“District 9” was a movie that’s star shined very bright for a short period.
I vividly remember when this movie came out in the summer of 2009.
It was a big deal.
It was a surprise hit at the box office and was almost universally acclaimed.
2009 was an incredible year for science fiction.
It earned the Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards.
I was nervous to go back and rewatch it.
I had some great memories of seeing in the theater.
I saw this twice when it came out in 2009.
But I was concerned about how it would hold up.
I’m happy that “District 9” has held up incredibly well.
These are the kind of movies that we don’t see in the mainstream anymore.
It is an entirely original idea with some of the most unique science fiction concepts I’ve ever seen.
This was the directorial debut view of Neill Blomkamp.
It’s as if he used every trick up his sleeve to make this one glorious science-fiction epic.
It’s a movie that masterfully blends genres.
The fake documentary style they use in this movie’s first half gives the film a very authentic feel.
They rev up the tension, and a large part is because the movie is paced well.
This movie flies by.
You are on the edge of your seat the entire time.
He never got nominated for anything, but after watching this movie, I agree with those people.
He reacts to the situation in a very human way.
You feel the manic energy that he displays throughout this film.
But he’s also a fully realized character.
They do a great job of building up his character.
You empathize completely with his situation but become frustrated with some of his erratic decision-making.
There are a few things that could be improved with this movie.
The biggest issue is that the effects often don’t hold up.
This was a $30 million movie in 2009.
That’s a micro-budget by today’s standards.
The fact that it looks as good as it does complements the film.
Besides that, some of the antagonists are underwritten.
But that’s a minor complaint.
Seeing one-dimensional assholes get their due at the end it’s so satisfying.
Oh man, the third act of this movie is full of so many awesome moments.
Ultimately, the film is a tragedy.
It’s an emotional and heartbreaking experience.
I felt a certain level of sadness while watching this movie.
You wonder what could’ve been.
In a way, that adds to the mystique of this movie.
“District 9” was not based on any source material, nor did it ever have a sequel.
It didn’t lead to any spinoffs, but it left its mark.
It’s one of the best science fiction films of my lifetime.
