Distrrrrrrrrrrrict 9

[Lady Fury]

Anyone seen this yet? I'm going to go see it this afternoon with my brother and brother in law. Looks good.

[Merganser]

I saw it last night. I thought it was great, just plain great. Had a very good time. Sharlto Copley, who plays Wikus van der Merwe, the main character, did a really good job. I don't want to give out a lot of information about the plot, story, etc. but I think you'll like it. I assume you're not taking your kids, which would be the way to go.

[Schizm]

The girl and I just got back from seeing it.

I definatly recommend it - I think that you can tell it's jackson taking some cool design work that got done for the now-defunct Halo film, finding a good screenwriter and a very good director, and making a really solid film.

Radu:
It's got a suit.

[Lady Fury]

I didn't take kids to this one. I really liked it. The suit was awesome! I have a few questions: Why did it take 20yrs to collect enough fuel to fuel the ship? Why did it stall in mid air? And how did it stay in mid-air? And the last part where the guy completely turned into a prawn, do you think that the other will come back for him in 3yrs? Do you think there will be sequel?

[tleilaxu]

i saw it this weekend. it was pretty good, worth the money.

why, at the end of the movie, is the black guy awaiting trial for exposing MTU's illegal genetics program? why would -he- be in trouble for exposing the illegality of what someone else is doing?

[Janos]

why, at the end of the movie, is the black guy awaiting trial for exposing MTU's illegal genetics program? why would -he- be in trouble for exposing the illegality of what someone else is doing?

South Africa may not have whistlerblower protection laws. Its also possible that charges hadn't been brought against the company yet by local government, so whatever whistleblower laws they may have weren't protecting him yet.

He could have also released propritary information to the public instead of just the local government. That's a gray area for Whistleblower laws as even in the US.


I liked it. It was much deeper and more interesting than any Sci-Fi flick I've seen in awhile. The ending sequence/third act was a bit rushed, and the motivations for the prawns could have used a bit more exposition.

[Trainz]

I didn't take kids to this one. I really liked it. The suit was awesome! I have a few questions: Why did it take 20yrs to collect enough fuel to fuel the ship? Why did it stall in mid air? And how did it stay in mid-air? And the last part where the guy completely turned into a prawn, do you think that the other will come back for him in 3yrs? Do you think there will be sequel?

For all your questions except the two last, it's just your basic McGuffin stuff. It works like it does because it needs to. Just assume your basic Star Trek laws apply (reverse the polarity...).

As for your last questions, where we saw the guy as a prawn making the flower his wife got, I think Jackson left that open handed on purpose, and no there won't be a sequel.

The movie was just a means to demonstrate how horrible we potentially are as a whole, even to something as wondrous as extra-terrestrials.

Me and my wife just came back from seeing it, it was amazing.

[Dr. Paragon]

Me and the MRS just saw this film this afternoon (Tue 8/18/09) and
good lord is it "heavy".

To help with some questions above here is some answers best as I can figure:


Fuel Why so little is needed and what is it?:
The "fuel" is apparently some sort of bio-catalyst. It catalyzed "Prawn"
DNA into the main character because it had been exposed to it's makers.
Think TCRI (Utrom) bio agent that made the TMNT and Splinter. The
command ship needed enough to power up and get to the mothership.
the mothership obviously has it's own powerplant which is why it could
park with it's antigravity running for 20+ years.

The Command Ship:
It had all the navigation and control systems for the much larger ship.
It likely was launched to find out what was going on and/or safeguard
the navigation computer. The crew were probably too weak to do
anything meaninful like land it correctly. After all it looked like it had
undergone a verly great deal of repairs befor it could be reactivated.

Will Christopher Johnson return:
It was left open, but I bet humanity would collectively sweat bullets
if/when he returns. How you treat your guests greatly reflects on
your character. MNU and humanity in general had pretty much blown
it horribly by the events chronicled in the film. The "Prawn" have shown
themselves to have access to technology that is vastly ahead of
conventional humanity's. No I do not think there will be a sequal.

[Lady Fury]

Who added all the rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr's to my thread title? :lol:

[Janos]

Who added all the rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr's to my thread title? :lol:

The original title read Distict 9. I'm guessing someone wanted to make sure we all knew that there was an "r" in the word.

[Lady Fury]

The original title read Distict 9. I'm guessing someone wanted to make sure we all knew that there was an "r" in the word.

Yeah I figured that. I should have noticed it sooner. :o

[Atropine Mama]

Sorry about that, Lady. I blame sleep deprivation -- I kept reading it as "Distinct 9". :o

[cnath.rm]

Am I the only one then who wasn't totally thrilled and wished he had waited till it was showing at the cheap second run theater? (or maybe for dvd)

Were it not for the psudo-documentory style* with it's uber-heavy handed club you in the face with it first ~10min of foreshadowing I might have liked it better.


As it was... The effects were amazing, the concept was excellent, not sure I can give great marks for the excecution which really saddens me.:(

*If you want to go with documentory as a format then bloody shoot it that way!! Don't cut between doc style footage and stuff where there is no reason for there to be a camera around. (no prob with the idea of doc at the start and end, just the non-doc stuff in the beginning before we got in to the middle section of all non-doc) The above imho and ymmv of course. :D

[Harry]

I'm thinking of seeing this movie this week, if it's still showing anywhere. Interesting news story tonight:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/21/nigeria.film.outcry/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- When Ken Umeano went to watch the summer sci-fi blockbuster "District 9," he stormed out after 30 minutes.
"District 9" was directed by South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp, who also co-wrote it.

"I was so angry," said Umeano, a Nigeria native living in Atlanta. "They were showing Nigerians as corrupt, eating aliens, saying they have sex with aliens. I could not watch that."

The movie set in South Africa is a story about an alien space ship that breaks down over Johannesburg -- leaving the stranded creatures in a fierce battle with humans.

In the film, Nigerians jump at an opportunity to exploit the aliens, who are being kicked out by their South African hosts. A Nigerian gangster provides the aliens with a range of paid services including prostitutes, food and weapons.

The depiction has sparked an outcry, including a Facebook group condemning its portrayal of Nigerians. Officials in the West African country have banned it and are demanding an apology from Sony Pictures, the film's principle distributor through Tri-Star Pictures.

"Why do they want to denigrate Nigerians as criminals, cannibals and prostitutes who sleep with extra-terrestrial animals?" said Dora Akunyili, information minister. "We've had enough with the stereotypes they have branded us with ... we are not going to sit back and allow people to stigmatize us."

The movie will not be shown in Nigeria unless Sony apologizes and edits out any references to the country, she said.

Sony pointed out that Nigerian authorities cleared the film for release, and it screened in that country for two weeks.

"'District 9' is a work of science fiction, and no offense was intended toward any country or person," the company said.

The film was directed by South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp, who also co-wrote it, and it was adapted from Blomkamp's 2005 short, "Alive in Joburg." "Lord of the Rings" producer-director Peter Jackson produced "District 9." Sony's involvement was limited to distribution.

Malawian actor, Eugene Khumbanyiwa, 33, who plays the top Nigerian gangster, defended his role in the movie.

"I was just doing my job as an actor," Khumbanyiwa said. "My job was to play a character as an underworld gangster and I did ... I'm just going to run away from this whole controversy."

Khumbanyiwa said the outcry was a surprise because his Nigerian co-stars did not have an issue with it.

The scenes depicting Nigerians make up less than 10 minutes of the 113-minute film. In some places, Nigerians are shown trying to eat alien flesh to cure illnesses and acquire superhuman powers. Khumbanyiwa's character is named Obesandjo -- which Akunyili said is an attack on former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Some Nigerians said the movie feeds off stereotypes associated with the country.

"Everyone has this image of Nigeria," Umeano said. "A lot of people have given Nigeria a bad name, but that does not mean the whole country is bad."

While Clement Nyirenda believes the director should have used a fictional country, he said the outcry is much ado about nothing.

After all, he said, the Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood, is filled with the same characterizations.

"The (Nollywood) movies show Nigerians as witch doctors, corrupt, a lot worse," Nyirenda said. "Nigeria is mostly known for 419 scams ... the government officials should focus on cleaning the image."

Akunyili said the country is trying to "rebrand itself away from such images." The Nollywood industry is undergoing a makeover, too, she added.

Blomkamp, who grew up in Johannesburg, told CNN last month that he didn't want the sci-fi tale about aliens and apartheid to be defined by politics.

"I didn't want to go, 'Here's a whole bunch of people oppressed by this apartheid-esque society' and beat people over the head with it," Blomkamp said. "I rather wanted to say this is the city I grew up in, this is what it felt like.

If Nigerians are indeed criminal cannibalistic prostitutes who fuck aliens, that would explain a lot.

[nerfherder]

Interesting news story tonight:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/21/nigeria.film.outcry/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn



Yeah Nigeria, because no other nationalities are stereotyped in the movies :rolleyes:

[Freedom Canadian]

Crap ! Double post !

I haven't done one of those in years.

[Freedom Canadian]

Yeah Nigeria, because no other nationalities are stereotyped in the movies :rolleyes:

Well, South Africa can't really complain, can they ? For one, the blacks are in power so the government must be saying "right on ! it's true, our country would totally have acted like that at the time !".

Plus, if the white south africans did, people would just answer "dude ! District 6 ring a bell ?"

However, Nigeria is right in that there is no historical record of them being prostitutes who fuck aliens. It's funny that they call aliens "animals" in the same phrase that they complain about being called cannibals, though.

[Darkfire]

Went and saw this a couple of nights ago and man is it well done. The phrasing and actions take you right back 20 years (and not in a good way). Going to have to say though that it probably takes being South African to fully appreciate this movie.

[nerfherder]

Went and saw this a couple of nights ago and man is it well done. The phrasing and actions take you right back 20 years (and not in a good way). Going to have to say though that it probably takes being South African to fully appreciate this movie.
I can believe that. My uncle moved to South Africa for the "better standard of living" about 30 or 40 years ago. He didn't like Nelson Mandela and his "thugs". He's a very nice man :grey:

[Harry]

I did see this movie today and enjoyed the heck out of it. Sure, it was wasn't very far at all from being a B movie, but it was very well done all the same. I restrained myself from poking holes in the plot, but even when it was hard I found it easy to explain things within the logic of the movie. Except for one thing - why is it the entire South African Air Force consists of attack and recon helicopters? You'd think what with 20 years of the space ship sitting over them, they would of acquired a few F-16s on the cheap.

I really liked this movie, though, and wish there was a chance in hell of the main actor getting an Oscar nod. He carried this movie on his back and did it well. The aliens were very sympathetic, for what were for all purposes H.R. Giger inspired shrimp.

Oh, and the Nigerians? Nasty creatures. We should burn them off the face of the planet, the vile, cheating, lying, cannibalistic alien fuckers.

[Ancalagon]

We rented it yesterday (along inglorious basterds) and it was great. Best movie I've seen in a while!

Went and saw this a couple of nights ago and man is it well done. The phrasing and actions take you right back 20 years (and not in a good way). Going to have to say though that it probably takes being South African to fully appreciate this movie.

Thanks for sharing your take on it, I was wondering how a South African would take it. In the "making of the film" bit, they said it wasn't a political movie. Damn, if that wasn't political, what is?!

[tleilaxu]

Oh, and the Nigerians? Nasty creatures. We should burn them off the face of the planet, the vile, cheating, lying, cannibalistic alien fuckers.

you forgot terrorists! :)

[cnath.rm]

I really liked this movie, though, and wish there was a chance in hell of the main actor getting an Oscar nod. He carried this movie on his back and did it well. The aliens were very sympathetic, for what were for all purposes H.R. Giger inspired shrimp.He did an amazing job with what he was handed, I would like to see him in a movie with better writing and less in the way of politics. The effects for the "prawns" were amazing, I don't want to see the movie again, but I'd love to see more on the sfx.

We rented it yesterday (along inglorious basterds) and it was great. Best movie I've seen in a while! I totally agree with you.... wait, you were talking about District 9 !?!?! :tongue: I left D9 wishing that I had talked my friends into waiting 20-40min and seen Bastards instead... (and very much enjoyed it once I did see it)

[Harry]

He did an amazing job with what he was handed, I would like to see him in a movie with better writing and less in the way of politics. The effects for the "prawns" were amazing, I don't want to see the movie again, but I'd love to see more on the sfx.

I totally agree with you.... wait, you were talking about District 9 !?!?! :tongue: I left D9 wishing that I had talked my friends into waiting 20-40min and seen Bastards instead... (and very much enjoyed it once I did see it)

So.... Distrrrrrrrrrrrict 9 gets nominated for several Oscars, but the real gimmee in my opinion, the Best Actor nod for Sharlto Copley, isn't one of them. Best Picture? While I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and thought it fascinating, well written, and wonderfully made - it's not the best picture at all.

Revisiting this thread after a month or so and seeing Avatar makes me wish Avatar had half the story of District 9. Even a tenth.

[Ancalagon]

the "buzz" I'm hearing is that even though there are 10 pictures in the nomination, it's only a contest between Avatar and the Hurt Locker (which I haven't seen but I am getting curious about).

I think that District 9 will age a lot better than Avatar. In say, 20 years from now, when the visual technology of Avatar has become common, it will seem like a silly movie, while District 9 will still be relevant.

[shiningbrow]

District 9 was visually repulsive, but it had a really interesting documentary structure and I liked the basic idea behind the story. Avatar was technically astonishing and beautiful to watch--both factors allowed me to ignore the rote story line and the blatantly manipulative aspects of the film. It was really compelling, although I don't know how it would hold up to repeated viewings. I'd certainly go see it again, though.

[Trainz]

the "buzz" I'm hearing is that even though there are 10 pictures in the nomination, it's only a contest between Avatar and the Hurt Locker (which I haven't seen but I am getting curious about).

Oh it was an amazing movie. I enjoyed every second of it. I wish I could see it again for the first time.

But I will be happy if any of them wins. In my opinion, they both earned it.

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

Oh it was an amazing movie. I enjoyed every second of it. I wish I could see it again for the first time.

But I will be happy if any of them wins. In my opinion, they both earned it.


What the fuck, Trainz? Are you purposely being ambiguous in every single thread as to which movie you mean - Hurt Locker or Avatar? It's like some sort of variant of "It's Pat". We're going to have to start asking leading questions to have you tell us which movie you mean! :)


As for D9, just rented it last night. Phenomenal movie. Clever, good action, good story, good effects (that served the movie just as well as Avatar served its). I'm glad there was surprisingly less social commentary than I thought. This was confirmed in the special features when the director said that there was no overt plan for that - they just wanted to make a good action movie. Still, it was kind of funny to see them interviewing black South Africans saying that the aliens needed to go.

[Schizm]

Theo confuses me sometimes. Every other conservative I know that liked the movie says "despite it's social agenda," while Theo (no offense men theo, but you're one of the most conservative people I interact with) sees through that bullshit to the actual story.

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

Theo confuses me sometimes. Every other conservative I know that liked the movie says "despite it's social agenda," while Theo (no offense men theo, but you're one of the most conservative people I interact with) sees through that bullshit to the actual story.

I don't mind "message" movies if they're cleverly done and good storytelling, whether they're conservative or liberal. Due to the nature of where it was set, of course there's bound to be some social subtext in D9 (even if it was not at the forefront of the director's plan). But the social (in)justice depicted in D9 is actually something that I would think should transgress any political lines.

Now, contrast this with the hammer to the head that was "Avatar". I would hope and am heartened to actually see in many places that thinking liberals are just as insulted by the simplistic and insultingly delivered message that movie had to offer.

Anyway, I think what you said was a compliment, so I thank you.:D

[tleilaxu]

(no offense men theo, but you're one of the most conservative people I interact with) .

heh... he stands just to the left of a gigantic pile of bat-shit.

[Schizm]

Anyway, I think what you said was a compliment, so I thank you.:D

hey, when I admit that anyone surprises me, it's a compliment, so ;):D .

[Ancalagon]

In a way, district 9 was more relevant to the *now* than Avatar. As far as I know, we aren't conquering any large land mass and swooshing the natives as we do so.

However, all over the world, there are people like the prawn, who have lost everything, who's goals and values are irrelevant to modern society, and who have to live under a set of laws and rules that they did not chose and that they did not understand. That's powerful stuff.