It's my blog, and i'll review if i want to

I had high expectations for the film 'District 9' - not because Peter Jackson had his name on it, not because it was seemingly going to have some of the finest computer graphics to date and not because I have ever been a science-fiction junkie. When I learned the premise of the film, I was intrigued. District 9 was not going to be the typical aliens-invade-humans-fight etc etc, beyond all the science-fictional premise and the incredible CGIs, it was going to be a political commentary.

When a mothership lands over the city of Johannesburg (the irony should not be lost on anyone), people of the world wait with baited breath for the invasions, for a war of the worlds. After three months of no movement from the ship, the government sends the army to cut into the ship to find out what the heck is going on. Over a million aliens are found in the ship - referred to as "prawns", because of their resemblance to the sea creatures - and are displaced in District 9, what is a mix of refugee camp, ghetto and concentration camp. It is, essentially, apartheid. It becomes a slum. Living in District 9, in the middle of Johannesburg, comes to be an issue over the two decade period. Crime within the slum is rising (and herein is an excellent sub-plot involving Nigerian gangsters), alien human interaction is becoming increasingly violent and human civilian pressure leads the South African government to build another camp, District 10, 200 km outside of Johannesburg. A private company, MNU, is hired give notice to the aliens of eviction and re-locate them to the other camp.

Here begins a film that raises important ethical questions in our society. While the aliens are given status cards and certain protective legal rights, it becomes increasingly clear that the interest in aliens is less to do with their non-human rights but with their biochemical warfare and weaponry. Further, the film brings to light the important question of media legitimacy and media control. To what length will governments and private corporations go to have the foremost technology in warring and weapons? While the story contends with large scale political issues and allusions (again, the film takes place in Johannesburg and the alien apartheid is extremely powerful), there is compelling and emotional heart to the film.

A refreshing take on the sci-fi genre, with stark political observations and commentary, filmed in an immaculate documentary style with incredible computer graphics, District 9 is a film not only to savour but one to elicit discussion for years to come.