District 9

[Infinite Jerkgrinders]

I enjoyed this movie thoroughly. Overall, a B+ to even an A-

DISCUSS!

[FAGGOT WATCHIN TRON]

Just saw it, thought it was brilliant. Too tired to really discuss why, will go into detail later. Apartheid, disgust with humanity and the way we treat other cultures, South Africa is the worst place ever...so on and so forth.

[TheOfficer]

Was amazing,  I loved it.

There are some spoilers BELOW.

Almost restored my faith in Scifi. I think the only thing that could hurt it in the long run was the gore. It was almost too gorey and uncomfortable for me to take at times, so much so that I feel it could hurt the rewatchability. But I'm just squirmish about things like finger nails and teeth falling out. It wasn't so much the exploding people left and right.


I am totally eagerly awaiting District 10 though, I can't help but feel the entire movie is a set up for the most epic and awesome human vs. aliens movie we'll ever see.

P.S. Baby alien was the most lovable character ever.

[Infinite Jerkgrinders]

Almost restored my faith in Scifi. I think the only thing that could hurt it in the long run was the gore. It was almost too gorey and uncomfortable for me to take at times, so much so that I feel it could hurt the rewatchability. But I'm just squirmish about things like finger nails and teeth falling out. It wasn't so much the exploding people left and right.

It was, particularly juicy. The teeth part I think was the absolute worst. I could take the nails, that was pretty nasty for sure, but the teeth, goddamn that was gyaaaahh.  That said the gun that made people explode like a shotgun to a tomato made me laugh each time.  Probably one of the best sci-fi movies to come out in a long time for sure.

I am totally eagerly awaiting District 10 though, I can't help but feel the entire movie is a set up for the most epic and awesome human vs. aliens movie we'll ever see.

I just hope that it doesn't fall into the same pit that say, Chronicles of Riddik did. Pitch Black was an awesome movie, but Riddik was sort of lame. 

Did any of you wait around till the end?

[TheOfficer]

I don't know what you're talking about. Chronicles of Riddick is god damn amazing.

But no, missed sticking around to the end. I think eames and I were both in shellshock.

[FAGGOT WATCHIN TRON]

Did any of you wait around till the end?

Yes, but I don't remember anything being after the credits. Why?

Anyway, now that I am more awake, I can properly discuss this. So according to IMBD, this guy, Neill Blomkamp, was originally slated to direct the HALO movie. When that fell through, Peter Jackson approached him and was like "Hey want 30 million dollars to make whatever you want?" and District 9 was the film that followed. It was basically an expansion of a short film he did in 2005 called Alive in Joburg, which explored a similar preference of "refugee" aliens landing in South Africa, and the ensuing oppression and cultural tension, but was only 6 minutes long. Blomkamp himself grew up in South Africa during apartheid, and the two films were based most directly on the "relocation" of District 6, a real-life slum in Cape Town.

Okay so yeah, that's all really interesting and stuff, right? Yeah so here's my problem, and my point. So far, I'm getting the impression that people (and not just people here but also critics and reviewers) are focusing on the sci-fi and visual aspects of the film, which were impressive to be sure, but losing the real message of the film. I really really loved this movie, and not just because it was a great action/sci-fi flick, and not just because the special effects were brilliantly done (sans ILM might I add - go Weta!), but also because it was a brilliantly told story that really had a point. It focused on a truly ugly part of humanity, and made it totally watchable and identifiable by making the victims not humans but aliens.

I don't know, I feel like this is going to end up being like a better received Cloverfield, where people really end up missing the point. I hope I'm wrong, because it was such a good movie for way more reasons than just its entertainment value.

[Infinite Jerkgrinders]

I don't know what you're talking about. Chronicles of Riddick is god damn amazing.

Eh I must disagree with you there. Its fun or whatever, and has some pretty cool art and design elements but it sort of devolved into  this relatively boring sci-fi action movie. Wouldn't describe it as amazing but whatever, to each their own.

Did any of you wait around till the end?

Yes, but I don't remember anything being after the credits. Why?

well when we went to the movie theatre we got there early enough that the previous showing was still being played, and as soon as it ended we went in, and basically saw the last minute of credits. After the final one rolled by we heard this like TV report, audio only, of something about 'they've returned and in force' and I could swear I heard something about 'this is the apocalypse.' After our showing we waited around again to hear it but nothing came.  I was curious if anyone else heard something similar


http://www.spyfilms.com/#neill_blomkamp/alive_in_joburg

Anyway, now that I am more awake, I can properly discuss this. So according to IMBD, this guy, Neill Blomkamp, was originally slated to direct the HALO movie. When that fell through, Peter Jackson approached him and was like "Hey want 30 million dollars to make whatever you want?" and District 9 was the film that followed. It was basically an expansion of a short film he did in 2005 called Alive in Joburg, which explored a similar preference of "refugee" aliens landing in South Africa, and the ensuing oppression and cultural tension, but was only 6 minutes long. Blomkamp himself grew up in South Africa during apartheid, and the two films were based most directly on the "relocation" of District 6, a real-life slum in Cape Town.

Direct Link to 'Alive in Joburg'

He also did the short live action film for halo 3's release.  Neat little film, you can see Vikas, or at least the actor again.  Knowing the backstory of the director was pretty cool too.

Okay so yeah, that's all really interesting and stuff, right? Yeah so here's my problem, and my point. So far, I'm getting the impression that people (and not just people here but also critics and reviewers) are focusing on the sci-fi and visual aspects of the film, which were impressive to be sure, but losing the real message of the film. I really really loved this movie, and not just because it was a great action/sci-fi flick, and not just because the special effects were brilliantly done (sans ILM might I add - go Weta!), but also because it was a brilliantly told story that really had a point. It focused on a truly ugly part of humanity, and made it totally watchable and identifiable by making the victims not humans but aliens.

I don't know, I feel like this is going to end up being like a better received Cloverfield, where people really end up missing the point. I hope I'm wrong, because it was such a good movie for way more reasons than just its entertainment value.

I feel the same way! I went with a whole bunch of coworkers and afterwards it seemed like everyone was just focusing on the action bits, and 3D Graphics.  To some degree the movie slipped into the 'Check out this cool gun' sci fi but I totally agree that the better part of the movie was the more deeper, less superficial stuff.  For me I felt that Vikas transformations as a character was one of the more powerful aspects of the movie. You start out annoyed at the guy and slightly disgusted by him, then you pity him, and then you despise him for being this self-centered jerk, before finally becoming a hero, albeit a slightly awkward one :P

[FAGGOT WATCHIN TRON]

Did any of you wait around till the end?

Yes, but I don't remember anything being after the credits. Why?

well when we went to the movie theatre we got there early enough that the previous showing was still being played, and as soon as it ended we went in, and basically saw the last minute of credits. After the final one rolled by we heard this like TV report, audio only, of something about 'they've returned and in force' and I could swear I heard something about 'this is the apocalypse.' After our showing we waited around again to hear it but nothing came.  I was curious if anyone else heard something similar

Ooh weird! Nah we didn't hear anything like that. I wonder if you were just hearing something from another theatre? Hmm.

Direct Link to 'Alive in Joburg'

This is awesome! Thanks!

I feel the same way! I went with a whole bunch of coworkers and afterwards it seemed like everyone was just focusing on the action bits, and 3D Graphics.  To some degree the movie slipped into the 'Check out this cool gun' sci fi but I totally agree that the better part of the movie was the more deeper, less superficial stuff.  For me I felt that Vikas transformations as a character was one of the more powerful aspects of the movie. You start out annoyed at the guy and slightly disgusted by him, then you pity him, and then you despise him for being this self-centered jerk, before finally becoming a hero, albeit a slightly awkward one :P

Okay good, thank god someone else feels this way! I mean, I totally laughed every time some got popped like a balloon by that gun, too, and there were tons of other "OH AWESOME!" sci-fi/action moments, but it was all so secondary to the incredible story! And its not just that the story was incredible, its that it was told INCREDIBLY WELL. I mean, okay, so like you were saying about Wickus' transformation. That was so brilliantly done, to take that character and put him through a mental/emotional transformation as well as an actual physical one. What a great parallel.  Uch god, I love that freakin' movie.

[TheOfficer]

Oh no, I have to agree with everything you're saying also. I meant to put that in my original crit and didn't, I actually wish I had an audio clip of the first 5 minutes after I left the theater because the first thing I said to Eamonn was how much better the movie was for not focusing and relying on the scifi. It was such a great social commentary and the story was SO STRONG that all of the neat-o exploding humans and shit were sort of second place in my mind afterwards.

Eamonn and I both walked out of that theater downright fucking depressed. Not because the movie was bad, obviously, but for the startling realization that if we, the world, met Aliens and they didn't immediately come off as hostile we'd totally capture and study them and treat them like shit. And everyone would be like "well yeah, thats what we do." 

EDIT: So I just got into work and tried to talk to my coworkers about D-9. I was the only one to see it aside from one other guy, and he thought it was terrible. I quote, "It failed every expectation I had for it" when I incredulously questioned why, everyone jumped down my throat for preaching how good it was. I don't mean to play the sex card here, but I'm pretty sure my 95% male office doesn't trust my opinion on a scifi movie because I have tits. Their loss if they miss out seeing it. VEXATION.

[Infinite Jerkgrinders]

EDIT: So I just got into work and tried to talk to my coworkers about D-9. I was the only one to see it aside from one other guy, and he thought it was terrible. I quote, "It failed every expectation I had for it" when I incredulously questioned why, everyone jumped down my throat for preaching how good it was. I don't mean to play the sex card here, but I'm pretty sure my 95% male office doesn't trust my opinion on a scifi movie because I have tits. Their loss if they miss out seeing it. VEXATION.

Maybe they're just idiots. Its easy to fall into bashing a movie for some reason, and I'm not sure where you work but if the office is non-artsy types maybe they don't easily pick up on social commentary and focused solely on the action bits. Pretty much everyone in my office agreed that the movie kicked ass, in at least one degree. Maybe they have recurring nightmares of losing their teeth 

[Larry Flyntz]

I haven't seen it yet, but I thought it was interesting that Slate gave it a bad review.  They said it didn't do enough social commentary, that instead of focusing on race relations, it turned into just another dull anti-corporate film.  Here's the review: http://www.slate.com/id/2225285/

Thoughts?

[FAGGOT WATCHIN TRON]

EDIT: So I just got into work and tried to talk to my coworkers about D-9. I was the only one to see it aside from one other guy, and he thought it was terrible. I quote, "It failed every expectation I had for it" when I incredulously questioned why, everyone jumped down my throat for preaching how good it was. I don't mean to play the sex card here, but I'm pretty sure my 95% male office doesn't trust my opinion on a scifi movie because I have tits. Their loss if they miss out seeing it. VEXATION.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeird Megan, the same exact thing happened to me. My friend from work was the only person who saw it and he said he that while he thought the movie was "alright" he didn't really like it because it wasn't what he was expecting. I don't understand though, I mean, what EXACTLY were people expecting? The trailers gave very little away other than the fact that there are aliens, they have been here for some time, and we don't really like them. I haven't really been recommending it to people I work with though, because I work with a lot of idiots, who I am sure would not really comprehend the whole socio-political commentary that is the greatest part of the film, and quite frankly I can see how from a strictly action/sci-fi stand point one might be disappointed slightly in the movie. You know, if you're an idiot.

Maybe they have recurring nightmares of losing their teeth

I totally do, and I seem to have been a lot less skeeved by that scene than most. Weird.

I haven't seen it yet, but I thought it was interesting that Slate gave it a bad review.  They said it didn't do enough social commentary, that instead of focusing on race relations, it turned into just another dull anti-corporate film.  Here's the review: http://www.slate.com/id/2225285/

Thoughts?

Eh, I think the guy is just being overly critical. It's not really an "anti-corporate" message, so much as it is a indicator of the way society operates. I really felt that the humanitarian message of the film came through loud and clear, and definitely over anything else. I mean his points aren't invalid, and he at least knows what he's talking about, I just think he's nitpicking slightly.


EDIT:

Oh and I can't believe it didn't occur to me in the theatre, but Wickus totally is an Afrikaner Michael Scott. Haha.

[Rhino......................]

They said it didn't do enough social commentary,

I sort of felt this way until I realized the whole thing was a setup for another movie. I will say it was pretty jarring for me to start off mockumentary style just to almost completely abandon that idea halfway through. I think the social commentary wouldn't have gotten lost as easily if they had stuck to their guns and kept it feeling like a documentary. But then of course, it would have been a very different movie. And it still flowed pretty well the way they did it, so whatever. I'm excited for the next one.

Wickus totally is an Afrikaner Michael Scott. Haha.

I kept thinking this as well.

[WWW.SETH.COM]

I enjoyed this movie a lot. I thought the politics really added to the movie as a whole. I don't understand how you could go see a movie about oppressed aliens confined to a slum in South Africa (all of which was pretty easy to guess from e trailer) and not expect a modicum of political commentary.

[CadmiumYellow]

I don't understand how you could go see a movie about oppressed aliens confined to a slum in South Africa and not expect a modicum of political commentary.

haha, quoting this cause it's awesome