

Very good movie. Real old school scifi story. Didn't go where I expected it to go. And I won't even compare it to some other movies as that would spoil it for those that haven't seen it.
Don't read or see too much about this film if you want to enjoy it fully.
Don't nit pick about the score. I didn't even notice it. Which to my way of thinking is good. One shouldn't notice it.

I will say that, because it is set in South Africa, there is HUGE built in irony throughout.

'Nuff said.

[satori]

I'm of the same opinion on the score. I didn't notice it and didn't need it. The type of film this is I don't think a score should be even remotely prominent.

[sugarsickness]

This movie was awesome. It's funny how this was supposed to be Halo, because it turned out to be much more like Half-Life. Aliens living amongst humans, force guns, a big lanky robot. Even the weapon design was very similar to Valve designed gear. During the last 30 minutes of this movie I kept thinking, "I want to play the District 9 game, badly."

This wasn't "supposed to be halo" in the sense that this movie was in any way derived from whatever actually got done with the halo movie. He was chosen to direct the Halo movie in part because of the short film District 9 was based on.

[lavahot]

This wasn't "supposed to be halo" in the sense that this movie was in any way derived from whatever actually got done with the halo movie. He was chosen to direct the Halo movie in part because of the short film District 9 was based on.

That's what I meant. I know that the story has absolutely nothing to do with Halo, it was just kinda ironic that it turned out to be a lot like Half-Life's story. D-9 is based on a short film?

[yssman]

Yeah, the whole concept of District 9 came from the short film entitled Alive in Joburg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ1vHRs_EOs

YZ1vHRs_EOs

You even see a recognizable face in it...

[darknessgp]

That's what I meant. I know that the story has absolutely nothing to do with Halo, it was just kinda ironic that it turned out to be a lot like Half-Life's story. D-9 is based on a short film?

How is that ironic? I don't mean to sound mean, but do you even know what irony is?

the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning:

If the story wasn't supposed to be anything like Halo (I never saw anything saying it was like anything else) how can it be ironic if you think it was "a lot like Half-Life's story"?

[ojimaru]

I laughed out loud when I first saw the Africans being racists and xenophobic and when my girlfriend described the MNU as another failed UN mission.

Lots of gore, lots of profanity, no Samuel L Jackson and absolutely no hint of being another lame action movie with those components. Amazing.

[quantumtheory]

I LOVED this movie. Quite possibly my favorite movie of the year and immediately jumps into my favorite movies of all time.

[im-so-fresh]

this is what i said on the face right after the midnight showing:

"James Longhi youve broken my heart district 9. i wanted children of men; i was given a campy b, gross out movie. i guess i could like it for that, though..."

but, as time has passed and ive forgiven it for having such high expectations, concluded that i did not hate the movie. im still a bit sad, though.

[satori]

That's what I meant. I know that the story has absolutely nothing to do with Halo, it was just kinda ironic that it turned out to be a lot like Half-Life's story. D-9 is based on a short film?

There were quite a few nods to half-life. The weapons and especially the hive gun from the original half-life figured in quite prominently... but no, I don't think the story was similar.

[taozoo4u]

meh, not as good as district 8

[lavahot]

How is that ironic? I don't mean to sound mean, but do you even know what irony is?

If the story wasn't supposed to be anything like Halo (I never saw anything saying it was like anything else) how can it be ironic if you think it was "a lot like Half-Life's story"?

Thanks Bender. What word would you use to describe the accidental relationship in themes between Half-Life and District 9 in opposition to the themes in Halo which was originally the goal of the film makers?

[lavahot]

There were quite a few nods to half-life. The weapons and especially the hive gun from the original half-life figured in quite prominently... but no, I don't think the story was similar.

Well, maybe not the story, but some themes are the same. Aliens stuck on Earth, Humans trying to take advantage of the alien presence, a single guy that can save both humanity and aliens, the grizzly humor, the giant alien structure towering over a modern city. I'm not saying it's Half-life the movie, but it's a Far Cry from the themes in Halo. *rimshot*

[murphy1d]

I tried to love it. I was draw out of the fantasy with the whole documentary-style. I even nodded off a couple times during the "action scenes."

I do love the concept. But I'm a bit underwhelmed by the execution.

[devi8devin2289]

I drooled over the Prawn technology in this film. The arc gun behaved just like the gluon weapon from Half-Life, and the orange detailing on certain things reminded me of combine technology. I agree with lavahot, the mothership seemed a lot like the citadel in the center of City 17. It may perhaps all be coincidental, but I would be thrilled to know if the prop designers drew inspiration from my favorite valve game. Like many, I was disappointed to hear that production on the Halo movie had fallen through. I was skeptical of this film at first, but after seeing District 9 I'll take Johannesburg over New Mombasa any day.

[cwilkey]

I loved this movie, great story, amazing action, and phenomenal effects for the budget..

I enjoyed how awkward the main character was and how I really never liked him. It was fun to see him evolve and show some backbone, even though he never quite got it right.. I actually sympathized more with the aliens, the main one and his boy, which I think was the point.

The tech and CG were amazing.. My brother made the comment that it looked like they borrowed some of the weapon design and effects from Ratchet and Clank, they even used that battle-suit to launch a pig at someone...epic!

[lavahot]

I drooled over the Prawn technology in this film. The arc gun behaved just like the gluon weapon from Half-Life, and the orange detailing on certain things reminded me of combine technology. I agree with lavahot, the mothership seemed a lot like the citadel in the center of City 17. It may perhaps all be coincidental, but I would be thrilled to know if the prop designers drew inspiration from my favorite valve game. Like many, I was disappointed to hear that production on the Halo movie had fallen through. I was skeptical of this film at first, but after seeing District 9 I'll take Johannesburg over New Mombasa any day.

I do think it's coincidental that there are so many themes design from Half-Life, either that or the director got blue balls from wanting to do a video game movie and just went with it.

[ojimaru]

Oh by the way, did anybody else notice the (possible) plot hole?



After Christopher Johnson's ship got shot down, his son started calling the mothership to his location and subsequently get beamed up with a tractor beam. If that was the case, why hadn't Christopher Johnson do so 20 years back?

[lavahot]

Oh by the way, did anybody else notice the (possible) plot hole?



After Christopher Johnson's ship got shot down, his son started calling the mothership to his location and subsequently get beamed up with a tractor beam. If that was the case, why hadn't Christopher Johnson do so 20 years back?




Because they needed the fluid to power the ship's drives to get back home. Getting beamed up was a last resort because it takes time and the engine got shot off.

[tsmith15]

I actually remember thinking once it came out that I really wanted to see a Half-Life 2 movie. Also, speaking of Half-Life 2, some of the armor on the MNU guys in District 9 reminded me of the Combine.

[chimpy]

Great movie. Very dark but not too much so.

It also had one of the most bad-ass moves I've ever seen....

SPOILER WARNING








...when the MNU squad leader fires the RPG at the ship being pulled up by the tractor beam I full expected him to dash any hope of Christopher getting home. When Wikus catches it I gave an involuntary "OH SHIT!" because it took me by such surprise. Totally, totally badass moment.

[lavahot]

Great movie. Very dark but not too much so.

It also had one of the most bad-ass moves I've ever seen....

SPOILER WARNING








...when the MNU squad leader fires the RPG at the ship being pulled up by the tractor beam I full expected him to dash any hope of Christopher getting home. When Wikus catches it I gave an involuntary "OH SHIT!" because it took me by such surprise. Totally, totally badass moment.

It was in the trailer.

[chimpy]

It was in the trailer.

Ah, I hadn't seen the trailer - that's obvious at this point I suppose. :)

Edit - and thinking about it a bit more I'm so glad I didn't see it - it made the scene far more suspenseful for me.

[summx]

It was in the trailer.

which is really unfortunate. It's ridiculous that they showed such a pivotal moment of the movie in the trailer.

[jabber]

which is really unfortunate. It's ridiculous that they showed such a pivotal moment of the movie in the trailer.

I feel the same way. I loved the movie but felt that moment, which is supposed to be a really big HOORAY moment, was totally ruined for me because it was in the trailer.

[lavahot]

Ah, I hadn't seen the trailer - that's obvious at this point I suppose. :)

Edit - and thinking about it a bit more I'm so glad I didn't see it - it made the scene far more suspenseful for me.

I have to admit, it took the suspense out of it for me too. I thought, "okay and THAT's where that part was."

[bigfatphony]

Hi all,

There's been a lot of praise about this movie, so I just wanted to throw a dissenting opinion in to the ring here.

I was really disappointed in this movie on a number of levels, but I'll focus on a couple things here.

It didn't explore the concepts it puts forward. The aliens are given no real life, and the idea of these aliens as intelligent beings with concepts of morality, community, culture, etc is completely thrown out the window. We really don't see any evidence whatsoever that the Prawns have a society, and this is twenty years since their initial settlement. How does this work as an allegory, when the aliens are depicted more like rats than humans? What does the movie do to explore the complex issues surrounding apartheid?

The second thing I'd like to ask about is the action. I really did not like the action sequences in this at all.

In a post elsewhere, I compared the action sequences in this movie, to those in The Rock (which is one of my favorite movies). Here is the example I gave:

In The Rock, there is a deadly substance encased in glass beads, that will kill you if you are exposed to it. Nicholas Cage and Sean Connery need to get these beads back.

Throughout the movie, this element is used to create complications in the action sequences. The main characters have to fight, but they also have to protect the beads. Sometimes they can use the beads to their advantage, other times they have to hide the beads first.

District 9 has a similar element, the black fuel. And just as in The Rock, the protagonists must retrieve the fuel, and must not leak any fuel. Potential for some pretty cool stuff right?

Wrong. Completely ignored. The closest thing you get to even an acknowledgement is when Wikus shouts out, "don' drop dat thing!" one time.

I guess the questions I'd like to pose to you guys is, did you feel like the action sequences in D9 worked in tandem with the plot? If so, how did you feel they did that?

Looking forward to hearing your opinions. Thanks!

[lavahot]

The Prawns are hive- or hierarchy-minded more or less. In the beginning of the movie they say that most of the Prawns are just workers, no complex intelligence. The chaos that is the District 9 slum is more or less their natural state. The hard part in expressing the allegory is that while they are intelligent enough to deserve rights, most are not of award-winning intelligence, which makes them socially limited. They have a totally different social system than we do; they are essentially smart ants minus the queen.

The allegory works by making it so that the prawns are clearly sentient beings who deserve rights, but nobody thinks of them as real people and treat them as second class citizens.

The consequences of human exposure to the fluid is a main theme of the movie. The reason that the fluid isn't spilled everywhere is that nobody is as clumsy as the protagonist.

This movie isn't The Rock, it's an actually good movie.

[magunwarrior]

which is really unfortunate. It's ridiculous that they showed such a pivotal moment of the movie in the trailer.

Now hopefully people will get with the program and not bother with movie trailers.

[lavahot]

Now hopefully people will get with the program and not bother with movie trailers.

But how is somebody supposed to know about the movie? I mean, I wouldn't have heard about District 9 if I hadn't heard about it on TRS as a preview, saw all of the stuff for it at Comic Con, and saw a different trailer for it every ten minutes on TV.

[magunwarrior]

But how is somebody supposed to know about the movie? I mean, I wouldn't have heard about District 9 if I hadn't heard about it on TRS as a preview, saw all of the stuff for it at Comic Con, and saw a different trailer for it every ten minutes on TV.

There is a distinct difference between a teaser and a trailer.

[darknessgp]

Thanks Bender. What word would you use to describe the accidental relationship in themes between Half-Life and District 9 in opposition to the themes in Halo which was originally the goal of the film makers?

"Ironic"

However, my point is that it never was the intention of the film makers. They weren't making a Halo movie. Yes, this might have been their next movie, but that doesn't mean it was supposed to be Halo. If I remember correctly, Peter Jackson was looking to make a Hobbit movie, but ended up doing King Kong next. Isn't it ironic that he did a movie about a gigantic ape instead of a movie about a wee little hobbit?

[lavahot]

"Ironic"

However, my point is that it never was the intention of the film makers. They weren't making a Halo movie. Yes, this might have been their next movie, but that doesn't mean it was supposed to be Halo. If I remember correctly, Peter Jackson was looking to make a Hobbit movie, but ended up doing King Kong next. Isn't it ironic that he did a movie about a gigantic ape instead of a movie about a wee little hobbit?

*facepalms*

[quantumtheory]

I agree about the part where wikus catches the rocket in the mech. I was just waiting for it to happen or saying to myself, is it gonna happen yet? when is it gonna happen? ok it's gonna happen now, yep there it is. Really not something they should have put in the trailer. I think some people who make trailers have no idea how to make them and not ruin parts of the movie for most people.

Another trailer that comes to mind where this happens, (and I actually almost thought it didn't), is the trailer for Star Trek. At first I thought it didn't, then I remembered the scene where young Kirk is driving the car off the cliff. While being such a small non impacting story scene, it still took me out of the movie for a bit and I realized how much I started disliking movie trailers and how they are made.

I would be much happier if all they did was tease the movie, instead of giving us 2 minutes of the movie, and ruining certain scenes. Most trailers for comedies do that. Most of the hilarious scenes are put in the trailer, and then when you go see it in the theater, you aren't laughing because you already saw it in the trailer.

I may stop watching trailers all together, or at least, make sure I only watch them once or just catch the first teaser.


Also, they NEED to make a videogame out of this movie. Not just a low budget, here's your cheap videogame for this movie kind of thing like harry potter, but an ACTUAL videogame made by a big label that actually puts effort into and makes it just as good as the movie. I would want to play that game over and over. Make it half-life meets mass effect meets GTA or something. I just think it would be awesome if that game existed.

[trunolimit]

Anyone else find how they handled the documentary aspect annoying? I thought it was distracting how they kept jumping back and forth from documentary view to not documentary. I think they should have done the first half in a documentary type of movie then do the whole cinima thing then at the end go back to it. (if that makes any sense)

Other than that I was blown away by how much of a great movie this was.

[bigfatphony]

The Prawns are hive- or hierarchy-minded more or less. In the beginning of the movie they say that most of the Prawns are just workers, no complex intelligence. The chaos that is the District 9 slum is more or less their natural state. The hard part in expressing the allegory is that while they are intelligent enough to deserve rights, most are not of award-winning intelligence, which makes them socially limited. They have a totally different social system than we do; they are essentially smart ants minus the queen.

The allegory works by making it so that the prawns are clearly sentient beings who deserve rights, but nobody thinks of them as real people and treat them as second class citizens.

I'm not sure this makes sense. You're saying these aliens are meant to be more like ants than humans. I'd agree that is the depiction. But then in your next sentence you say that they "deserve rights". Do you mean the same rights as an individual human? The right to property? If they are essentially insects without the capacity for abstract thought, then why would that be the case?

This is why this movie fails so much as an allegory. Even in trying to describe it, we become confused. Here's a question: In a working class society, would they not still have music? Would they not have culture? Would they not have values?

You have to ask yourself what does it mean to be "worker ants without a queen"? What is the human analog? This film simply doesn't try to ask those questions, and that's a huge disappointment.

The consequences of human exposure to the fluid is a main theme of the movie. The reason that the fluid isn't spilled everywhere is that nobody is as clumsy as the protagonist.

This movie isn't The Rock, it's an actually good movie.

I don't think you understand my example. The point is that real inventive, smart, and interesting action sequences will utilize plot points within them to create challenges for the characters. This movie simply doesn't do that at all. There's absolutely no rhyme or reason to the gun battles. There is no interplay with the surrounding environment.

I mean... Can you give me an example of the characters smartly utilizing their environment, or the practical elements around them in this film? Can you give me an example of a challenge that they had to overcome in the action sequences above and beyond the generic wave of soldiers with guns?

Look forward to your answers. Thanks!

[tsmith15]

@ Magun, I stopped watching movie trailers a while ago. And by stopped, let me explain myself. Referring to pre-movie trailers: I start watching a trailer, and if it is for a movie I want to see (e.g. Shutter Island) I shut my eyes and try not to listen (I hear it, but I'm not paying too much attention). If it's for a movie I don't know about I watch and then when I decide I want to see the movie I close my eyes, and if I don't want to see it I keep them open. So usually I have my eyes closed for 4/5 trailers before any movie I go see, lol.

And once they start showing Avatar trailers I'm just going to walk out of the cinema and come back when the next trailer starts. However, I sometimes watch trailers when featured on a movie blog I visit, and just stop about half-way through, and I go to apple trailers sometimes just to find some obscure indie movies I want to see.

@ phony, in regards to the inventive plot-based action sequences, I personally find that usually ends up being gimmicky (like video games where they have the one gimmick to stand out from all the others (e.g. Fracture with the terrain-deforming)). I understand your view though, and it doesn't always come off as gimmicky. Jackie Chan often did cool stuff with his fight scenes, and I remember a sequence from I, Robot (small spoiler) where Sonny had to take out a couple robots while protecting a vial in one hand.

[quantumtheory]

Anyone else find how they handled the documentary aspect annoying? I thought it was distracting how they kept jumping back and forth from documentary view to not documentary. I think they should have done the first half in a documentary type of movie then do the whole cinima thing then at the end go back to it. (if that makes any sense)

Other than that I was blown away by how much of a great movie this was.

It didn't bother me at all. In fact I thought they made a very smooth and unnoticeable transition from the documentary aspect.





*SPOILER*



There damn well better be a sequel to this movie. I want to see the aliens come back with more ships

[bigfatphony]

Anyone else find how they handled the documentary aspect annoying? I thought it was distracting how they kept jumping back and forth from documentary view to not documentary. I think they should have done the first half in a documentary type of movie then do the whole cinima thing then at the end go back to it. (if that makes any sense)

Other than that I was blown away by how much of a great movie this was.

I thought the transition was okay, but I felt they did a very poor job of shooting the actual documentary section. There were shots in that portion of the film that simply would not happen in a documentary film. There are shots that are completely implausible.

One example I've given elsewhere is the initial introduction of the Nigerian gangs. There's a voiceover, so it's obviously meant to be a part of the "documentary", but the shots used are clean and cinematic, including a head-on shot of the gang leader snarling at the camera. Completely pulled me out of the movie.

It seemed like they filmed a lot of stuff that was quite well done documentary footage, and then went back later and interspersed it with some tacked on backstory. Maybe they felt this would be an easy way to not have to actually develop the characters through dialogue or acting. I dunno.

[bigfatphony]

@ phony, in regards to the inventive plot-based action sequences, I personally find that usually ends up being gimmicky (like video games where they have the one gimmick to stand out from all the others (e.g. Fracture with the terrain-deforming)). I understand your view though, and it doesn't always come off as gimmicky. Jackie Chan often did cool stuff with his fight scenes, and I remember a sequence from I, Robot (small spoiler) where Sonny had to take out a couple robots while protecting a vial in one hand.

Jackie Chan films are a great example! Thanks!

Ya I'd agree with that, there are a lot of films that don't really pull it off that well. I do feel though that when those kinds of complexities are taken in to account, there's the potential for a much more rewarding experience than when they're completely ignored.

[lavahot]

I'm not sure this makes sense. You're saying these aliens are meant to be more like ants than humans. I'd agree that is the depiction. But then in your next sentence you say that they "deserve rights". Do you mean the same rights as an individual human? The right to property? If they are essentially insects without the capacity for abstract thought, then why would that be the case?

This is why this movie fails so much as an allegory. Even in trying to describe it, we become confused. Here's a question: In a working class society, would they not still have music? Would they not have culture? Would they not have values?

This raises the issue of what are rights? Who gets them? If I struggle hard to get where I am, do I deserve rights as much as somebody who didn't struggle at all? If somebody wouldn't miss or exercise their rights (take an insane or brain damaged person for example), do you have the right to take them away?

They are about as intelligent as most people you would find in a slum. It's not that they're not capable of abstract thought, it's just that most of them are pretty dim.

They operate with a completely different set of behaviors then we do. They might not even be able to appreciate music neurologically. I'd be interested to know what might happen with a room full of prawns watching this (http://vimeo.com/5732745).

They have values, it's just that when you live in a slum they aren't really apparent because you have to do what you have to do to survive.


I don't think you understand my example. The point is that real inventive, smart, and interesting action sequences will utilize plot points within them to create challenges for the characters. This movie simply doesn't do that at all. There's absolutely no rhyme or reason to the gun battles. There is no interplay with the surrounding environment.

I mean... Can you give me an example of the characters smartly utilizing their environment, or the practical elements around them in this film? Can you give me an example of a challenge that they had to overcome in the action sequences above and beyond the generic wave of soldiers with guns?

Look forward to your answers. Thanks!

SPOILER!!!



The gun battles aren't evenly handed because they had weapons that make you explode! The damn suit got shot to bits while he was still in it! His very survival was genuinely in question. They picked up scrap metal to use as sheilds! He barely prevented the RPG from hitting the command module. I saw him take cover numerous times! We already know this guy is a bit of a twit, and not the brightest bulb at MNU so he's not going to employ well thought out strategy. South Africa is fairly flat and there's not as much complex terrain that might make good scenes in a war movie for example.

[trunolimit]

*SPOILER*



There damn well better be a sequel to this movie. I want to see the aliens come back with more ships




*SPOILER*

agreed a sequel would rock. what do you think would make the better movie , aliens come back on a rescue mission and the government tries to interfere, or aliens come back pissed off and declare war on our planet? the way the aliens where treated I'd come back pissed as hell.

[tsmith15]

Oh god, please no sequel. Don't ruin it. Most of the brilliance of the movie was how different it was from everything else, and if they just come back to make another one it's going to feel sorta old, plus they could not go with the documentary angle again or it would feel cheesy. Plus, it would sort of paint Blomkamp (spelling?) as a sell-out to sequel-itis. At least that's my opinion (also how I feel about a third Nolan batman, especially with the passing of Heath.)

[bigfatphony]

This raises the issue of what are rights? Who gets them? If I struggle hard to get where I am, do I deserve rights as much as somebody who didn't struggle at all? If somebody wouldn't miss or exercise their rights (take an insane or brain damaged person for example), do you have the right to take them away?

They are about as intelligent as most people you would find in a slum. It's not that they're not capable of abstract thought, it's just that most of them are pretty dim.

They operate with a completely different set of behaviors then we do. They might not even be able to appreciate music neurologically. I'd be interested to know what might happen with a room full of prawns watching this (http://vimeo.com/5732745).

They have values, it's just that when you live in a slum they aren't really apparent because you have to do what you have to do to survive.

Can you cite a few scene examples of these things?


SPOILER!!!



The gun battles aren't evenly handed because they had weapons that make you explode! The damn suit got shot to bits while he was still in it! His very survival was genuinely in question. They picked up scrap metal to use as sheilds! He barely prevented the RPG from hitting the command module. I saw him take cover numerous times! We already know this guy is a bit of a twit, and not the brightest bulb at MNU so he's not going to employ well thought out strategy. South Africa is fairly flat and there's not as much complex terrain that might make good scenes in a war movie for example.

See, the key word in my question is "smartly". All those things you're talking about... Those are in virtually every action movie ever. Cover as a smart interaction with the environment? If that's the standard for action, we've gotten pretty easy to please.

I appreciate your responses, I guess we'll just have to disagree. Hope other people chime in as well! Thanks!

[quantumtheory]

*SPOILER*

agreed a sequel would rock. what do you think would make the better movie , aliens come back on a rescue mission and the government tries to interfere, or aliens come back pissed off and declare war on our planet? the way the aliens where treated I'd come back pissed as hell.

I think the best sequel would be the aliens coming back all pissed off and declaring war. If done right, it would be by far the best alien invasion movie ever.

[murphy1d]

I think the best sequel would be the aliens coming back all pissed off and declaring war. If done right, it would be by far the best alien invasion movie ever.

Yeah, I'm seeing a sequel in "3 Years."

[trunolimit]

I think the best sequel would be the aliens coming back all pissed off and declaring war. If done right, it would be by far the best alien invasion movie ever.

I think it would be the one invasion movie where the audience is not rooting for the humans.

Yeah, I'm seeing a sequel in "3 Years."

That would actually be pretty epic

[gm_wil]

I was thinking sequal when they mentioned "3 Years a few times" and hey, why not - I enjoyed Empire Strikes Back quite a bit . . .

Loved it and it sent my brain into #5 mode - "more input more input!" and I was wiped afterwards . . . crashed hard.

"spoiler"

loved the mech

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[subwayfox]

My g/f with a 10 year old brother was thinking about bringing him to this movie.

Is it a hard R with dicks in it like Bruno or is it for swearing and violence?

[gm_wil]

My g/f with a 10 year old brother was thinking about bringing him to this movie.

Is it a hard R with dicks in it like Bruno or is it for swearing and violence?

graphic violence - like people exploding in sprays of blood, arms cut off, decapitations, and when I say graphic it goes a bit deeper than the show of gore . . . there are undertones of cold blooded murder and disregard of a sentient being . . . I'd advise against the 10 year old if you want an opinion.

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[darknessgp]

Oh god, please no sequel. Don't ruin it. Most of the brilliance of the movie was how different it was from everything else, and if they just come back to make another one it's going to feel sorta old, plus they could not go with the documentary angle again or it would feel cheesy. Plus, it would sort of paint Blomkamp (spelling?) as a sell-out to sequel-itis. At least that's my opinion (also how I feel about a third Nolan batman, especially with the passing of Heath.)

although I agree a sequel will probably ruin it, I also want to see a lot more.

[subwayfox]

Ok thanks for quick reply gm_will

[darthender]

I think Jeff just hit the nail on the head when he said this was like The Half-Life movie. Just everything about it SCREAMED Half-Life 2.

Awesome movie.



SPOILER



On the subject of a sequel, not only is it set up for it with the whole "3 years later" thing, but they've pretty much set up the title beforehand by saying that they relocated them to "District 10".

[tsmith15]

My g/f with a 10 year old brother was thinking about bringing him to this movie.

Is it a hard R with dicks in it like Bruno or is it for swearing and violence?

Mostly violence, pretty graphic violence too. Some swearing and mature themes, but I'm about 99% sure there's no nudity or gratuitous sexual content. I don't have a problem with a 10 year old seeing it, as long as the 10 year old doesn't go alone.

[ojimaru]

Some swearing and mature themes,

Gross understatement if ever there was one.

[trunolimit]

I think Jeff just hit the nail on the head when he said this was like The Half-Life movie. Just everything about it SCREAMED Half-Life 2.

Awesome movie.

.

????? Half-Life ??????? did you mean Halo?????. did jeff say half-life? I could be mistaken.

Mostly violence, pretty graphic violence too. Some swearing and mature themes, but I'm about 99% sure there's no nudity or gratuitous sexual content. I don't have a problem with a 10 year old seeing it, as long as the 10 year old doesn't go alone.

blood, gore, violence = OK
Tits, penis, sex = not OK

God I love America

[chimpy]

My g/f with a 10 year old brother was thinking about bringing him to this movie.

Is it a hard R with dicks in it like Bruno or is it for swearing and violence?

My son's 10, and there's no way I'd let him see this. Lot's of cursing and graphic killings, and it's a very dark and unsettling look at racism.

I have no problem with him seeing movies that depict the evils of racism, just not in this adult a manner.

[bjkrautk]

SPOILER-Y Question


(having just seen the movie this weekend)



The South Africans relocated about one million prauns off the ship...why'd they let the aliens take the Rachet & Clank weapons with them? Why wouldn't the people doing the relocation take the weapons then?

[darknessgp]

SPOILER-Y Question


(having just seen the movie this weekend)



The South Africans relocated about one million prauns off the ship...why'd they let the aliens take the Rachet & Clank weapons with them? Why wouldn't the people doing the relocation take the weapons then?

They smuggled them off... I mean, if their were 1 million prawns and you initially had no way to communicate with them, I think the first order of business was just offloading them.