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District 9

AndrewAndrew
edited July 2009 in Movies
Not sure if anyone here is familiar with Neil Blomkamp, but he is an up and coming South African director who is set to release his first major feature film in a couple of weeks called District 9, a sci-fi film based on his short film Alive in Joburg. It looks really awesome (in an almost Children of Men sense), and from what I've seen of his shorts, I find his directing style really refreshing. This looks like it could be THE sci-fi film of the year, let's hope it delivers.

Alive in Joburg
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District 9 trailer
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Tetra Vaal (Another Blomkamp short film)
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Comments

  • WalkerWalker
    edited July 2009
    I'd never heard of Blomkamp before I'd heard of District 9, but the more I learn the more promising this movie becomes. Alive in Joburg and the District 9 trailers both give me a really strong Ever Since the World Ended vibe, which made heavy use of naturalistic acting, half-improvised interviews and a documentary format.
    This looks like it could be THE sci-fi film of the year, let's hope it delivers.
    I heard the same of Moon, though I haven't had the chance to see it yet. Has anyone else had a look?
    Post edited by Walker on
  • AprecheApreche
    I actually just saw the trailer for this because the AVGN talked about it. First movie in a long time I actually want to see. That says a lot.
  • Kate MonsterKate Monster
    @ Apreche: You might be interested in Moon. I haven't seen it yet, but it certainly intrigued me.
  • Li_AkahiLi_Akahi
    This movie came right the hell out of nowhere for me. I heard absolutely nothing about it online and just started seeing TV spots for it around a week ago, if that. It looks really interesting and I'm definitely going to go see it... after I see Ponyo.
  • Alex LeavittAlex Leavitt
    Moon was AMAZING. Must see if it's still in theaters. The plot keeps you guessing even until the very end.
  • OmnutiaOmnutia
    edited August 2009
    Moon was a good film apart from the nerd in me, by the end, nagging away about the basic premise of what that company was doing being totally absurd.

    Spoilers: What kind of crazy people, knowing that someone finding out could jeopardize their entire operation and happing to run a company supplying a significant amount of the energy on planet earth, think it's an adequate cost cutting measure to use clones rather than send new people up?!

    Other than that, well worth seeing.
    Post edited by Omnutia on
  • NilliaNillia
    I like the way they're advertising it in NYC. Public buses say, "This bus is for humans only!" and have a simple silhouette of the alien in a circle with a slash over it. Tall buildings have large signs and billboards that say that building or area is for humans only, etc. It's cute, if you will.

    I still don't think that clever advertising ploy will get me to see it though. Especially not with Ponyo coming.
  • RochelleRochelle
    Saw the movie this morning. I went in not really expecting anything, but I really enjoyed it. I liked how there weren't any big name actors. As for the gun fights, all I have to say is Alien Mech. The only thing that bothered me was the shaky camera effects. It left me queasy at times.
  • VentureJVentureJ
    edited August 2009
    What the hell? Sharlto Copley, the actor of Wilkus...hasn't acted in anything else before. That's CRAZY, considering how wonderful his performance is! Apparently, a large portion of Wilkus' dialogue was improvised, too.

    Same applies to the director! Neill Blomkamp has only directed TV Commercials and such!

    Considering how awesome this movie is, I'm incredibly impressed.
    Post edited by VentureJ on
  • BrutishSaucerBrutishSaucer
    Moon is super mega good.

    I was actually able to watch District 9 in an advance screening, but because of my laziness, am only posting about it the day after the rest of America has seen it. I suppose that means I have failed my purpose as a screener. Anyway, I was a little concerned that they were going to be using a combination of faux documentary and "actual" footage, but it wasn't distracting at all. I can't even recall when they made the switches.

    That lead actor was incredibly good, especially when you consider the kind of role he plays at the beginning vs the end of the film.

    The director is going to be a pretty big deal now, but I hope he follows Peter Jackson's mold and does things that are close to his heart. It's not like we are hurting for big name directors to helm another comic franchise. I am a bit sad for that Halo movie he was originally going to do. It might have actually been good.
  • MamathMamath
    I was keen on this movie right up until I read the wikipedia description of the premise. I'm having trouble suspending my disbelief enough to believe that the United Nations just sort of got bored of trying to figure out what to do with an extraterrestrial peoples and decided to hand them off to a mutinational private company instead. Maybe I am not supposed to think about it but I know it will bother me enough to make the movie difficult to watch now.

    When someone sees the movie, tell me if they pull it off in a believable way or if it's just "governments stupid, corporations evil - GO!"
  • sK0pesK0pe
    This movie is great easily one of the best movies I've seen this year.
    When someone sees the movie, tell me if they pull it off in a believable way or if it's just "governments stupid, corporations evil - GO!"
    It's not really addressed it just assumes that the government is corrupted by money as are all governments and corporations want to make money as is always the case but it is barely 1 minute total in the film.

    It's more about humans treating aliens as they have treated each other through history making our societal and political beliefs seem viscerally inhumane. Think a little about apartheid.
  • AdelbertAdelbert

    It's more about humans treating aliens as they have treated each other through history making our societal and political beliefs seem viscerally inhumane. Think a little about apartheid.
    Which is exactly why I'll wait for the dvd. It's way too banal, and the analogy is quite childish.
  • AprecheApreche
    Just saw it. Totally awesome. See I know when it's worth going to the theater and when it's not.
  • sK0pesK0pe

    It's more about humans treating aliens as they have treated each other through history making our societal and political beliefs seem viscerally inhumane. Think a little about apartheid.
    Which is exactly why I'll wait for the dvd. It's way too banal, and the analogy is quite childish.
    Wow, if this banal in your opinion, what movie would you recommend which isn't this year?
  • sylossylos
    A friend showed me Alive in Joburg while at a party(yeah, we really do sit around and show YouTube clips to each other). As a result, I went with him and saw this movie the opening show, I thought it was an amazing movie, definitely one of my top 5 movies. I hope we can expect more big things from BlomKamp, because if this movie is any indicator he's going to be huge.
  • FunfetusFunfetus
    yeah, we really do sit around and show YouTube clips to each other
    I've noticed that that's how most low-key gatherings seem to end up these days.
  • AdelbertAdelbert
    Wow, if this banal in your opinion, what movie would you recommend which isn't this year?
    Don't know, I barely had time and money for movies this year.
    Respecting the other is a worn down subject, and the trailers suggest District 9's level of preachiness is close to the old Disney's.
    perhaps I'm wrong, but I won't pay to find out.
  • AprecheApreche
    Don't know, I barely had time and money for movies this year.
    Respecting the other is a worn down subject, and the trailers suggest District 9's level of preachiness is close to the old Disney's.
    perhaps I'm wrong, but I won't pay to find out.
    You don't have to pay to find out, I'll tell you straight up. The first trailer does indeed suggest that the movie is preachy and an apartheid metaphor. The second trailer suggests its more like independence day. While the movie does contain an apartheid metaphor, and while it does have some alien action, those two trailers really give you a false expectation of what the entirety of the movie is about.
  • ErwinErwin
    Christopher will come back, he promised! :D
  • AndrewAndrew
    Oh mans, the gibs. There were so many gibs...
  • gomidoggomidog
    My parents just saw it, and gave it the thumbs up. They said basically the same thing Scott said. The metaphor, while pretty obvious, was not so heavy handed as to wind up being ham-fisted. As scifi fans and film buffs, they were pretty positive about the movie.
  • AnastiusAnastius
    edited August 2009
    Now to find a showing of this somewhere in this great backwater republic of ours. Living in a backwater town of said republic doesn't exactly help, either.
    Post edited by Anastius on
  • MamathMamath
    I can see the apartheid thing, it's pretty obvious. I can see from the trailers what the "moral of the story" is. I just need the premise to be believable. For some reason I am cool with aliens rocking up to earth and asking for refuge but have a hard time with the United Nations being a jerk on that great a scale with an issue that would garner intense public interest. Governments beings dicks is one thing, government superdickery while everyone is watching, pens poised on their notepads, fingers hovering over their camcorders, is another thing entirely.

    I might see it anyway, given all these positive reports. Maybe once the movie starts up I will be distracted enough not to worry about it.
  • VentureJVentureJ
    edited August 2009
    I honestly think you have a somewhat superficial and flawed understanding of the premise.
    Post edited by VentureJ on
  • thaneofcawdorthaneofcawdor
    For some reason I am cool with aliens rocking up to earth and asking for refuge but have a hard time with the United Nations being a jerk on that great a scale with an issue that would garner intense public interest. Governments beings dicks is one thing, government superdickery while everyone is watching, pens poised on their notepads, fingers hovering over their camcorders, is another thing entirely.
    Yeah, but they're prawns. They're animals, picking through garbage and getting high on cat food, fighting, stealing, gambling, selling weapons to criminals. It's not about the colour of their skin, so it's not racism. They're prawns.

    If we can ignore the atrocities we commit to our own kind, we sure as shit can ignore the problems of some alien refugees.
  • MamathMamath
    Yeah, thanks for the mild insult, Venture. Lemme explain:

    Cynical reason for disbelieving the premise: no private company would want to see that technological potential in the hands of another private company. I imagine a lot of lobbying by rival companies to keep the aliens in the public domain. I also think goverment would want to be on the good side of the guys with the cool technology.
    Ideological reasoning: Essentially, I don't think people are that horrible. I know, I know, apharteid, right, it already happened. But...still. Don't we constantly churn out media (ahem the sci fi genre?) reminding us of how that was a terrible thing? Someone is making and consuming that stuff, where are those people when the aliens arrive?

    So, initially, I'm finding the premise a little difficult. BUT that doesn't mean it's not done well. That's what I'd liked to hear about. Maybe the aliens are slandered? Maybe there's a bigger issue at hand that has people distracted? Maybe they are hidden from the general public until it is too late? Maybe there is more contention over the alien issue than is portrayed in the trailers? Is there something more going on with motivations than "people are jerks, governments are dumb, corporations are evil"? Complex motivations is, like, my most favourite thing ever. Complex motivations made Watchmen and the first book of Asimov's Foundation good.

    Or maybe everyone is just characterised really really really well, which would be enough for me to set my reservations aside. Great characterisation does wonders.

    I only ask because I'm on the fence and the FRC forum usually has nicely thought out opinions. I've seen so many bad movies this year that I'm really cautious now. Scott's info about the trailers being misleading is valued.
  • AndrewAndrew
    Is there something more going on with motivations than "people are jerks, governments are dumb, corporations are evil"?
    No. It's two hours of ham fisted morality shoved down your throat. There is an an obvious George Bush figure and the UN has a scene where they are literally sucking donkey balls.
    Complex motivations is, like, my most favourite thing ever.
    No way, like, me too.
  • thaneofcawdorthaneofcawdor
    I only ask because I'm on the fence and the FRC forum usually has nicely thought out opinions. I've seen so many bad movies this year that I'm really cautious now. Scott's info about the trailers being misleading is valued.
    You should just go and see the movie. If you don't like it, I'll personally refund you the value of the ticket*.
    *I won't refund you the value of the ticket.
  • Kate MonsterKate Monster
    ...the UN has a scene where they are literally sucking donkey balls.
    Wow! It is like I ordered my own personal porn a la carte! This movie is now a must see.
    Complex motivations is, like, my most favourite thing ever.
    No way, like, me too.
    For serious?! Me too! We must be BFFs. Let's all get together and group hug.
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