I saw this week’s Pop Culture Club assignment, District 9, right after returning from two weeks vacation spent in a pastoral New England town with no internet and little TV. I spent most of my time reading books; the most action-packed thing I observed was the extreeeeeme hatching of sparrow eggs in a nest above our porch. So by the time I returned to New York, my senses had retracted back to circa-1983 level of sensitivity, averse to shrieking movie speakers and quick-cut, bombastic special effects. When the lights in the theater dimmed, I was immediately screamed at by a series of howlingly assaultive trailers, each one more jaggedly abrasive than the last: Halloween 2, Sorority Row, The Fourth Kind—I don’t remember which was which, because they all blurred into one screaming, flashing, mash-up of rage that I’m pretty sure wished me ill. By the time the theater ad came on telling everyone to please be quiet (to which I thought, “Practice what you preach, movie theater!”), I thought I’d made a terrible mistake by coming as I was in no mood for two hours of booming violence.
But it turns out I just wasn’t in a mood for bad booming violence. District 9, on the other hand, was a pleasure. I reveled in every sense-jangling, skin-molting moment. By the time it was over, I was thinking, “Take your fresh air and crickets and suck it, New England! I want noise and exploding heads!” Score one for 2009.
What with the summer of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and G.I. Joe, I had forgotten that good action movies were possible, that you could sit down and get lost in an engaging maelstrom for two hours without the deep suspicion that the director thinks you are a complete idiot and is at that very minute sitting behind you snickering at you. It’s not even like District 9 reinvented anything: It’s been praised for its apartheid metaphor, but pairing an alien with a hateful human to make a commentary on racism is nothing new (Enemy Mine, Alien Nation). And many other points in District 9 made me think of other movies: Wikus biting off his own fingernails (The Fly); the giant machine-gunning exoskeleton (Aliens); two cackling militiamen happily helicoptering in to do some damage (Die Hard). And yet even when the movie briefly called to mind other films, at no point did it feel trite. That’s the difference between the director, Niell Blomkamp, and, say, Michael Bay: One uses familiar tropes to create something new, and the other assumes you’ll be happy with the familiar tropes just as long as he turns up the volume loud enough.
Sure, I occasionally had small quibbles: Why did Wikus lock Christopher out of his own rescue ship and take off without him? I know he was peeved at the news that his transformation would take three years, but that’s certainly a lot quicker than Wikus could have pulled it off alone, what with him having no freaking idea how to do it himself…let alone having no idea how to drive said spaceship. That’s like me locking an airplane captain out of the cockpit because he won’t take me to Bermuda—it seems like a good idea until I have to take the wheel.
And yet these quibbles vanished in seconds before I submerged back into the movie, which is the mark of an effective action movie. I’m always infuriated when, in response to my rants about the preposterousness of a blockbuster, someone says, “Why are you nitpicking this? You have to suspend your disbelief.” I am more than happy to suspend my disbelief: Never once during The Matrix did I say, “Dodging bullets? You, sirs, have insulted my intelligence for the last time!” If the story carries me along, I’ll go right along with it; it’s only when it starts getting lazy that I have time to stop and see the plot holes. I’ll buy any Indiana Jones stunt in Raiders of the Lost Ark, but I was gritting my teeth in rage when he hid in a fridge to avoid a nuclear bomb in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
I left District 9 feeling energized about the possibility of cinema: Innovative and surprising action movies can be made! The edge of my seat is a viable place to sit! But a few moments later, however, I thought back to the raft of trailers I’d seen advertising all the screamy crap coming to a theater frighteningly near me over the next few months. I remembered just how rare a good thrill ride is. Man, now I need cheering up: anybody got a trash flower?
So let’s discuss: what did you think about District 9? Where do you rank it in the pantheon of great action movies? And where do you stand on suspension of disbelief in a popcorn film? Are you one of those people who think that as long as the effects are good enough, you’ve got your money’s worth, or do you need something more? And is that the most leading question since, “Are you a dummy who is okay with dumb things, or do you like them to be smart, like you?”
Before we jump into it, let’s give next week’s assignment: It’s the end of the summer, and with school and fall lurking around the corner, let’s have one last cathartic vacation by renting…Chevy Chase’s original Vacation. Not only will it serve as a tribute to writer John Hughes, but it will also allow me to get into my grand theories on Chevy Chase’s downward curve of funniness. There will be charts and graphs.
Okay, what did you think about District 9?
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I thought District 9 was almost a perfect movie. The beginning made me think that what I was seeing on film was actual news footage and the way the aliens began to rebel against people and how people treated the aliens seems very true to our human nature. By the time it got to the action I was invested in not just the human characters but the alien ones as well. The action was really good, but there was a limit to how much we got and then back to developing story and character, In the end, I wanted more but in a good way and as if they left something out. I hope that other film makers see this and want to strive to make a movie on this level and just quick cuts and big bangs to make up for lake of story.
Welcome back, Josh. I didn’t realize it was going to be so action-packed going into it. Since it was an allegory, I thought there’d be way more dialogue. It was essentially “The Fugitive”…with aliens. On a side note, I thought the alien wearing a bra was way hotter than the alien from “Alien,” even though the alien from “Alien” gets bonus MILF points.
Ugh, hate this, still have to wait a week before it comes home. Home being South Africa! Can’t believe the rest of the world is discussing our aliens and we still have to meet them. LOL
That is rediculous that the movie is about your country, and you’re the last to see it. And I’m sorry but I busted out laughing when I read that. I’ve seen it twice and loved it even more the second time. Hope you get to see it soon.
Ridiculous is right! I want to see the movie, not read about it on the web!…but I still love this country!
Very excellent movie! That is too bad that the movie takes place in South Africa and you have to wait to see it. But I think it’ll come into the discussion of best sci-fi movies of all time here in the next few years. It’s monumentous.
**SPOILER**
While I enjoyed the movie, I had a problem with the stereotypical portrayal of Nigerians. Its one thing to make them scam artists, its another to make them barbarians. Other than that, it was one of better movies of the year.
You’re a moron. It made the white people look like barbarians too. They killed innocent “prawns” and were ready to disect the infected human while he was awake.
I think they portrayed the Nigerians was spot on, just as it did the rest of man kind. Don’t be a fool, I knew when I watched it that there will be those of narrow mind that will turn this into something its not. Wake up man, the movie is about more than black and white.
On the other hand when was the last time you heard of anything good coming out of Nigeria? They make the bed they sleep in and there is no one there to blame but them selves.
Great movie, it makes you stop and look at yourself.
@tembaVJ
You are an idiot. The majority of Nigerians in SA are proffessionals contributing to the growth of the country. The Nigerian leader was called Obasanjo… thats our former president. The same one that suoorted the OAUs (google it) fight for the end of apartheid (the one thing Nigeria consistently put money and clout behind while other countries were twiddling thier thumbs) Thabo Mbeki was a guest of the Nigerian Govt at the Ahmadu Bello Universty where my uncle taught when ANC members needed support and funds. Reading your drivel makes me realize all that effort was a bloody waste of energy.
What a great experience. For a movie buff, it was a refreshing change of pace. It was great storytelling and as you pointed out, my quibbles with plot points seem so petty, because the story absorbs you and carries to a satisfying conclusion. I want more movies like this, but alas, these kinds of experiences are far and few between…
I really really enjoyed District 9. I was very skeptical going in because the trailer made it look like it was going to be a joke of a movie and I wasn’t sure how I felt about how the aliens looked. But upon seeing the movie those doubts went away, especially once I saw the baby alien…adorable! It was a very intelligent movie that has strong messages on relevant world topics, like segregation, which made it even better. I look forward to a sequel
Can’t say I agree with the word “adorable” for the little alien. I was always shocked when they said he was a son, because he just looked like a runty grown alien. Reminded me more of the little guy who sat on Jabba the Hutt’s shoulder. Then again, I would hate for someone to say that about my child, so perhaps I should retract that.
I loved the little baby. I really was getting choked up when he kept saying “father” when Wikus was trying to take off without Christopher. I found myself hoping that the Aliens would triumph almost the entire time. Very great movie. I am excited to see what District 10 will bring and what the grown up son will be like. Great movie overall. Christopher and his son were my favorite characters by a long shot.
I loved it! The gun testing scene was disturbing (in a good way). Christopher Johnson and his son were great characters, and the last 30 minutes of the movie AWESOME!
Missed you, Josh! Welcome back. I didn’t see the movie, because, well, I’m just a rebel like that. Plus this damn Big Brother crap you have me addicted to. Seriously. Mark my words: you will pay.
So hope they do a sequel. District 10 anymone?
The way I interpreted it, he took the ship in a frantic effort to fix himself now, rather than waiting the three years for Christopher to go home then come back..still not a wise choice.
Which makes it an even dumber move; it was an empty ship, therefore even less transformational options. Perhaps he just wanted to be alone with his fin.
I enjoyed the complexity of character for Wikus. At that point in the movie, he was still primarily, if not fundamentally, a selfish, self-interested character (e.g., he wasn’t going to shoot any humans at MNU until they shot at him). It’s not until he’s in the suit that he finally decides to abandon his instinct for self-preservation and do something for another creature. Dumb? Yes. Fitting? Yes.
That whole scene where he decides to take that space ship himself was a low point in the movie. As in my many silly movies- how did he know how to fly that thing? How did he think he would transform himself. It undercut any character development and bonding with the character. But he redeems himself at the last moment! Cliche! And a copy of the transformers and Aliens with that robot outfit.
i think it’s meant to show that people make dumb decisions when they’re angry and desperate.
Maybe he was in a kind of stressful situation, and acted without thinking it through that well.
Still from a common sense point of view was stupid move. ONLY if you have lost it without any chance to get back to normal thought do you do something like that…… ON THE OTHER HAND — what he did with taking ship some distance from the original hiding place – set up the next scene where they had to fight their way back to it. That MADE the final scene so good.
The movie was GREAT !! The ship itself was breathtaking due to the fact it looked so realistic hovering over Johannesburg. The aliens were just what you would expect them to look like and the action keeps your attention – Can’t wait for the sequel .
I absolutely loved the movie and also walked out of it feeling like my faith in movies was renewed a little bit. Then 2 days later I got a text from a friend of mine who sees a lot of movies pronouncing that he hated it so much he walked out of it after 45 minutes. I still haven’t been able to communicate with him about it. I nodded when he loved “Star Trek” (which I didn’t hate, but didn’t think was all that mind-blowing either), but to me this movie had the all-out energy that so much of “Star Trek”’s big sets and soap-opera couplings removed from the equation. I’m worried about whether I can trust him from here on out, particularly since he also texted me that “GI Joe” wasn’t all that bad. Dear Dr. Josh, should I break up with him as a movie pal over his recent spate of bad decisions — or bite my tongue and secretly hope he has an [operable & curable] brain tumor causing all this temporary bad cinema judgment?
District 9 was just ok. You should not ditch your movie friend. It probably reminded him of ‘The Fly’ and ‘Blair Witch Project’. Any good movie buff should realize District 9 isn’t nearly as groundbreaking as it could have been. I didn’t walk out, but at best it’s just average science fiction.
I almost walked out, too. I watched almost an hour and couldn’t figure out where it was going. I didn’t like any of the characters and when MNU decided to “explore” what was happening to WIckus, I almost walked rather than watch more inhumane behavior. But I’m glad I did stay, because it was precisely at this point that the movie changed gears in a radical way. WHAT A GREAT MOVIE!
I loved District 9. But I can’t agree with your assessment that it has to be one or the other. Do I have to only love the smart films or do I love the dumb films? I love them both. Sometimes movies are just meant to be a two hour rollercoaster of fun. I can say with assurance that I loved Transformers 1 & 2. I’m sure part of that is because I’m a Linkin Park devotee and their music -especially 2- is splashed all over the place. But also because I get the simple pleasures in life and those movies really are just about that. Now that being said, I loved District 9 BECAUSE of the fact that it expected more out of me. It took a genre that could really go both ways and asked me to think. I mean, if you don’t understand apartheid then you won’t understand the importance of the action that’s taking place in this film. You’ll only go “cool! Mutations and explosions!” But you won’t get how good the movie really is. To really be a lover of cinema, you have to love both sides of it. Now, I would never ask someone to love the good and the bad, but at least love the great aspects of what makes a move smart and what makes it mindless fun.
I’d also draw a line between good dumb and bad dumb. Take the movie “Joy Ride,” for instance: technically a dumb movie, as it was just a retread of “Duel.” And yet it was done with a smart eye toward freaking the crap out of its audience. It seemed like somebody actually took time to craft a script that would work. I get infuriated by scripts that feel like an afterthought, assuming that the effects will rule the day. I just want to feel like someone actually took a moment to proofread the damn thing.
Good call. Joyride is an excellent genre movie.
Josh, you’re right. I was stunned by how good “Joy Ride” was. I saw it for the first time maybe a month ago. I thought it had “cheesy horror movie” written all over it, especially since Paul Walker was the star. It really had some solid tension and didn’t rely on drugs, drinking, nudity, or sex to put the characters in dangerous or funny situations.
D9 was brilliant – it was a good action movie but also so much more. Experimentation on POWs, concentration camps, forced relocation, controlling populations with drugs (cat food!), all of it straight from last nights CNN brain-washer. The movie starts with judging characters by appearance (clean vs. dirty), but ends with judging them by their actions – a very important point there. The only humans (e.g. characters not acting in pure unenlightened self interest) were the aliens … the irony is so thick you could make a suspension bridge of it. I just hope that people see all of that when watching … just like the Matrix, this movie has many *many* layers, and if you see it as the mirror to what is currently going on in the world that it is, it should give you some very serious food for thought indeed.
very eloquent c62215.
Curious as to your definition: A HUMAN = “Not acting in pure unenlightened self interest”.
What is the opposite of that character?
What is Pure Unenlightened Self Interest mean? Just curious.
This movie sucked.