District 9 - You're Not Welcome Here

With all the alien invasion movies we see, one would think a spaceship would land in New York, Los Angeles or Chicago. District 9 isn't in any of those cities, not even in the United States. Johannesburg, South Africa is the setting of the movie.

The movie starts off in a documentary style, full of interviews and footage - almost like watching something on CNN - to set up the situation. What is the situation? Twenty years earlier when an alien spaceship is seen hovering over the city and comes to complete stop. Months go by without any type of contact so the humans decide to make their way in and check things out, only to find the aliens inside are in a terrible state of malnutrition and sickness. For their own good, they are moved to a government camp named District 9. It quickly turns to an overpopulated slum.

The people of Johannesburg are not too fond of the new inhabitants and begin to call them 'prawns' - a derogatory name for the aliens due to their appearance. With patience running thin, control over the camp is turned over to MNU, Multi-Nation United, a private organization. They have no concern for the aliens' welfare, only for their advance weaponry.

Here we meet Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley), a field operative. He and his team are to evict 1.8 million aliens to a less desirable new location District 10. Under South African law, each alien must be served an eviction notice. This is why Wikus is in the district; to serve and have each alien sign a copy of his eviction notice. Wikus could care less about the aliens' well being. However, he eventually takes interest. Not because he cares, his motives are strictly selfish. A lot of human selfishness is portrayed throughout the film.

The most genuine character in the film is named Christopher Johnson - you'll be surprised to find out who he is. You'll have to see for yourself, too.

The movie may be filled with repetitive language and gore (lots of gore), but it holds a lot of social commentary. However, you can look over that and enjoy the aliens, special effects and all the things that explode.

District 9 is one of the best movies of the summer - if not year.