District 9 [film]

In the movie District 9, the aliens don't come to destroy life on Earth. They are not a natural loving tribe like the Na'vi in Avatar, either. The aliens are refugees that live in a segregated area, District 9. It's a chaotic place. It's run-down and full of trash. There's even a gang of human who reside there and take advantage of the aliens. The idea is interesting to me. It has some social implications, too.

Of course, human is greedy again, just like in Avatar. They want to use the alien weapons instead of mining this time, though. The main character is much more unlucky than the guy in Avatar. He accidentally becomes the most wanted subject. He runs and hides and loses everything he once had.

I guess whoever produced this movie like to play with makeups and special effects. There are gruesome alien body parts and exploding people. When the alien weapons are at work, they zap people. Zap, zap. Explode! Juices flow!

Besides the unusual setting, the story itself is rather simple. However, it does intrigue me to think about how people would react if we do have this type of migrants of outer space. Also, how are the refugees in the real world treated by the countries that accommodate them? Are some people afraid of them and some try to advantage of them?

I enjoy the film. However, because it has been compared with Avatar, I feel it is overshadowed by Avatar visually. I guess it's also because I watched District 9 on DVD instead of in the cinema. That made the zapping less impressive. :P On the other hand, I do feel that the story of District 9 is more original. The Hollywood heroism and love story in Avatar makes it more sensational but it's also more conventional. The ordinary and not always selfless protagonist in District 9 is somewhat more believable.

LC rates: 4 stars