District 9 reviews

This film has everything you could possibly want in a “summer” (to use the American term) pop-corn blockbuster and much more besides. Interesting characters, an intriguing sci-fi/politically charged back story, solid action sequences and visual effects that belie its relatively meagre $30 million (USD) budget.

Can't wait to experience the film in high definition.

Lets Step aside from the excellent plot and refreshing South African setting for a moment and focus on the CG.

This was the first movie I watched where I completely forgot that what I was looking at wasnt actually there. The movie is a must own on Blu ray for this fact alone so if you have a player make sure you grab it. The story is controverisal in the similarities it draws with apartheid but the movie overall again proves that movies filmed outside the states tend to have a refreshing feel.

The acting is great from the new comers in this film and it will be a shame to see that this will most likely be missing in action come award season.

Great movie, a must rent if not must own if you love sci fi buy this movie.

Loved this movie. It's definitely a boy movie – not a lot of romance or intriguing interplay or sexual tension. The story is a good parable of the racial conflict within SA, but with a science fiction twist.

The special effects are for the most part excellent, especially towards the end, but the real stand out for me is the sound stage. Man. They got some good dudes do do the sound effects, and this movie will reward any investment in home theatre you've made.

I saw this in the cinema and loved it. The bluray version is better with extras, gorgeous resolution and full sound. Get it.

Good quality Sci-fi is hard to find these days. Add to that finding one with excellent production value, solid acting performances and an original plot line make Neill Blomkamp's District 9 a classic. With special effects by Weta Digital and Weta Workshop, this film brings to light interspecies tension that is mounting in a government holding facility in Johanesburgh, South Africa.
If you have not seen District 9 be prepared to be blown away.

District 9 is a great movie. It is full of action and has great special effects with blood and guts. The characters are both entertaining and interesting.

This movie clearly shows off the benefits of buying Blu-ray over the standard dvd. Whenever someone wants to see how good Blu-ray is then this is the movie I show.

This movie is really something different and special. It combines sci fi with topical subject matter to create something that is a breath of fresh air from some of the current movie formats. Special efects are unreal and it's a thoroughly well thought out movie that will leave you feeling like you just experienced something special and out of the ordinary.

A couple of years ago, Universal and Fox movie studios came together with Microsoft to make a Halo movie (an Xbox console game) and hired Neill Blomkamp as the director and Peter Jackson as the producer. However the movie was cancelled because of disagreements between the studios and Microsoft. Blomkamp had already been working on the project for a few months when it got cancelled, you can see the similarities between the cancelled Halo movie and District 9:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?…

(Or go to youtube and use the search term “halo movie full blomkamp”, it should be the first link). It's only a 7 minute short but you can tell from the visual editing and docu-style cinematography. It looks pretty bad-ass and I have never even played Halo or own an Xbox (I found out about the short on digg.com a few years ago, before District 9 even existed as a project).

Blomkamp, who was understandably pissed off about the movie being cancelled after he had put in so much hard work, then made another short called “Alive in Joburg” which went on to become his first feature film in District 9 (it was financed by independent movie studios, he'd rather took this risk than go to Universal/Fox). With a relatively low budget of US$30 million, it grossed over US$200 million! It was nominated for 4 Oscars – Best Picture, Film Editing, Visual Effects, and Writing (Adapted Screenplay).

The movie itself is gritty and has stunning visual effects. The backstory is that an alien spaceship has broken down above Johannesburg, South Africa. The aliens want to go back home but can't, so the goverment establishes a detention area on the outskirts of the city: District 9.

There are plenty of extras on the blu-ray disc, including everything from the 2-disc DVD edition, as well as a blu-ray exclusive interactive map of District 9. All of these extras are eye-opening and makes you wish there was a sequel to the movie. I'm definitely looking forward to Blomkamp's next project!

Having seen and read all the hype, the film delivers. Great use of “first person” camera angles as well as fixed shots etc. Great storyline that will have you rooting for the characters.

The Blu Ray / High definition experience and extras on the disc are fantastic value for money.

Story wasn't too bad, but very mediocre acting.

you know i have heard many people say what a bad movie and i decide to see it for the first time the other day and i am impressed it has a very Petter Jackson feeling to it and anyone who has seen his movie “bad taste” would pick up on this aswell this as well 4–5

My girlfriend and I saw this at the cinema and I felt a little uncomfortable during the screening because I wasn't sure she was be enjoying it. Basically this film LOVES guns. So expect to see all sorts and sizes of GUNS, filmed from all sorts angles. It is clearly derivative of first player shooters and meant to speak to gamers (boys) first and foremost. To my relief her serious demeanor was her being thoroughly engrossed!

The film's faux documentary approach works and the main actor seems credible and for his first film very impressive. Some of the commentators ‘interviewed’ throughout are less successful though. The footage is interspersed with fixed aerial shots and closed circuit cameras suggesting that we are in some high tech future full of govt control and awareness.

My only complaint, and it's a minor one, is the films reuse of motifs – some which should be used sparingly. Blood on the camera is a fun effect and immersive but using at every opportunity it becomes silly and distracting – again this would be something a director that plays too many FPSers would do… This also applies to clever cameras mounted backwards on soldiers weapons. This was genuinely innovative and I went WOW first time. However by the 3rd time it had become repetitive and overused. African world music/chanting (think Gladiator/Blackhawk Down) is fine in moderation and used to effect in the final scene. It should have been used more sparingly and saved for the ending by which time I'd tired of hearing this ‘emotive’ muzak.

All in all a GREAT film produced within the catering budget for a holiday season blockbuster. However the film's innovation and freshness was marred by repetition.

What minor flaws there are won't stop me picking up the blu-ray asap.