District 9 (Movie Review)

District 9

District 9 is a science fiction action thriller film. It is directed by Neill Blomkamp, in his feature film debut, and written by Terri Tatchell and Blomkamp. It was produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, and is a co-production between the United States, South Africa, and New Zealand.

Song Features

While it's a mostly rap-driven song, District 9 also features some strong singing. It lands on its first chorus fairly quickly, whereas most songs build up to their choruses with climbing beats. It also makes use of singing to break up rap heavy hooks and bridges without relying on over-saturated vocals.

Filming Location and Commentary

District 9 was filmed in South Africa, where the setting of the movie is based on the township of District Six, which was the home to 60,000 evicted colored Africans during the apartheid era. Because of its setting in South Africa, it is also a commentary on private military contractors like Xe Services, formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide.

Plot Summary

The plot revolves around an organization called Multinational United, a giant weapons manufacturer whose mission is to relocate aliens in their city. The executive of Multinational United appoints Wikus van de Merwe to lead this mission. Christopher Johnson, meanwhile, searches for alien fuel in Prawn technology, which he has been synthesized over twenty years.

Origins and Relocation

The aliens were originally a race of aliens that resemble cat food. When they arrived on the Earth, they were placed on a spaceship that hovered over Johannesburg. When they were discovered, they were starving to death. Humans then begin to relocate the aliens to a ground location.

Critical Reception and Themes

The movie was a hit for audiences and critics alike. It's a sci-fi thriller that explores the complexities of race and class. While there are no explicit references to apartheid in the film, the movie is an allegorical exploration of race and culture. The aliens are referred to as Prawns in derogatory slang, because they have a vague crustacean appearance. Some of them are extremely filthy and ignorant, and they live in an illegal slum.

Seeking a Cure

Christopher tries to recover Wikus, but the alien has been mutated. He wants Wikus to return to his home world, but Wikus is in no mood for that. Christopher is determined to cure Wikus of his mutation. Christopher and Wikus eventually find refuge in District 9 after the mission.

Commentary on Human Suffering

District 9 is a commentary on human suffering. The decision to relocate the prawns to a land far from their current home is reminiscent of the Trail of Tears that wiped out a Native American way of life. Likewise, the experiments performed by the MNU on the prawns recall the medical experiments of Jews during the Holocaust. The aliens are also given anglicized names, similar to those seen on Ellis Island. District 9 is a science fiction action thriller film. It is directed by Neill Blomkamp, in his feature film debut, and written by Terri Tatchell and Blomkamp. It was produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, and is a co-production between the United States, South Africa, and New Zealand.