District 9 (2009)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2009
	Director: Neill Blomkamp (Elysium)
	Actors: Sharlto Copley (The A-team), David James, Jason Cope
	Country: USA, NZ, CDN, ZA
	Genre: SF, Action
	Conditions of visioning: 20.02.2015, Blu-ray, Home cinema
Synopsis: 20 years after an alien spaceship sets over Johannesbourg, the refugees that it contained cause more and more trouble with the local population.
Review: What a surprise it was back in 2008 to see this south African production by Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), lead by a first-time movie director after his short on the same topic, and that did cost half what it would have if done by Hollywood. And this time, seven years later, I looked closely during the HD projection at the details of the special effects (creatures, weapons, ships) and they still look amazing. Like the first time I saw the movie, I still loved the different take at the alien invasion movie: they are not here to fight us but they are refugees, and have to be hosted not by the richest country in the world. But then although the structure of the movie is different, the end fulfills our expectations. This time more than before I notice the humour in the movie, often offbeat. I had already enjoyed the character of Wickus van der Merwe (his name, accent, behavior, stupid smile...) played by the then relatively unknown Sharlto Copley than we have since seen in Europa Report, The A-team or Elysium. I have now noticed many more details and character traits from secondary people: Wickus' father-in-law, his trainee, and in general all the humans working for an organization that is supposed to regulate alien activities but that treat them like dirt. There is a strong social message in District 9, as in Neill Bloomkamp next movie Elysium but that didn't work as well that time.
Rating: 9 /10