District 9

[Gavin Greenwalt]

The body language alone in this movie told a story within a story without the prawns speaking a word. And thats something.

Double agreement on this point. At first I was a little dubious about the aliens because I thought they looked and acted a bit stupid. But then the movie acknowledged they actually were stupid.

Then we were introduced to intelligent aliens-- the leaders and I could immediately tell just from their body language, before they even spoke, that they were different. You could see the gears turning and they just moved with more confidence.

Now yes of course you immediately devolve into "why have stupid aliens at all and not just all smart aliens." But every single science fiction story has that same plot hole. "If aliens can travel between galaxies why haven't they shed off their corporeal forms and ascended to at least synthetic bodies free of the need for food and shelter? How can the crew of the enterprise have a machine which can scan a body at a subatomic level but not reverse engineer the human brain and transform into a transhumanist utopia?"

The answer is always the same: the world exists to serve as a conduit for ideas. I thought this film delivered its message phenomenally well and evaluating whether this or that bolt is the best bolt ignores the bigger picture which is whether or not the film succeeded in accomplishing to tell the story it wanted to tell. It may not have taken the perfect route but it arrived at its destination and in the end that's all that's really important.

 

[Ruairi Robinson]

I find it interesting that most of the criticisms leveled at the film are either already answered in the movie if you are paying attention, or really easy to make the leap and figure out the logic of how/why moments in the movie that are not explained COULD be explained.

Put it this way: If you can easily imagine an solution that plugs a plot hole without changing anything that HAPPENS, then it's not a plot hole.

<<<<<<SPOILER>>>>>>>

Like for example: Why come that piece that drops from the mothership is not found immediately seeing as it dropped right below the mothership, apparently before the rest of the aliens could have hid it, since they were still huddled together in the ship above.

Answers on a postcard please.

<<<<<<<END SPOILER.>>>>>>>

R.

 

[Ruairi Robinson]

Double agreement on this point. At first I was a little dubious about the aliens because I thought they looked and acted a bit stupid. But then the movie acknowledged they actually were stupid.

Then we were introduced to intelligent aliens-- the leaders and I could immediately tell just from their body language, before they even spoke, that they were different. You could see the gears turning and they just moved with more confidence.

Now yes of course you immediately devolve into "why have stupid aliens at all and not just all smart aliens." But every single science fiction story has that same plot hole. "If aliens can travel between galaxies why haven't they shed off their corporeal forms and ascended to at least synthetic bodies free of the need for food and shelter? How can the crew of the enterprise have a machine which can scan a body at a subatomic level but not reverse engineer the human brain and transform into a transhumanist utopia?"

The answer is always the same: the world exists to serve as a conduit for ideas. I thought this film delivered its message phenomenally well and evaluating whether this or that bolt is the best bolt ignores the bigger picture which is whether or not the film succeeded in accomplishing to tell the story it wanted to tell. It may not have taken the perfect route but it arrived at its destination and in the end that's all that's really important.

If man is able to send spaceships to the moon, how come there are still homeless people on the streets in downtown LA! It makes no sense!

Hah! I found a plot hole in "reality". Suck on that, space and time.

 

[Zakaree Sandberg]

guys my crit was a joke.

although.. if they are so smart, why not make it so you dont feel pain in the transformers suit, regardless of bio tech or not. I mean.. cut the pain sensory part of the suit.

 

[Brandon Fraley]

I find it interesting that most of the criticisms leveled at the film are either already answered in the movie if you are paying attention, or really easy to make the leap and figure out the logic of how/why moments in the movie that are not explained COULD be explained.

Put it this way: If you can easily imagine an solution that plugs a plot hole without changing anything that HAPPENS, then it's not a plot hole.

<<<<<<SPOILER>>>>>>>

Like for example: Why come that piece that drops from the mothership is not found immediately seeing as it dropped right below the mothership, apparently before the rest of the aliens could have hid it, since they were still huddled together in the ship above.

Answers on a postcard please.

<<<<<<<END SPOILER.>>>>>>>

R.

lol, assuming your not being sarcastic, I'm not sure that's the best example to support your point :blush:

 

[Matthew Verkler]

Wow. Reading this thread, I've just been transported (pun intended) into the world of uber Sci Fi geekdom. I guess that's natural, as we are mostly uber Red geeks here and that mixing both geekdoms is a potent cocktail. Of geekdom.

I am absolutely a Red geek and proud of it, and I really enjoyed District 9, mostly because of the layering of man's cruelty and goodness, sometimes within the same person. All the sci fi stuff is context to me; the heart of the story is the change and growth of the main characters. Growth certainly being an operative word in the case of Wikus, again pun intended. I also like the setting, Johannesburg, on many levels.

Seriously, I have enjoyed everyone's comments and viewpoints on this thread; I personally thought District 9 was really great and I applaud the filmmakers.

Matthew Verkler

Earth is for humans! Prawns go home!
I am not affiliated in any way with MNU. I am just a concerned human.

 

[Brandon Fraley]

Wow. Reading this thread, I've just been transported (pun intended) into the world of uber Sci Fi geekdom. I guess that's natural, as we are mostly uber Red geeks here and that mixing both geekdoms is a potent cocktail. Of geekdom..

lol, very true. I enjoyed gavin's battle armor explanations the most so far. (BTW that last explanation in the one I assumed)

 

[Ruairi Robinson]

lol, assuming your not being sarcastic, I'm not sure that's the best example to support your point :blush:

<<<<<<MORE SPOILERS>>>>>>

I think it's a perfect example if you take 5 seconds to think about it.

How about this: Christopher Johnson piloted and deliberately hid the drop-ship to prevent humans from getting access to it and being able to command the mothership. This gives him time to look for a way to refuel it. Because he knew that without their "queen" the other worker drones weren't going to be much use defending it.

That's one possibility anyway. See, wasn't hard.

<<<<<<End Spoiler>>>>>>>>>>

 

[Brandon Fraley]

<<<<<<MORE SPOILERS>>>>>>

I think it's a perfect example if you take 5 seconds to think about it.

How about this: Christopher Johnson piloted and deliberately hid the drop-ship to prevent humans from getting access to it and being able to command the mothership. This gives him time to look for a way to refuel it. Because he knew that without their "queen" the other worker drones weren't going to be much use defending it.

That's one possibility anyway. See, wasn't hard.

<<<<<<End Spoiler>>>>>>>>>>

wow... I feel stupid now...

 

[Jeff Coatney]

My top five reasons I loved District 9:

1. No recognizable stars, yet still won the weekend gross battle.
2. $200 million worth of FX for the everyday low price of just $30 million.
3. The director was brave and obviously encouraged to take risks.
4. A stealth protagonist.
5. Shot on Red, digitally projected. Image was pristine.

 

[Bayden Docking]

5. Shot on Red, digitally projected. Image was pristine.

I Agree, and i was so glad that i could see what was going on throughout the whole movie instead of the usual fast cut blurriness of recent times, which put more emphasis on how good it actually looked.

I walked past a sushi shop at lunch today and said to myself, 'stupid prawn.'

 

[Brandon Fraley]

1. No recognizable stars, yet still won the weekend gross battle.

you know, thats hadn't occurred to me. That is certainly a huge achievement in it's own right. By any chance does any one know the last time that's happened?

 

[David Rasberry]

I don't think the film would have worked as well with a name star in the lead. It would have distracted from the flow of the story.

 

[Cam Crowley]

District 9 ROCKS.....see it.

I went simply because I hadn't yet seen any RED shot movies on the big screen. I forgot all about that by about 2 mins into the movie.

Why did I like it:
1. Interesting and obscure location.
2. No recognisable actors. In fact the main protagonist is an unlikeable shit for the most part (and on that point, I totally loved the character arch of both him and the aliens).
3. Seemless effects integration in to a harshly lit landscape made the effects totally believable to the point of not even noticing them.
4. The final shot of the film where we briefly get updated on the fate of the protagonist left me totally satisfied - and this IMHO is where most films fall down. I couldn't count the films I've been to, enjoyed 90% of the way, only to have it all turn to shit by a weak ending.

It was nice to walk away from the cinema wanting to see a film a second time - haven't felt like that in ages. I wouldn't be suprised if District 9 (and it's probable sequels) becomes the 'Alien' for a new generation of movie goers and film makers.

Everybody involved should be extremely proud of their efforts and RED should be just as proud to be part of such a great project. Kudos to each and everyone!

At the end of the day it will make buckets of cash (it made back it's 'budget' before it's first weekend was over), has had very positive reviews and everyone I know who has seen it is giving it a big rap. Can't ask for more than that from a first time feature director and no-name talent - Neill Blomkamp is probably somebody we'll be hearing a lot more from.

My 2 Cents Worth

Cam

 

[Gavin Greenwalt]

If man is able to send spaceships to the moon, how come there are still homeless people on the streets in downtown LA! It makes no sense!

Yeah but once you've developed brain scanning technology it only requires the electricity to run someone through it. Like an MRI. An AI would be far less resource intensive and efficient than a dumb prawn in the context of mining or whatever their jobs were to be when reaching their destination. No massive life support requirements. Why send 3 years worth of food for a mining ship when you can just tap the ships' fusion reactor to run the data center with your crew in it.

If we had that sort of technology the cost to send a person to the moon would be a minute fraction what it is now. It just makes good financial sense to make your crew as physically small as possible. It would also make for a very different story from the one the director wanted to tell.

Hah! I found a plot hole in "reality". Suck on that, space and time.

lol. :thumbsup:

 

[Alan Skinner]

My top five reasons I loved District 9:

1. No recognizable stars, yet still won the weekend gross battle.
2. $200 million worth of FX for the everyday low price of just $30 million.
3. The director was brave and obviously encouraged to take risks.
4. A stealth protagonist.
5. Shot on Red, digitally projected. Image was pristine.

As a lifelong sci-fi fan, I enjoyed the move for the same points. Unfortunately, the theater I saw it at had a crappy projector that was way you of calibration and I will have to go see it again somewhere else to enjoy the picture at all! I agree with another comment on this thread that a known actor would have killed the doco style that worked so well. Just wouldn't be believeable if you knew the actors face. Sharlto Copley did a good job as Wikus van der Merwe.

 

[Wesley Scoggins]

my question... why did the main character make grunting noises and noises like he was personally being injured while inside that mech warrior thing? it was being shot at.. NOT him, who was nestled safely inside of its armored protection.

its the little things.

I'll quote the girl I was with (who is awesome). "It must be interfacing directly with his nervous system like in Evangelion."

 

[Charles Angus]

you know, thats hadn't occurred to me. That is certainly a huge achievement in it's own right. By any chance does any one know the last time that's happened?

I read a study a while back that came to the conclusion that stars have no impact on the bottom line whatsoever. The only important factors in the bottom line are marketing budget and number of screens.

Food for thought...

 

[Luke Stewart]

In fact the main protagonist is an unlikeable shit for the most part

"When they POP, it sounds like Popcorn!"

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I'll quote the girl I was with (who is awesome). "It must be interfacing directly with his nervous system like in Evangelion."

About 25 minutes into the movie, my wife leans over and says, "is the whole thing going to be like this?"

Second time I saw it, I think I enjoyed it more. Saw it with a couple friends.

I would warn about spoilers below, but this thread is full of them now. Besides, who follows this forum and hasn't actually seen this film by now, really...

To get back onto the discussion of the prawns and being stupid or whatever. They're obviously not, as is shown by Christopher and his boy. On the surface they are portrayed that way in the film, but I interpreted that as more due to a lack of leadership. For example, when the prawns trade the mechanized suit to the Nigerians for the cat food and the Nigerians tell the one prawn to come back so they could kill him. The prawns are the worker bees of their hive-like society. They're not stupid, they are conditioned, bred, engineered, etc.. to take orders.

As Ace said the body language of the prawns tells a whole story in itself. And that is quite an amazing achievement considering they're CG puppets.

With this film, sure the story does have its flaws, but more than anything is we are viewing a snippet of time. The film is obviously ripe for a sequel, but equally ripe for a prequel as there is so much back-story to fill in and to explain how the prawns arrived where they did and why.