District 9 (With some BIG Spoilers)
Says it all.
I’ve often said I try and go into movies with no expectations. I broke this rule for District 9. I went into the theatre expecting a good movie by Peter Jackson. I left theater after watching a mediocre movie by Neill Blomkamp. That’s right, Peter Jackson didn’t even direct the movie. He produced it, which is why all the trailers and even the movie has “PETER JACKSON PRESENTS” in gigantic letters everywhere. Neill Blomkamp was the real director, and come on, can you really trust someone who spells Neil with two “L’s”? Still, I guess producing is more of a claim to the movie than Quentin Tarantino “presenting” Hero.
The first trailers for District 9 showed an interesting premise; a colony of stranded, mistreated, unwanted aliens on earth, who mysteriously all disappear one day. A great premise for a movie. Except for the minor fact that nothing in that trailer actually happens in the movie. The later trailers were slightly better in terms of foreshadowing the actual plot, but still took the liberty of adding in many scenes that just never happened in the movie.
As for the actual movie, it was divided into two acts. One was a social allegory, with the aliens being compared to the under trodden minorities present in every society. It shows how cruel man can be, with bureaucracy being used as a tool to justify acts of unwarranted cruelty. Then the movie turns into Rambo 64: RAMBO VS ALIENS. Except instead of Rambo, we have an annoying anti-hero with a whiny voice named Wikas. Yeah, the annoying geek has decided he’s had enough, and he’s going to KICK SOME ASS. But wait, what about all the plot and character development, the intense drama, and the social allegory leading up to this? Screw that, PUT HIM IN A HUGE SUIT WHICH SUCKS UP BULLETS. Ok, admittedly that part was awesome.
The point is, the characters and plot often switched directions tangentially, with barely any justification behind the reasoning. Halfway through the movie it became an action film, the type that required you to turn your brain off to truly enjoy. But since the first half of the movie was spent trying to convince you that this movie was a cut above the rest, the downturn was especially disappointing. The first half was filled with intense scenes that made you empathize with the characters, while the second half destroyed all the realism and emotional stake invested in the characters. I didn’t hate the movie. I thought it was average, maybe slightly below average, and I just don’t understand the hype.
Here’s a loose summary of the movie. Big spoilers.
Two characters, Wikas and CJ (an alien).
Wikas: Hey dude, i’m telling you and your friends to get out of the houses you’ve lived in for 20 years. Oh, and i’m going to kill your best friend right in front of your face. And because that’s not enough, i’m stealing this cylinder that you’ve worked 20 years towards putting together, and which is the only chance your race has of escape.
*Few minutes later*
Wikas: Dude CJ, i’m totally screwed. Help me out man
CJ: That’s cool buddy,
*Few minutes of RAMBO occur*
Wikas: Dude, you’re taking too long. I’m just going to go ahead and steal your ship. I know it’s the only chance your race has and all that, but i’m sure I can figure out this totally unknown technology in that ship which might not work, to fix my very DNA. Oh, and i’m going to steal your son. But after I knock you out with this shovel.
CJ: Well, fuck.
*Few minutes of MORE RAMBO occur*
CJ: It’s cool dude, I totally forgive you.
Wikas: I’m an alien making roses.
Me: What?