District 9 (2009)

Starring: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, Robert Hobbs
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Country: USA/New Zealand
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi

Recently I had a conversation with a fellow film enthusiast about James Cameron, specifically about his film Aliens. I argued that it is one of the most overrated films and is incredibly extraneous with about thirty minutes of insert shots that could have been removed to allow the film to come in under four hours in length; (I’m exaggerating of course…) He argued that I was an idiot, (not specifically, (or maliciously,) but essentially.) But the argument he made for Aliens, (particularly the last twenty minutes) was that it was one of the best action films ever made. I eventually came to the same conclusion as him, but for a completely different film… District 9.

Now, I’m not sure that I’d go out and say it’s one of the best action films ever made, but it was certainly one of the best action flicks of the last ten years, and definitely one of the best sci-fi films of the decade.  The documentary-style isn’t anything new, but it feels fresh and really does add to the development of the story. The film jumps between the typical “expert” interviews and in-the-field action really well. When there needs to be action, the style serves its purpose really well, not only keeping us in the action, but making us involved. And the last twenty minutes… well… if you don’t agree that it excels Aliens, at least you can’t argue that it doesn’t hold its own. It’s intense. I don’t remember a recent time when my mouth was literally agape until my tongue began to dry out.

But comparisons aside, District 9 is a really well constructed science fiction/action film. And while its concept is its star, it never hinders the fun of the film. I’m also pretty confident that Daniel Day Lewis changed his name to Sharlto Copley.

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1. 82nd Academy Awards Blogathon: Best Adapted Screenplay | The Best Films of 2000s: This Guy Over Here — February 12, 2010 @ 2:01 am

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