Blomkamp’s first “creature” feature

Four years after his impressive short film “Alive in Joburg” South African director Neill Blomkamp has taken the premise of this imaginative, socially commenting and (for the budget) visually stunning short and finally adapted it for the big screen.   After watching District 9 it is very easy to see why the mighty Peter Jackson would take this young director under his “Wing Nut”.

NEILL BLOMKAMPS’ “Alive in Joburg”

BRIEF SPOILER FREE SYNOPSIS:

District 9 takes place in the city of Johannesburg where an alien spaceship has come to a halt above the city.  But instead of the “Independence Day” “War of the Worlds” type of alien feature, Blomkamp has given us something different.  This time the  Aliens are the  helpless ones.    Rounded up and forced into a slum named “District 9″.  Here they remain stranded and like the many refugees in the world, poor and mistreated, they are stuck here for 20 long years.

Control over the aliens has been contracted out to Multi-National United (MNU), a private company, rather like “OCP” from Robocop, MNU are uninterested in the aliens’ welfare.  Their sole interest, the aliens technology and weapons.  Bio-Weapon research would mean huge profits for the company.

Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley) who comes into his own as the film progresses, is placed in charge of the operation to evict, remove, and rezone the aliens in a new holding facility.   Where as someone like Bob Morton would have thrived in this position, Wikus looks slightly over his head.  Niave and easy to please.  Wilus’ journey throughout the movie, twined with his relationship with two of the featured alien characters “Chris” (a CGI alien) and his “Prawn” son will keep you routing for our hero right till the final credits.

We have seen many aliens come to earth movies, but this is different, I will not say why though.  That is for you to find out when you see it, which I HIGHLY recommend you do.

The film is presented to the viewer in many styles, firstly from hand held mockumentry style.  From video journalism, to good old fashioned film making.  All styles brilliantly excuted, expertly mixed and married into one excellent final product .  Orignally touted for (a TECHTV101 favourite) “HALO” motion picture, Blomkamp has proved that he is up to the unenvieable task of taking a gamings bad ass in Master Chief and teleporting him to the big screen.

On that subject, the action sequences are far from “cheap”.  Given that Blomkamp and collaborator Peter Jackson were originally aiming to make a Halo movie there’s still plenty of moments that feel quite reminiscent of Bungie’s game, from the alien technology to the frantic battles.

“HALO 3″  Live action short.

District 9 is a a big two fingers against mainstream Hollywood.  I’m all for it.  Forget the big names, forget ticking the boxes to stasify everyone, forget sexy locations and Burger King toys, forget dropping the violence to appeal kids and to the bigger dollar and most of all forget dropping story for explosions.

It doesn’t sacrifice the intelligence or raw power that its story affords it for the sake of appeasing your “typical” blockbuster crowd with a lighter rating and less focus on the story.  Less It’s a damned fine thriller that is not without its flaws, but is still several cuts above your average summer film and is well worth watching.