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Pretty excited for this after seeing the latest trailer in front of Bruno tonight.
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Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Film
District 9
[19 posts] [13 contributors]
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rave_til_dawn
Dennison Place
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Can't wait!
Posted 2 years ago # -
BreakfastwithNick
Clintonville
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Caught the midnight showing at Studio 35. Indeed, very good. Very unique. I'm hoping to see it again.
Posted 2 years ago # -
drew
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Saw it yesterday... fascinating movie for sure, definitely provoked a lot of conversation, but it seemed as though a lot happened without reasonable explanation (and a lot of things that could have very sensibly happened didn't happen). The movie paints a very gritty, realistic sci-fi world in which you're primed to think deeply about the subject matter, but giving it that kind of attention doesn't entirely pay off.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yojimbo
Look behind you.
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The movie paints a very gritty, realistic sci-fi world...
I think this rubs right up against real. The only thing science fiction about this movie is the aliens (a banal statement, I know). If you changed the movie just slightly, it could have been about displaced Jews after the holocaust or any outcast ethnic minority. From the first 10 minutes of the movie, I kept thinking to myself, this is what would probably happen.
The movie was chilling and graphic and extremely intense. It left me emotionally drained and with a bitter taste in my mouth. Is this humanity? Is this really what we would offer a sentient alien race?
After the movie my friend, Matt, asked me this question: In another story, suppose that humans have gained the ability of interstellar travel, would you, as a member of an alien race, like to be discovered by humans?
My first thought was: No, we would probably try to colonize their planet.Posted 2 years ago # -
drew
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Yeah, the parallels to apartheid were entirely unspoken but none too subtle. The... umm... (trying to avoid spoilers) evolution of the protagonist certainly prompted viewer empathy with the newcomers, and everything before that felt like a reasonable conception of what could really happen (though it has to be said that the unbending evil of the 'corporation' was a somewhat risible caricature). It was an excellent set-up that led me to expect a similar level of attention to detail as the protagonist moved his way through the second half of the movie... just didn't think the payoff was there.
Wasn't a bad movie by any stretch, just a little disappointing - they were obviously walking the line between popcorn flick and something much much smarter, and I don't think they did it entirely successfully.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Roland
Clintonville
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Yojimbo wrote >>
The movie paints a very gritty, realistic sci-fi world...
I think this rubs right up against real. The only thing science fiction about this movie is the aliens (a banal statement, I know). If you changed the movie just slightly, it could have been about displaced Jews after the holocaust or any outcast ethnic minority. From the first 10 minutes of the movie, I kept thinking to myself, this is what would probably happen.The movie was chilling and graphic and extremely intense. It left me emotionally drained and with a bitter taste in my mouth. Is this humanity? Is this really what we would offer a sentient alien race?
After the movie my friend, Matt, asked me this question: In another story, suppose that humans have gained the ability of interstellar travel, would you, as a member of an alien race, like to be discovered by humans?
My first thought was: No, we would probably try to colonize their planet.I would say this movie is more of the social science fiction variety. We have a protagonist that becomes one of the aliens through genetic alteration. Ultimately, the point is made that both species are the same (or damn close) with regards to character or soul.
I agree with your assessment that the story could be told with any sort of diaspora. Additionally to the alien element, the story is scifi because of the transformation that takes place.
The ending was perfect for the realm of science fiction. I think it's odd to some people because movies these days seldom leave questions or things to ponder on. Sci Fi classics did this all the time.
Posted 2 years ago # -
greenhouse1014
Columbus
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drew wrote >>
Yeah, the parallels to apartheid were entirely unspoken but none too subtle. The... umm... (trying to avoid spoilers) evolution of the protagonist certainly prompted viewer empathy with the newcomers, and everything before that felt like a reasonable conception of what could really happen (though it has to be said that the unbending evil of the 'corporation' was a somewhat risible caricature). It was an excellent set-up that led me to expect a similar level of attention to detail as the protagonist moved his way through the second half of the movie... just didn't think the payoff was there.
Wasn't a bad movie by any stretch, just a little disappointing - they were obviously walking the line between popcorn flick and something much much smarter, and I don't think they did it entirely successfully.Funny you should say that...
Posted 2 years ago # -
drew
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greenhouse1014 wrote >>
Funny you should say that...
District 9-A statement?Heh... well, I wouldn't go that far. I didn't have a problem with the idea of some nefarious corporation being what drives the plot of the movie forward - there is some contemporary relevance since the company in the movie was perhaps not unlike Blackwater.
Even so, the corporation was often portrayed as being comically evil in a way that didn't feel coherent with the rest of the film. The effect was that the film started out in a million shades of grey, and ended up black and... maybe a few shades of grey.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Core_Models
Columbus
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Finally saw it, really enjoyed it, but would also agree that it felt like they could have gone further in some way. The transformation of the lead into a sympathetic character was done really quickly though, and surprisingly well for how quickly it was handled (even with hints that the changes wouldn't take).
Overall though, I would see it again for sure.
Posted 2 years ago # -
blammo
in the shadow of the wonder of bread
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saw it last night. it was a beautiful film, visually, but i was really let down by the heavy-handedness of the plot & the "message" I didn't feel sympathetic towards any of the characters & the moral just seemed to be a basic "do not discriminate against those who are different from you". Unless they're Nigerians.
I dunno, I just wasn't feeling it. It was fun watching people explode though.
Posted 2 years ago # -
rus
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blammo wrote >>
saw it last night. it was a beautiful film, visually, but i was really let down by the heavy-handedness of the plot & the "message" I didn't feel sympathetic towards any of the characters & the moral just seemed to be a basic "do not discriminate against those who are different from you". Unless they're Nigerians.
I dunno, I just wasn't feeling it. It was fun watching people explode though.Barbaric tribal rituals are ongoing in Africa:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20038999/
http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_petraitis/simbas-ninjas.shtml
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=95214137That last one has this bit:
Now two witch doctors promised to get me a magic potion mixed with ground Albino organs. Their starting price was $2,000 for the vital organs, which are bones from the palms, hands, legs, and also blood and hair.
And in one occasion, a witchdoctor told me that the police were among his customers, and that he could make a special magic potion mixed with ground male and female private parts, to enable people to commit armed robbery without being caught.
Substitute "prawn" for "albino" and "use alien weapons" for "commit armed robery without being caught" and you've got a plot element from District 9.
So I didn't find the part about Nigerians specifically over the top. Seemed more about witch-doctor tribalism than race.
I do agree that watching people explode was fun, though.
Posted 2 years ago # -
blammo
in the shadow of the wonder of bread
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All I can say is that it would suck to be a law-abiding, normal Nigerian citizen. Can you imagine being a Nigerian and deciding to start a legitimate online mail-order business? "Nigerian" seems to be a synonym for "flesh-eating scammer".
Posted 2 years ago # -
rus
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blammo wrote >>
All I can say is that it would suck to be a law-abiding, normal Nigerian citizen. Can you imagine being a Nigerian and deciding to start a legitimate online mail-order business? "Nigerian" seems to be a synonym for "flesh-eating scammer".That would be rough. Guy I work with is from Nigeria... he doesn't talk about the old country much, but doesn't sound like a fun place.
Back on topic: Minor peeve with the film. The company name, "Multinational United"? What, "Faceless Megacorporation" was already taken?
Posted 2 years ago # -
jpizzow
580 N. Park St.
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Just watched the Blu-ray. I gotta say, this is one of the best sci-fi movies i've ever seen. I like how they made it seem like a real world situation. It wasn't cheesy but a little gritty. I would say this movie got the Dark Knight effect, where something totally unbelievable was made to be as believable as possible. Some people did not the like the ending because it left a lot of things unanswered. I for one like these kind of endings. It breaks from the mold of happy endings and everything working out. The aliens are still stranded on earth. Where did the MNU guy go. Is he a full blown alien now? Is there going to be a rescue mission? It keeps me wandering but also keeps me thirsty for more. The end hinted at a sequal...District 10 perhaps??
Posted 2 years ago #
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