District 9 and Joburg

District 9 is destined to be a classic and like many classics it had humble beginnings. Peter Jackson helped produce the movie but the real creative genius behind it is Neill Blomkamp. Back in 2005 Blomkamp directed a short, six minute film called "Alive in Joburg." Just like D9, "Alive in Joburg" is an exploration of apartheid from the perspective of alien refugees. The short film features the familiar stationary motherships, powerful alien body-armor, insect-like aliens, and the same documentary style. Sharlto Copley, the lead actor in D9, helped produce "Alive in Joburg" and played a minor role (quick aside: Copley actually grew up in Johannesburg). Having seen "Alive in Joburg" I find it hard not to see District 9 as nothing more than a more expensive and expansive version of Blomkamp's earlier six minute short. Now, I in no way think this should take away from District 9's success and popularity. On the contrary, Peter Jackson and Blomkamp did a wonderful job of infusing District 9 with a more futuristic sci-fi feel through amped up effects, adding the visceral transformation of the lead character, Wikus van der Merwe (I know, manly name, huh?), and through mankind's desire to harness the alien weaponry. As a social commentary I don't know how I feel about the movie, but if it's taken strictly as a first contact movie I like it a lot more. Do I think mankind would act so poorly in the face of our first extraterrestrial contact? Probably not. Do I think mankind would be aggravated by the aliens if they were nothing but a bunch of layabouts? Sure. Do I think mankind would want to harness alien weapons (particularly that mech-suit. I want one!)? Absolutely. Power is power and that's a universal motivator for greed and all those other fun aspects of human nature. I loved D9's reinvigoration of an often tired subject and I hope Blomkamp gets to take a shot at the Halo movie rumored to be on hiatus.

Oh, and according to Wikipedia (which, of course, is always right =P), Copley improvised all of his lines during the eviction scene in the beginning of D9.

Sci-fi:4
Pop:4
Action:4

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