District 9
September 13, 2009 04:41 PM
Starring: Sharlto Copley, Koobus Venter
Directed by: Neil Blomkamp
Full Cast/Crew/Production Info
I was admittedly more than a little skeptical going into this film. I don’t know….I get very suspicious when the marketing of a film is all about the guy who Produced the thing and little to nothing is mentioned about the dude who actually directed it. It seems like the studios do that when the movie sucks and spends no more than 3 days in the theaters before it dives down into Rental Hell Land.
Let’s face it, “District 9” has no stars of note in it. It was filmed in New Zealand. It’s about Aliens…but….it’s….
FROM PRODUCER PETER JACKSON!!!!!
Directed by: Neil Blomkamp
Full Cast/Crew/Production Info
I was admittedly more than a little skeptical going into this film. I don’t know….I get very suspicious when the marketing of a film is all about the guy who Produced the thing and little to nothing is mentioned about the dude who actually directed it. It seems like the studios do that when the movie sucks and spends no more than 3 days in the theaters before it dives down into Rental Hell Land.
Let’s face it, “District 9” has no stars of note in it. It was filmed in New Zealand. It’s about Aliens…but….it’s….
FROM PRODUCER PETER JACKSON!!!!!
You know, the guy who directed “The Lord of the Rings” films and was responsible for the over long, CGI-errific “King Kong” remake. Don’t get me wrong. I dig Peter Jackson. I am a huge fan of his early films “Dead Alive” and “Heavenly Creatures” (featuring a very young and awesome Kate Winslet.) His mockumentary “Forgotten Silver” has a very special place in my heart. All three of these flicks rock. Go out and get ‘em if you can find ‘em. Make sure you walk, jog or run to your local video store. They’re worth burning the calories for.
But Mr. Jackson didn’t DIRECT “District 9.” Some young kid did. Some total unknown. This is the kid’s first feature film! My hopes were not high as I walked into Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on opening night with The Brazilian on my arm. He was more optimistic. He’s always more optimistic. It’s a little unnerving.
We sit through the requisite 3 ½ hours of trailers and commercials and perk up when the lights go all the way down.
The movie started, and, well, you now how I just said that we perked up when the lights went down? We stayed perked up throughout the entire film. I was, literally, on the edge of my seat for practically the entire time.
Kids, long story short, I thought that “District 9” was a tremendous flick! The lead guy put on a tour de force performance. The pacing was great. The writing and special effects were all rock solid.
And, the best part of all, was that it was Smart. What?! Have I been doing too many sit ups?! Have all those endorphins gone to my little Instigator head? No, dudes, it was a really smart flick. The parallel to South Africa’s Apartheid situation is markedly clear, yet, I didn’t feel that the director’s obvious point of view on that situation hung over the film like a wet, wool blanket. You got it. You weren’t clobbered with it. Nice.
“District 9” is a message movie, to be sure. But it’s a GREAT message movie! How many message movies can you say that about? Better yet, how many message movies with Aliens that love Cat Food and wearing Bras can you say that about?
I didn’t give you guys a lot of details about the film because I truly don’t want to give anything away. Go out and discover it for yourselves. And don’t forget the popcorn.
I give “District 9” 8.5 Squats. Why not 10? Because the chick who played the lead guy’s wife was lame and, at times, the Interview Subjects were interjected at completely inappropriate moments. Jump rope for 15 minutes, do 30 crunches, 20 lunges on each side and e-mail me when you see this flick!
But Mr. Jackson didn’t DIRECT “District 9.” Some young kid did. Some total unknown. This is the kid’s first feature film! My hopes were not high as I walked into Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on opening night with The Brazilian on my arm. He was more optimistic. He’s always more optimistic. It’s a little unnerving.
We sit through the requisite 3 ½ hours of trailers and commercials and perk up when the lights go all the way down.
The movie started, and, well, you now how I just said that we perked up when the lights went down? We stayed perked up throughout the entire film. I was, literally, on the edge of my seat for practically the entire time.
Kids, long story short, I thought that “District 9” was a tremendous flick! The lead guy put on a tour de force performance. The pacing was great. The writing and special effects were all rock solid.
And, the best part of all, was that it was Smart. What?! Have I been doing too many sit ups?! Have all those endorphins gone to my little Instigator head? No, dudes, it was a really smart flick. The parallel to South Africa’s Apartheid situation is markedly clear, yet, I didn’t feel that the director’s obvious point of view on that situation hung over the film like a wet, wool blanket. You got it. You weren’t clobbered with it. Nice.
“District 9” is a message movie, to be sure. But it’s a GREAT message movie! How many message movies can you say that about? Better yet, how many message movies with Aliens that love Cat Food and wearing Bras can you say that about?
I didn’t give you guys a lot of details about the film because I truly don’t want to give anything away. Go out and discover it for yourselves. And don’t forget the popcorn.
I give “District 9” 8.5 Squats. Why not 10? Because the chick who played the lead guy’s wife was lame and, at times, the Interview Subjects were interjected at completely inappropriate moments. Jump rope for 15 minutes, do 30 crunches, 20 lunges on each side and e-mail me when you see this flick!
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