District 9

Synopsis: District 9? More like District Awesome.

Review: You know that scene in 'The Mask'? The one where Jim Carey sees Cameron Diaz for the first time, his eyes pop out of his head, and his tongue rolls onto the table like a carpet rolling out? Watching this film is the equivalent of that. If Peter Jackson was worried about being pigeon-holed after Lord of the Rings (as the director of one of the largest grossing franchises I dare say this concern is low on his list) he needn't be. Set in modern day Johannesburg this film starts off as a documentary style account of how the Saffas would deal with a refugee alien race, landed on earth due to an unforseen affliction of their leaders. The story continues with protagonist Vikus Van De Merve as field leader of the MNU (a UN style security force, contracting the heavy lifting to ex-South African Special Forces personnel) as they 'deal' with the outcasts and their lack of integration. There are undertones of criticism in the modern nationalist approach to 'aliens' however you soon forget any political ideology bashing when the action ramps up. The bad guys are bad (and there are plenty of them), the weapons are cool (mind blowingly so - literally), the characters are engaging and the South African accents, coupled with the unique directing really make you feel like this actually happening. This film has everything you want in a Sci-fi flick (although pasting it with this genre does not do it justice), an original plotline, incredible directing, a novel way of constructing and continuing the story, fantastic characters (both real and animated) and out-of-this world CGI. Please. I beg of you. Watch this movie. belt everyone you know over the head until their eyes are also ejected from their skull. It will not disappoint. 

Score: 5/5