District 9 } Peter Jackson's New Flick

[samurainoir]

I just watched the original District 9 short film which prompted Peter Jackson to give the guy money and WETA resources to complete the feature length version...
YouTube - Original District 9 Short Film


I'm not sure that I would want to see a sequel to this film. I know the ending is screaming out for one, but I do like the question mark ambiguity of it... in the same manner the South Africans themselves have to muddle through the question of "What happens next?" within their own current culture since they are still less than one generation Post-Apartheid. What has it been? A dozen years? That is still a heck of a lot of baggage for a country to be sorting through within the socially communicative arts, literature, films and pop culture.

This is definitely a uniquely South African variation on Alien Nation's exploration of the overt racism metaphor. I think it could have only worked as well as it did within this setting. Definitely not a movie Hollywood could have made if they did decide to set it in say, Los Angeles or Chicago given the layers of Apartheid that form both an overt text (Afrikaaners are still calling the shots here) and subtext that is created by introducing this new fictionalized alien underclass that is placed underneath the black South African population.

[kennermike]

I was going to see it .but now Im put off on the Documentary style of filmaking approach they did with it .Like the Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield hate it!!

[BlackKnight]

^^^ This Movie is far Greater than Both of those over-Hyped Nonsense Flicks,.. + the Documentary theme,.. only lasts for a bit,.. & isn't always there in the Movie either.

[samurainoir]

I was going to see it .but now Im put off on the Documentary style of filmaking approach they did with it .Like the Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield hate it!!

I say only avoid it if those kind of films make you seasick (as it did with one friend I was with). Otherwise I don't think it's necessarily a fair comparison. It's definitely not the same style of shaky cam POV stuff you get with those films and Diary of the Dead in that the camera itself is not a character. I'd say think of it more like the documentary style of something like Christopher Guest's movies (Best in Show, Spinal Tap).

[YoungOnce]

Just saw it.... really enjoyed it.

It's good to see something new that hasn't been done to death... something not based on a videogame or an existing franchise.

You'll realize as you watch it that your seeing something original.

[Hector]

Saw it today...it was a breath of fresh air...different...harsh...non-Hollywood.

I do want a sequel...I want the Prawns to come back with an armada and destroy humanity...or at least South Africa...they sure deserve it.

Go Prawns!

[megocrazy]

Saw it last night and liked it. Definately isn't Blair Witch, and didn't even remotely wanna see Cloverfield so I won't compare to that. I agree with Hector. They need to make one sequel. Then let it go. The lead actor really kinda annoyed me at first but have to say he really was quite good in the end. The special effects are out of this world but not so much that you couldn't believe they might be able to happen in the real world, if that makes sense. Liked the storyline and they definately left it open for a part two. Goes to show you can make a quality movie for a reasonable price. $30 million to make and it made $38 million in the opening weekend. Pick the early matinee show and go see it. The special effects alone are worth the price of admission.

[Hector]

Saw it last night and liked it. Definately isn't Blair Witch, and didn't even remotely wanna see Cloverfield so I won't compare to that. I agree with Hector. They need to make one sequel. Then let it go. The lead actor really kinda annoyed me at first but have to say he really was quite good in the end. The special effects are out of this world but not so much that you couldn't believe they might be able to happen in the real world, if that makes sense. Liked the storyline and they definately left it open for a part two. Goes to show you can make a quality movie for a reasonable price. $30 million to make and it made $38 million in the opening weekend. Pick the early matinee show and go see it. The special effects alone are worth the price of admission.

Exactly!

The effects are so good...but at the same time...kinda subdued and just there...you almost take it for granted. That means they are truly fantastic.

When the effects are so-so...you say...not bad...or ok.

But when they are truly great...you hardly notice they are effects....and just go with the flow.

[vulcan2074]

I went to see this movie on tuesday and all I can say is, Amazing. Thats one hell of a good movie. It has a great story and the effects are fantastic. They hit this one out of the park. It's a Must see
Sammy

[Orion]

I just caught this movie yesterday in the midst of business travel. Disturbing, different, and a really thoughtful movie. So nice to see something without a Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise thrown in the lead role. The first quarter of the movie really had the bloody gore which lead to the R - rating - but the movie seemed to push on from that stuff after fully introducing the Prawns and I was able to eat my popcorn without feeling too sick after that. Would be interesting to see if they put out a second movie - I think I would be rooting for the Prawns all the way.

[unataper]

I saw it with my Wife last weekend. I don't care for the "first person shooter" filming technique used in the beginning of the film, but after watching, I feel that it was well used to set up the main character. I really enjoyed the movie. The effects were great but didn't overwhelm the story. Like someone else said, the effects flowed so well, you didn't realize they were effects. My Wife didn't care for the movie....says that "I owe her big time", which probably means I'll have to take her to see The Time Traveler's Wife...LOL!

[megoscott]

I was totally enthralled. Brilliant, original, and flawlessly executed. Couldn't have been done in Hollywood, setting it in South Africa was a stroke of genius. Best use of CGI ever.

[Tothiro]

Saw it tonight and thought it was freaking awesome.
Replace the word "Prawn" with any slur of your choice, particularly in the beginning, and it's really striking.
I started a face sheet for sculpting on the main character and pulled some grabs of his "special effect arm" from RPF as soon as I got home ... which I don't "always do" (no really... honest)

[Sideshow Spock]

Finally saw this on DVD and thought it was great. Wikus is one of the most unconventional anti-heroes to come along in a long time..

And really, the title of this thread should be Neill Blomkamp's new flick, since he wrote and directed. I know Jackson got a producer credit and was instrumental in getting it made, but it's not his baby

[ctc]

>Wikus is one of the most unconventional anti-heroes to come along in a long time

Yeah, that was a nice touch.

I saw it a week ago and thought it was okay. It's one of them things I've seen before.... A LOT; but they did a decent job. And it's not supersaturated with effect shots. Well, it IS; but they're pretty well integrated into the story.

Don C.