Potential for Pure Win: New SF Film (District 9)

[Lemur]

Read the review, sounds impressive. But I was a bit nonplussed by his reference to Aliens; I always thought he accepted classic was Alien. I mean, Aliens is great and all, but it's just a basic action movie at its core; Alien was the truly inventive movie.

Not sure I agree; Alien is just a haunted-house movie at its core. But that doesn't stop it from being a freaking classic, man. Likewise, Aliens is a shoot-em-up, but it's also a classic.

Anyway, I am officially psyched about seeing District 9 now.

[Decker]

I didn't find Alien to have a lot of shoot 'em up action as much as it did as horror and mystery/thriller (with a tinge of gun play).

And I read the review up to.... gory... I got freaked out about spoilers and didn't read on haha... But the previews alone make it look awesome! I personally cannot wait for this movie.

[Lemur]

I didn't find Alien to have a lot of shoot 'em up action as much as it did as horror and mystery/thriller (with a tinge of gun play).

Not Alien, Aliens. One was based on the horror model, the other on the war movie model.

Another over-the-top positive review, this time from Hollywood Reporter. Spoiler-free bits posted below:

Bottom Line: A genuinely original science fiction film that grabs you immediately, not letting go until the final shot.

Combining the very best of the postwar sci-fi movies with their trenchant political undertones and pulse-pounding dynamism and contemporary movie technology that can blend aliens seamlessly into a realistic human world of urban and moral decay, "District 9" flirts with greatness. This science fiction film from South African-born Canadian Neill Blomkamp, a protege of Peter Jackson, who produced the film, stumbles in a few crucial areas but even so it's a helluva movie. No true fan of science fiction -- or, for that matter, cinema -- can help but thrill to the action, high stakes and suspense built around a very original chase movie. [...]

The story, written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, comes at you via different media components: Some is raw black-and-white surveillance footage; an MNU corporate video delivers interviews with staffers and other participants, including Wikus; real footage from news agencies provides crowd scenes; finally, cinematographer Trent Opaloch's use of everything from handheld to mini-cameras to shoot much of the action as if it were happening beyond his control, a thing caught on the run. [...]

Most of the action takes place over 74 hours. Blomkamp catches its frantic activity with all the raw authenticity of a documentary, egged on by the rhythmic drive of Clinton Shorter's magnificent score.

"District 9" is smart, savvy filmmaking of the highest order.

[Hooahguy]

anyone play the D9 game? its quite a time killer.

[Jolt]

Yeah I did. Finished the non-Human game quite quickly. The Human is much harder though.

[Decker]

Not Alien, Aliens. One was based on the horror model, the other on the war movie model.

Wait... the Weaver one is Aliens??... I'm seriously confused

[Hooahguy]

pity that it costs so much.

[Samurai Waki]

Wait... the Weaver one is Aliens??... I'm seriously confused

Yeah. Alien was released in '79, and I think Aliens (with Weaver) was released in '86.

or maybe the movies are in reverse

[Hooahguy]

on facebook on the official D9 fan page there are a bunch of exclusive vids. its pretty cool.

[Lemur]

Yeah. Alien was released in '79, and I think Aliens (with Weaver) was released in '86.

or maybe the movies are in reverse

Let's sort this out before any heads explode:

Alien is the one where the big cargo hauler responds to a distress beacon, and the civilian crew fights a losing battle against a single alien on their ship.

Aliens starts on Earth and involves a group of Colonial Marines traveling with Ripley to LV-426 to investigate a terraforming colony that has lost contact. "Sir, is this gonna be a stand-up fight or a bug hunt?" Hilarity ensues when the Marines discover hundreds of aliens infesting the remains of the colony.

Both star Sigourney Weaver.

[Decker]

on facebook on the official D9 fan page there are a bunch of exclusive vids. its pretty cool.

I'll wait on how good the movie is before delving into the now usual extra movie stuff, like the stuff that came out for Dark Night for example.

Let's sort this out before any heads explode:

Alien is the one where the big cargo hauler responds to a distress beacon, and the civilian crew fights a losing battle against a single alien on their ship.

Aliens starts on Earth and involves a group of Colonial Marines traveling with Ripley to LV-426 to investigate a terraforming colony that has lost contact. "Sir, is this gonna be a stand-up fight or a bug hunt?" Hilarity ensues when the Marines discover hundreds of aliens infesting the remains of the colony.

Both star Sigourney Weaver.

Thanks... you saved my fuzzy little head

[Samurai Waki]

Let's sort this out before any heads explode:

Alien is the one where the big cargo hauler responds to a distress beacon, and the civilian crew fights a losing battle against a single alien on their ship.

Aliens starts on Earth and involves a group of Colonial Marines traveling with Ripley to LV-426 to investigate a terraforming colony that has lost contact. "Sir, is this gonna be a stand-up fight or a bug hunt?" Hilarity ensues when the Marines discover hundreds of aliens infesting the remains of the colony.

Both star Sigourney Weaver.

Man, I need to brush up on my Alien(s) Lore

[Fragony]

Most people I know think Aliens is the better movie, but I've always preferred Alien, honestly.

Very different movies, would be hard for me to pick a favorite, they are on par imho. Alien 3 was also pretty good, but it's bewildering that Aliens had better special effects. Let's forget about everything that happened afterwards. Alien resurrection was made by one of my favorite directors, but he should have stayed in France.

Now for Destrict 9, the trailer is very clever, one to watch for sure.

[Gregoshi]

How did I miss the existence of this movie up until now? Looks really good.

[Jolt]

I just noticed the release date in Portugal: 24 September 2009 :O

[Hooahguy]

ooo that must be annoying....

[Lemur]

Opens nationwide in the U.S this Friday. I think it's time to get a babysitter ...

[Husar]

Only starts October 22nd here.

[Hooahguy]

im so glad im 17. but does anyone know if i can take friends who arent as old with me, seeing that im 17 and can see R movies without an adult?

[Centurion1]

^ When i saw the hangover we brought my buddies little brother with and they didn't ask. mind you we look a bit older than 17 and our movie theater is retarded and don't check your ids just how physically old you look.

When i saw the trailer i was a little confused. i actually couldn't decide if it was a movie or a video game until it showed the rating. After reading some of the reviews (without peeking at spoilers) i am pretty excited

[Lemur]

Opens tomorrow in the U.S. -- yay! (Of course, I prolly won't see it 'till Sunday, so don't go posting any spoilers, you cretins.)

Good article packed with foul language: 7 Reasons Why You Should See District 9.

[Hooahguy]

tomorrow in the US? i thought it was today- the 14th?

[Jolt]

tomorrow in the US? i thought it was today- the 14th?

Its today for you guys.

[Hooahguy]

yeah but lemur lives in the US...

[Jolt]

IMDB - USA 14 August 2009

[Lemur]

yeah but lemur lives in the US...

Yes, but Lemur is easily confused. For some reason I thought today was Thursday, not Friday. I blame one too many phone conferences.

[Ironside]

Only starts October 22nd here.

28:th of August here (had saw a tv comercial about it, was quite surprised). Subtitles beats translation.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I presume that's the reason of the late premiere right?

[Crazed Rabbit]

Saw it.

A great film.

CR

[Marshal Murat]

I saw it and was suitably impressed. It definitely changes the "Aliens and Human" perspective in several ways.

1. It places aliens in a setting unlike Independance Day, Cloverfield, or any other "Major American Metropolis" and the director and writers pull it off perfectly.
2. The Aliens don't "stay and conquer" or "up and leave" or anything like that. It's not a "short-term action flick" where aliens arrive, are defeated, humanity survives. It takes on aliens arrive in South Africa, live here, have to deal with humanity and all human prejudices.
3. It doesn't make a "big deal" about "corporate greed". You don't see immediately the "corporate perspective" like in Syriana or Constant Gardener.
4. It takes a dark, realistic, but humorous view of mankind's interactions with the "other" be they aliens or Nigerian gangsters.
5. The alien weapons aren't shiny ray-guns but machines that KILL PEOPLE and look like they should actually KILL rather than be a shiny prop.

[Ice]

It was a good movie.