There are few words that can adequately describe “District 9.” A science fiction piece on the surface, the film presents a powerfully allegorical look into the products of separatism. The faces of the downtrodden may be alien, but the starvation, gang violence, prostitution, and all out slum living are all too real. I found this film to be a standout amongst all of the Blockbuster films released this year. It deserves a LOT of attention and any version released (DVD, Bluray, etc…) would make an excellent addition to your Christmas wish list. In “District 9”, we are shown the aftermath of 20 years in dealing with a stranded alien spacecraft over the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Shortly after the ship arrived, it was boarded and to the dismay of the world’s population, it was found to house approx 1,000,000 starving aliens.

Not really knowing what to do, the aliens were moved to makeshift camps but never quite fully assimilated. These aliens were very bug like in appearance, so much so that humans took to calling them ‘prawns’ as an insult. Many were violent and their diet left much to be desired. They were reviled and feared by the human community at large.

When the film begins we are introduced Wikis Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley), who as part of the Multi-National United is given the unenviable task of moving the alien population (which numbered closer to 1.8 million) to a new location much farther away from the city. As you might expect, the project goes terribly awry as it is handled horribly by a government that really doesn’t have anyone’s best interest at heart. If violence is necessary, then so be it. Due to an unfortunate accident, Wikis soon finds himself on the run from his own people and learning there is more to some of these aliens than meets the eye.

As I mentioned before, I was shocked by just how darn good “District 9” was. It exceeded every expectation I had about the film, creating and meeting new ones along the way as I learned more and more of its plot. It is initially shot documentary style, the tone of which changes as the film progresses. The story was very familiar in that it very much mirrored forms of Apartheid and every other type of racial hatred, especially in the way it depicted good and bad characters on both the human and alien sides. In this way, the fault of the treatment was the way it is in real life, the fault of both. The story completely dragged me in and did not let go until way after the end credits.

What blew me away even more was in the fact that with a modest budget (in comparison to some Hollywood films), director Neill Blomkamp created a thoroughly realistic world where humans and aliens inhabited the same plane of existence. The special effects were completely solid, mostly in the presentation of the aliens. They were completely inhuman in appearance, but there were never any moments where they did not look as though they were really there. The CGI work was amazing, better than most big budget movies. The texture and lighting was perfect, and the ‘performances’ by the aliens was at times both animalistic and all too human. I also give a huge round of applause to the effects guys for creating some outstanding ‘kills’ in terms of blood, gore and realism. This is not to glorify bloodshed or to turn off those who prefer non-bloody movies; I just mean it looked that real. I cannot say enough about just how perfect this film looked.

The cast of the film was largely made up of a cast that are unknown here in the States, and I’d put each and every one of them up against the best actors we have to offer. Shartlo Copley, who plays Wiki steals every scene he’s in. He goes from happy-go-lucky bumbler to being driven nearly insane by the sequence of events that befall him. It is a tour-de-force performance worthy of an Oscar nod. That said, there is not a single weak link in this cast.

Sony is releasing “District 9” on DVD and Bluray and I strongly urge you to lean towards the Bluray. As the film is so special effect heavy, though not so much as to overpower the story, the Bluray offers the sharpest image allowing for a full appreciation of this movie’s overall look. Every texture and every color is crystal clear, whether in the antiseptic laboratories or the dirtiest slums. The aliens especially look even better as you can see every minute detail of their complex design. The soundtrack is also a big selling point of this disc, as the movie offers very quiet moments as well as large explosive scenes and every sound is mixed perfectly as it immerses you into the story.

Sony did not cut back on the supplements either as this set offers a commentary by Blomkamp to start off the festivities. His is one of the best I’ve heard in quite a while, as he speaks with enthusiastic detail about every aspect of the film. His delivery keeps the viewer engrossed and never gets boring or tedious. “Joburg from Above” is a highly interactive piece that allows viewers to work their way through detailed maps of various locations in the film. These are interspersed with biographies and conceptual drawings and is quite fun to move about in. You’ll also find a filmmaker’s log, which is a three part feature that focuses on “Alive in Joburg” (the short film that inspired the making of this larger story), a behind the scenes look at filming, and finalizing all the details of the movie.

“The Transformation of Wikis” allows viewers a look at what it took for Copley to achieve the transformation of his character, while “Innovation: The Acting and Improvisation of District 9” shows how important the use of improvised dialogue is in creating a documentary-like feel to the film. “Conception and Design” is as it sounds and “Alien Generation” delves into the process of making the aliens look so real. There are also a ton of deleted scenes as well as a playable demo of “God of War III” for Playstation 3’s. Digital copies are also available for both PSPs and Ipods.

I probably should mention that Peter Jackson’s name was attached to the film as he is listed as ‘presenting the film,” if for no other reason than to get people to see it. But Blomkamp was firmly at the helm of this outstanding movie and did a phenomenal job of creating this very realistic science fiction film. It will not disappoint, I guarantee.

Directed by: Neill Blomkamp
Starring: Sharlto Copley, David James, Vanessa Haywood, Mandla Gaduka, Kenneth Nkosi
Extras: Deleted Scenes; Director’s Commentary; “The Alien Agenda – A Filmmaker’s Log”; Metamorphosis – The Transformation of Wikus; Innovation – Acting and Improvisation; Conception and Design; Alien Generation; Joburg from Above; God of War III Playable Playstation and Making of Game; Digital Copy of Film; MovieIQ (BD-Live)
Specifications: MPEG-4 AVC 1080p (1.85:1); DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Studio: Sony
Release Date: 12/22/2009
MPAA Rating: R
http://www.SonyPictures.com

We'll give Disctrict 9 an A+.