Love it or leave it.
Darkly humorous,clever, thought-provoking and im my opinion better than avatar, this is a love it or leave it kind of movie and going by the extreme reviews posted here I am sure many will agree. If you get into it you will be rooting for the Prawns in the best sci-fi adventure in years. Stellar!

save the prawns
I loved this film but wanted it to end because I thought my heart was going to give out, it was so exciting. I was on team prawn all the way but it would be wrong to put any spoilers in this review so I won't. I didn't take any of it seriously, and I didn't view it with apartheid in mind. The main human character did seem a bit dweeby at first, and it took me a while to identify with him, but he did a great job of gaining my interest and sympathy in the end.

Not since ET have I cheered so much for a little prawn fella. A brilliant sci-fi film and great fun.

District 9
`District 9' is an alien film with a difference. This is shot partly in a documentary style and follows some Aliens (nicknamed Prawns) who come to earth and who are segregated in society and who are kept in slums in Johannesburg. A government department called MNU administer and try to rehome the Prawns and this film explores what happens when one of the MNU team leaders becomes infected with an alien virus. This was slightly a slow starter, but after about twenty minutes this gathered pace and I was kept hooked until the end. The aliens aren't the explicit bad guys we have come to expect from modern films and there is real personality and a softer side to them that comes through, despite their rather unattractive exterior. This had a relatively unknown cast, who all perform well, and although the main character's South African accent can sound slightly like he is from Liverpool at times (especially when he uses the `F` word), this is the only downside to the film. The effects are pretty decent and whilst the film feels kind of low tech at the start (with the jerky documentary style camera work), by the end the effects are fairly good and the explosions and machinery are impressive. There is a lot of talk about the implicit apartheid themes to this film, and I am sure they are there, but you can just as easily watch this for a great sci-fi adventure as well. It has all the elements you would want, alien themed storyline, plenty of explosions and evil government agencies. All in all this is a good film and just over 1 hour and 40 minutes passed by in what felt like no time at all. If you enjoy sci-fi films, with an alternative view of how aliens may react when coming to earth, then check this out; I don't think you'll be disappointed.

worst film ever
I love Sci Fi and Fantasy films and bought this thinking it would be a bit different. It was. So different that I fast forwarded parts of it to get it over with. I think it could be put in the same category as "Killer Bees" and "The Incredible Blob".I assume the theme of this film is the nature of prejudice but It is impossible to feel any empathy/sympathy for the protagonist or the creatures.I would swerve this one and buy something else...anything else!.

interesting
Very unusual film, can be viewed on several levels.
On the face of it an us versus them action story,however
setting it in South Africa brings in the issues of racial/species
conflict. Also makes you think when an Alien is more humane but
in the end the anti hero makes good. Nice to have a Sci Fi movie
that makes you think and laugh. Be warned though very gory in parts
and the language is strong.

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