District 9

 It is a bit bizarre and thought provoking but also opens up at least a 1000 questions. Why they are here? Why does alien fuel turn a guy into an alien? Why would the aliens have an antidote for a guy turning into an alien? Why would Wikus (our star in the film) only cut off a finger? Why didn't the aliens retaliate with their superior technology? Why would the government allow the aliens to be so loosely controlled? Why do the aliens act like savages even though they are supposed to be an advanced race? But there is no point asking these questions just enjoy the movie because believe me it is a bloody good film.

I'm so glad there weren't any big star in it because it made it even more believable. Sharlto Copley as Van De Wikus Merwe and yes some other actors and actresses. And Christopher and his son who are the most memorable and lovable alien I have ever come across with. I hope they will live happy ever after in Spaceland.

The opening scenes use newsflashes, ad breaks and to-camera interviews to set up the complex back-story. At that point you have to check whether you are watching a program on TV and sat on the remote control or it is the film itself. It is so realistic right up until the end you are never sure what's going to happen next.

So the plot: For 20 years, more than 1m aliens, known as Prawns, have been living in a dirty, crime-infested refugee camp in Johannesburg called District 9.(simple fact, do NOT ask questions as I did) Wikus is the man put in charge of evicting the aliens. But when he is exposed to an alien chemical, Wikus starts to turn into a prawn and is hunted by the evil MNU corporation that he once worked for.

And we have got all the way though, running, exploding, turning into an alien, gun fire, cat food, war zone, experimenting, emotion, action, tears, military force, fight scenes...by the end turning it into a video game movie which is still fine.

It was a great choice Mr Peter Jackson to choose Neill Blomkamp to direct the film and create a sci-fi movie that feels unbelievably real. (to me at least). Apparently they only made District 9 after their previous project fell through – the feature film adaptation of the Halo video game franchise. No matter how hard I try can I imagine what that film would have been like.

Some more questions then. Why it is thought provoking? Is it something to do with immigrants? The film becomes a portrait of cyclical segregation, with the prawns (aka the aliens) as a catch-all metaphor for displaced asylum seekers worldwide. As there were at least 4 Sunday when I kept finding article in the paper analyzing the connection between Avatar and different faiths so if this movie was as much talked about as Avatar I'm sure we had that effect about immigration.

My final verdict is then: with all its illogic and CGI it bringing us some food for thought (which not many films are able to deliver). It is a very unique sci-fi film and a must see! The film not only had action and great special effects but it had a storyline with a universal theme that everyone can relate to.