Alien Supression?

District 9 are one the better sci-fi films of this decade. Great plot, a very interesting filming style, and a great combination of CGI and live action makes this film very interesting and compelling. However, they have key flaws that keep this film from the higher levels of sci-fi.

The plot is very imaginative, and interesting. It really takes people into a different realm of science fiction in which humans are the aggressors and villains, while the alien race are the helpless, suppressed beings. The plot is very fresh and imaginative, but its social commentary is really impressive. The film’s South African draws parallels with its former apartheid system of racial segregation. Many of them are obvious, such as the action to move a race out of the city and to a remote location. However, others are subtler and can only be understood by Afrikaners. The title “District 9” is derived from Cape Town’s historic District 6, where Cape Coloureds owned homes and businesses for many years before being evicted and relocated. Another more subtle method of referencing Apartheid is that the alien language incorporates clicking sounds that can be compared to Bantu, the language of a large group of African apartheid targets. In combination with a fresh plot, the film has a solid story that audiences will enjoy.

The filming style was very efficient and it was perfect for this type of film. The film has a hybrid documentary and action film style. The documentary style was done to make the audience observe the events of the film, and make them realize the evilness (racism) that is present in society. The action film style was used to appeal to broader range of people. However, the action sequences of the movie was uninspired and clichéd. However, overall, the filming style was excellent.

The CGI was incredible and very life-like. Its infusion with the live- action was perfect. However, with the portrayal of the “prawns,” creates issues. With the film comparing the prawns to the South Africans, it shows the filmmaker’s view on the South Africans. They portray them as disgusting creatures that should not be tortured. That view is extremely racist, but there is a slight might have been unintentional.

There are many bad aspects of the film, which will be addressed here. One annoying aspect of the film is the topic of alien technology. If alien technology is really awesome and superior, why are the prawns still suppressed? Also, the film’s ending is mediocre. It shows the director and producer is too obsessed with making a sequel than giving a good ending. Lastly, the lack of information really prevents this film from being great. There are many aspects of the plot that was unanswered. Why didn’t the home planet prawns rescue them? Why are the prawns there?  These questions may have been left unanswered to strengthen the sequel or add a mystique, but these questions only hampered the success of the film.

In conclusion, District 9 was a good movie that had the potential to be so much more.