District 9

[gabeja]

Ok, I don't know if we're allowed to have random movie threads on this forum, but I saw this at midnight last night and it blew my mind completly. Special edition podcast?

Thoughts? (full review later)

[naveenm]

You might be too young for it, but if you haven't check out AlienNation, a late 80's flick about...alien refugees on Earth (in L.A. instead of South Africa).

And for the similarities between the two films? See this:

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Too-Close-To-Call-10-Ways-District-9-Is-An-Alien-Nation-Knockoff-14310.html

[razoredge757]

I just got off the phone with my friend who loves character development just as much as i do and he says that this was a "good" movie. although "good" in this summer of lackluster movies might not really equate to "good", it might be sub par. But I hope it is better than gi joe and transformers.

[ahunley]

It blew my freaking mind. Did anyone notice the similarities between it and DMZ?

[oh_caroline]

I really liked the first half hour of this movie but I didn't feel like they did much with the premise. They spent the opening convincing us the main character was a racist, clueless, dickhead, and then bad stuff happens to him so we're supposed to forget all of that? It wasn't like he had an actual character transformation, he was just trying to stay alive.

[comicbookchris]

This was probably the best sci-fi movie I've seen recently, as I'm trying to think of another great sci-fi movie made in the past year or so and can't think of any. The story was great and the action was very enjoyable. The soldiers bursting like water balloons never got old for me.

I really liked the first half hour of this movie but I didn't feel like they did much with the premise. They spent the opening convincing us the main character was a racist, clueless, dickhead, and then bad stuff happens to him so we're supposed to forget all of that? It wasn't like he had an actual character transformation, he was just trying to stay alive.

I think after he started to transform and started bonding with Christopher, that racism aspect went away, as he started to see them as they equals instead of just dirty Prawns. Plus, I think the racist aspects of his character were derivative of him being a bit of a dolt. At his core, he wasn't a bad guy. It's just that 20 years of prejudice against the Prawns combined with the fact that he was a bit clueless led to the way he acted in the beginning of the movie. He just needed to be shown the error of his ways, is all.

[nilcam]

Spoilers ahead.


I loved that the proganist was a dick throughout most of the movie. Wikus was wretched and thoughtless until tragedy hit him. He had no humanity until he had become a prawn. I loved Christopher's character arc; one of my favorite in any movie. He actually went from being a criminal to being a character worth caring about and probably the most selfless character in the movie.

I'm glad that there was no tidy or happy ending; in fact, the conclusion to the story was not really an ending at all. It was a nice point to stop the film and leave the audience wondering about the fate of the characters. Hollywood can learn a lot from this movie. It had action but was emotionally intense and intelligent at the same time.

[oh_caroline]

I guess it would be more accurate to say we don't KNOW if Wigus had a character transformation because once the movie got into robot/spaceship/bug fights there was precious little attention to character. So it's not that I think the character has to learn a lesson, it's more that I'd like to have some idea of his personality and how he's reacting to things.

I definitely saw Christopher as a heroic character, but I thought that was pretty clear from the beginning. I wish the movie had been more focused on him.

@comicbookchris Did you see MOON? I'd definitely call that a great SF movie.

[lantern4life]

Just went and saw it. Liked it alot.

[rustyautoparts]

I saw it yesterday and was really impressed. I loved how the movie started with the faux-documentary, as it made me feel as if this was really happening. It made me feel sympathy for the fictional prawns. The first two thirds of the movie created an emotional attachment to both Wickus and Christopher. When the last part of the movie descended into action, I found myself actually on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen for these characters. It was an experience unlike any I've had in recent memory. Definitely the best movie I've seen this year.

[stepho]

I saw it yesterday and was really impressed. I loved how the movie started with the faux-documentary, as it made me feel as if this was really happening. It made me feel sympathy for the fictional prawns. The first two thirds of the movie created an emotional attachment to both Wickus and Christopher. When the last part of the movie descended into action, I found myself actually on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen for these characters. It was an experience unlike any I've had in recent memory. Definitely the best movie I've seen this year.

i saw this last and this is exactly what i felt. this is the only movie i've seen in the cinemas that has put me on the edge of my seat and actually care for the characters. the oscars gives 10 nominations for best movie now. this better be on of them. Neil Bomkamp and Sharlto Copley (who played wikus.) will not be unknown for much longer.

[jon_samuelson]

Generally speaking, I agree with the sentiment that the first half of the movie was really pretty good. An original concept, good setup, and interesting characters. The only thing I could say against the first half was that it seemed to have an odd sense of humor. It just seemed weird to have such corny funny stuff juxtaposed with a background story that was pretty serious. The second half of the movie though, sort of fell apart for me. It really devolved into a pretty generic sci-fi/action movie with a moral. I still liked it, but the second half just wasn't anything special.

All of that said though, and I'll bold this for emphasis... I'll take one of these, rather than 100 GI Joes, Transformers, T4's, any day of the week.

[conorkilpatrick]

Special edition podcast?

Thoughts? (full review later)

We talked about it on the newest episode of the Murmur podcast (http://www.murmur.com/tv_film/murmur__episode_5__mad_men_district_9_and_2009_fal l_movie_preview.html).

[neb]

Just got back from seeing this. It was a phenomenal science fiction movie. I really, really enjoyed it. I thought the second half of the movie was incredible.

[infinity_man]

You might be too young for it, but if you haven't check out AlienNation, a late 80's flick about...alien refugees on Earth (in L.A. instead of South Africa).

And for the similarities between the two films? See this:

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Too-Close-To-Call-10-Ways-District-9-Is-An-Alien-Nation-Knockoff-14310.html

There were also some pretty decent comic adaptations of Alien Nation that I still have.
*trying my best to pull the elephant back to the right thread*

[infinity_man]

My take on the movie (saw it at midnight on the thursday night before release) was that it ended up being a much more straight forward Sci-fi film than I expected. I think I had such high expectations because I thought the film was going to be more philisopical and explore the concepts of racism and greed using a human/alien skin. They did that to an extent, but halfway through, it became a more traditional conflict/resolution with guns Sci-fi story.

[idleivey]

They did that to an extent, but halfway through, it became a more traditional conflict/resolution with guns Sci-fi story.

When conflict resolution involves making people esplode with a lightning gun I'm on board.

[sunnyvaletrash]

My favorite film of the year. Unlike some, I was a big fan of the transition from serious Sci-fi/drama/thematic piece into the blockbuster action finale. It seemed like an organic switch; i didn't feel like any of it was a stretch.

Plus, the "gravity gun" on the mech was awesome. Underutilized though.