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Neil Blomkamp, District 9
08/19/2009 I always admire films willing to try a few new things, even if those efforts come up short in the long run. Science fiction in particular is something typically marred by clichés: aliens invade, humans have a war, humans win, the end. District 9 is a fresh addition to the genre that definitely had a lot of potential, but it inevitably fails to capitalize on what it could have been. Now let me just say that I didn’t dislike the film. In fact, I thought it was pretty good. But with so many reviewers and audience members talking of how amazing the film was, I wonder if I saw the same movie everyone else did. Or at least, I wonder if I went in with the same set of expectations. The posters, trailers and even the thoughtful website led me to believe this film would be more about the alien species as a whole living in the slums of Johannesburg, not one man and his relationship with just one alien (or “prawn,” as they’re called in the film). Wikus (Sharlto Copley), a bumbling MNU employee, is assigned the unenviable task of evicting local prawns from their homes. During one inspection, he accidentally sprays himself with a can containing some kind of weird substance that forces him to vomit a lot. And tear off parts of his body (yeah, if you’re squeamish, sit this one out). It appears he could become an asset to the local government, but of course, for all the wrong reasons. And from there, the story really begins. It’s a novel idea, enough to keep you watching. But even so, the film seems to build towards some gigantic moment that never comes. Just when it seems like the big payoff is approaching... the end. The movie’s done. I wasn’t necessarily expecting some sort of aliens vs. human war. That would have been a touch cliché and predictable. Not to mention, by the time the movie nears the end, it would have been out of place. But the film just didn’t have that kick to it you’ve prepared yourself for. Sure, there’s plenty of gross-out moments and some nice explosions here and there. But I never felt totally wowed by what I was seeing. It’s hard to articulate exactly what it was I was waiting for, but all I can say is that I would have known it when I saw it. And I didn’t see it. Still, I do have to admire what the film does accomplish. It’s nicely paced, the sound and visuals are quite good, and I was happy to learn that despite what we typically see in American summer blockbusters, not all aliens land in Washington or Los Angeles. I do find it interesting, however, that a film using aliens as obvious stand-ins for an oppressed race isn’t above reverting to basic stereotypes itself. Case and point: the Nigerians. They’re thuggish criminals who deal illegal weapons, wreak havoc on the residents and, in the case of the leader, take their cue from a female witch doctor. But what purpose do they serve in the movie? The leader wants to consume the arm of an alien to extract its powers, but were they really needed for the story to progress? I don’t think so. Their existence in the narrative just seemed pointless and irrelevant. Expectations are inevitable, but sometimes they can lead to disappointment. I went into 28 Days Later six years ago not expecting much, and getting a lot as a result. Appearing to have been shot in a similar fashion (handheld camerawork, unknown actors, a repeatedly used species arriving in a place other than the U.S.), I had very high hopes for this one, and perhaps that was my initial mistake. Comments [post a comment]Comments are closed |
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