Our next film to be reviewed is the 2009 sci fi thriller District 9. This film was nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture. I watched it as part of the IMDB top 250 at number 142.
Plot: 9/10
District 9 is certainly one of the most creative and unique movies I have ever seen. It is set as a Mockumentary, but other than that I do not want to give any more of this film away. I feel as though most of what this film has going for it is when you go into it not knowing much or anything at all about it. I was amazed at the creative way the film producer chose to tell this one of a kind story. Granted, some of the film does seem to stray away, and at times you know that some of the moments were put into the film just for visual shock value alone, but for the most the films pace is right on. A story this creative has to have a high rating, and I commend Neill blomkamp for his great achievement.
Acting: 2/10
Not one single member of this cast was in a situation where you could put anyone there and the message wouldn’t get across just the same. Granted, this film did not lend itself to any “Best Actor” awards, but the lines and performances that were delivered, were done so, in my opinion, very mundane at best. I found myself feeling indifferent to the main character, Wikus Van De Merwe played by Sharlto Copley (The A Team). His character, by the end of the film, did seem to grow on me, but this was a result of more the story and certainly not his acting performance. The rest of the cast was just minor details in a much bigger scheme of a film that paid a lot more attention to visuals, and the actual premise of the story.
Visuals 10/10
Its not often you have a film that, at the beginning you find out what the premise is, that lives up to what you HOPE the visuals will live up to. District 9 not only does this, but exceeds expectations. Again, I don’t want to give too much away, but this film’s visual effects were spot on. My eyes were taken for a roller coaster ride of which very few times they have been on before. The visual effects were for sure a challenge for Dan Kaufman and his crew, and they met that challenge with perfection. If I could give a rating of 11 or 12/10, I would, Amazing!
Sound: 8/10
Some would watch this film and suggest that the sounds and dialogue of this film was horrible, but you have to keep in mind what the film’s creators were trying to accomplish. This film was set as “documentary” style film, and the sometimes “too real” feel was done on purpose. The at times mixed lines, low volume by the actors, and the overbearing sounds of the vehicles, machinery etc were certainly done on purpose to give it the feel of “real life” It is hard for me to explain the good points of the sound of this film without giving away just exactly what this film was about, so I am not going to. Allow your ears to explain to you the amazing strides in sound that the crew accomplishes. You will be pleasantly surprised.
Overall Entertainment: 9/10
I am starting to think that I am watching too many “great” movies. These lists that I have been working on lately (AFI top 100 and IMDB top 250) have me watching great movie after great movie and at times have me spoiled. I cannot help but wonder what took me so long to begin this quest that I am on to see all of the what I call “movies that matter” in cinema history. District 9 is no exception. Sci Fi is by no means my usual type of film, but I couldn’t have been happier with the result. I find myself hearing the “time” button on my remote ask me where I have been lately; he or she is obviously suffering from separation anxiety. Considering I have 99 movies to go on this the list, he might not be seeing me in a long time. Maybe ill pop in the DVD of the Forgotten or Gigli just to keep him on his toes. Watch this film people….especially on blue ray if possible!
Plot: 9/10
District 9 is certainly one of the most creative and unique movies I have ever seen. It is set as a Mockumentary, but other than that I do not want to give any more of this film away. I feel as though most of what this film has going for it is when you go into it not knowing much or anything at all about it. I was amazed at the creative way the film producer chose to tell this one of a kind story. Granted, some of the film does seem to stray away, and at times you know that some of the moments were put into the film just for visual shock value alone, but for the most the films pace is right on. A story this creative has to have a high rating, and I commend Neill blomkamp for his great achievement.
Acting: 2/10
Not one single member of this cast was in a situation where you could put anyone there and the message wouldn’t get across just the same. Granted, this film did not lend itself to any “Best Actor” awards, but the lines and performances that were delivered, were done so, in my opinion, very mundane at best. I found myself feeling indifferent to the main character, Wikus Van De Merwe played by Sharlto Copley (The A Team). His character, by the end of the film, did seem to grow on me, but this was a result of more the story and certainly not his acting performance. The rest of the cast was just minor details in a much bigger scheme of a film that paid a lot more attention to visuals, and the actual premise of the story.
Visuals 10/10
Its not often you have a film that, at the beginning you find out what the premise is, that lives up to what you HOPE the visuals will live up to. District 9 not only does this, but exceeds expectations. Again, I don’t want to give too much away, but this film’s visual effects were spot on. My eyes were taken for a roller coaster ride of which very few times they have been on before. The visual effects were for sure a challenge for Dan Kaufman and his crew, and they met that challenge with perfection. If I could give a rating of 11 or 12/10, I would, Amazing!
Sound: 8/10
Some would watch this film and suggest that the sounds and dialogue of this film was horrible, but you have to keep in mind what the film’s creators were trying to accomplish. This film was set as “documentary” style film, and the sometimes “too real” feel was done on purpose. The at times mixed lines, low volume by the actors, and the overbearing sounds of the vehicles, machinery etc were certainly done on purpose to give it the feel of “real life” It is hard for me to explain the good points of the sound of this film without giving away just exactly what this film was about, so I am not going to. Allow your ears to explain to you the amazing strides in sound that the crew accomplishes. You will be pleasantly surprised.
Overall Entertainment: 9/10
I am starting to think that I am watching too many “great” movies. These lists that I have been working on lately (AFI top 100 and IMDB top 250) have me watching great movie after great movie and at times have me spoiled. I cannot help but wonder what took me so long to begin this quest that I am on to see all of the what I call “movies that matter” in cinema history. District 9 is no exception. Sci Fi is by no means my usual type of film, but I couldn’t have been happier with the result. I find myself hearing the “time” button on my remote ask me where I have been lately; he or she is obviously suffering from separation anxiety. Considering I have 99 movies to go on this the list, he might not be seeing me in a long time. Maybe ill pop in the DVD of the Forgotten or Gigli just to keep him on his toes. Watch this film people….especially on blue ray if possible!
Chux Flix Final Rating: 76/100
Favorite trivia for this movie: The language used by the aliens (clicking sounds) was created by rubbing a pumpkin.
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