Author Topic: District 9: Internet sensation or mediocre sci-fi? (Read 5969 times)

Vizzys · « **Reply #60 on:** August 16, 2009, 12:17:01 AM »

saw it today, a bit overhyped but also pretty entertaining

one minor fault though

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I think the main character escaped death way too much, like maybe 5+ times

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Joe Molotov · « **Reply #61 on:** August 16, 2009, 01:40:28 AM »

Quote from: The Card Cheat on August 16, 2009, 12:04:45 AM

So what's the verdict on this?

Good movie.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #62 on:** August 16, 2009, 01:51:46 AM »

Quote from: The Card Cheat on August 16, 2009, 12:04:45 AM

So what's the verdict on this?

Overhypes in certain circles [lol internet], but definitely worth watching.

twerd · « **Reply #63 on:** August 16, 2009, 02:58:05 AM »

Quote from: Willco on August 12, 2009, 07:34:58 PM

Just got off the phone with my buddies who saw it last night:

"It's one of the best popcorn flicks of the summer, but considering the summer, that's not saying much."

"Turns into an action film half way in."

"The main character is not likeable whatsoever."

"It's not 'this generation's' anything. People comparing it to Blade Runner need to get shot."

"Director shows promise, but this also feels like a filmmaker's first, real feature."

"Pay matinee price."

thread finished here.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

the main character isn't supposed to be especially likeable... he becomes a good character only when he turns becomes more sympathetic to the aliens (out of necessity as he is becoming more alien) suggesting that the aliens are more inherently "good" than humans.

[close]

bachikarn · « **Reply #64 on:** August 16, 2009, 03:43:06 AM »

Saw it today. Thought it was pretty good. Didn't really know there was hype to it. I only found out about it a week or two ago when I saw the commercials.

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #65 on:** August 16, 2009, 05:59:40 PM »

Good movie. But it's obviously the guys first real movie. There's a few amateur aspects. But for a first movie it's pretty good.

edit: it really does become an action movie halfway through. and it's fantastic. easily the movies best feature.

Himu · « **Reply #66 on:** August 16, 2009, 06:08:15 PM »

People are comparing this to Blade Runner? I don't think Blade Runner's end be all but

demi · « **Reply #67 on:** August 16, 2009, 06:12:52 PM »

http://themoviespoiler.com/Spoilers/district9.html

poop

Kestastrophe · « **Reply #68 on:** August 16, 2009, 06:18:44 PM »

I was really digging the first 3/4 of the movie, until it turns into ET towards the end. They did a great job of setting up Wickus' (sp?) character and making you dislike him. Even though it falls apart at the end, it was still one of the more interesting films of the summer.

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #69 on:** August 16, 2009, 06:23:17 PM »

it's weird how i feel the exact opposite. the first part of the movie was what didn't work as much for me and it picked up and got much better as it got closer to the end.

chronovore · « **Reply #70 on:** August 16, 2009, 11:55:34 PM »

Quote from: CajoleJuice on August 12, 2009, 06:44:39 PM

I wish I could be paid to troll.

Well said.

If you can't be a movie critic though, you could still get a job as a game critic. They get paid to bash videogames pretty frequently; I recoil from reviews whenever they're more than 20% different than the results of an aggregated user review score.

Bebpo · « **Reply #71 on:** August 17, 2009, 12:16:25 AM »

Quote from: fistfulofmetal on August 16, 2009, 06:23:17 PM

it's weird how i feel the exact opposite. the first part of the movie was what didn't work as much for me and it picked up and got much better as it got closer to the end.

Yeah, the movie was a little boring as a docudrama. It just felt really amateur with a lot of cool originality but not great directing/editing. When it becomes an action movie at least it's consistently entertaining. tbh, I didn't think the movie got particularly good until

spoiler (click to show/hide)

the robosuit shows up

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Until then it was neat, but just ok. Then the final 30 mins are great and overall it was worth watching but definitely a "first film". Will be interesting to see what he does next.

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #72 on:** August 17, 2009, 12:40:37 AM »

and as i mention at Gaf. all the 'you're there" stuff. IE being the camera man during the beginning sections, the news reel cuts after Wikus and Christopher attacked MNU, hell even the interviews. All of them hurt the movie the most. they broke up the flow and made the movie rather disjointed.

They're clearly things there due this being the dudes first movie. He had a bunch of ideas but had trouble realizing not all of them were a good idea.

AdmiralViscen · « **Reply #73 on:** August 17, 2009, 11:02:17 AM »

gj on spoilers

Kestastrophe · « **Reply #74 on:** August 17, 2009, 11:20:11 AM »

Don't get me wrong, I liked the action stuff.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I didn't like how Wikus turned into a prototypical altruistic movie hero at the end, when everything he did up to that point was self serving. Plus the cheesy turn into an alien, stalk your wife and make her garbage flowers bit.

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It just fell apart at the end for me. The special effects and action bits were great, especially for a lower budget movie.

Veidt · « **Reply #75 on:** August 17, 2009, 05:24:20 PM »

First half was a lot better for me. The second half not so much. Overall good movie, but it's not the epic I had expected it to be. It's not like the first time, when I had watched the Matrix, for instance. Definitely the best "alien" flick I have ever watched though.

Main character Wikus, was a greatly detailed character. So much dimension to him, just like a normal and real human being.

Aliens acted way too human for me in some parts. But at the end. All is forgiven. Loved the ending.

Also loved the dutch/afrikaanse accent throughout the film. Made me think of Holland <3

twerd · « **Reply #76 on:** August 17, 2009, 06:03:29 PM »

the main character reminded me of murray from FotC. what a gorgeous man.

EmCeeGrammar · « **Reply #77 on:** August 17, 2009, 07:19:23 PM »

Enjoyable movie, but not great. Definitely a recommendation though. The first encounter was disturbing as if

spoiler (click to show/hide)

they were stuck in the ship starving to death. I think all the slime and shit was their defecations

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also

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I was scared for Chris's son the whole film. I was expecting him to lose his father or die himself. Very smart, honest, and loving. The scene where they torch the egg hut highlights how risky it was to bring him into the world and how precious he was to Chris. I'm corny I know

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Overall the faults come from convenient plot band-aids, some bad dialouge, and repetitive situations.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

"Good" guys apparently had the same protective force field seen in Star Wars that prevent them from bieng shot. EVEN WHEN STANDING STILL OVER AN AUTOPSY TABLE. The head military guy can never just do a quick kill. No, its professional to have a conversation with your target giving them enough time for a diversion to develop. Main character apparently has an aptitude for piloting alien aircraft and mechs. Etc.

[close]

Pay matinee price, indeed.

Oblivion · « **Reply #78 on:** August 17, 2009, 09:52:24 PM »

Holy shit, this movie was garbage. Lame story, completely unlikable main character, sub par dialogue, why the hell was this heralded as the best sci fi movie in the past 150 years again?

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #79 on:** August 17, 2009, 10:02:37 PM »

Quote from: Oblivion on August 17, 2009, 09:52:24 PM

why the hell was this heralded as the best sci fi movie in the past 150 years again?

Stop reading GAF so much.

Oblivion · « **Reply #80 on:** August 17, 2009, 10:06:15 PM »

Quote from: Great Rumbler on August 17, 2009, 10:02:37 PM

Quote from: Oblivion on August 17, 2009, 09:52:24 PM
why the hell was this heralded as the best sci fi movie in the past 150 years again?

Stop reading GAF so much.

88% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #81 on:** August 17, 2009, 10:10:57 PM »

Quote from: Oblivion on August 17, 2009, 10:06:15 PM

Quote from: Great Rumbler on August 17, 2009, 10:02:37 PM
Quote from: Oblivion on August 17, 2009, 09:52:24 PM
why the hell was this heralded as the best sci fi movie in the past 150 years again?

Stop reading GAF so much.

88% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Which means that more people liked it than disliked it, nothing more or less.

WrikaWrek · « **Reply #82 on:** August 17, 2009, 10:24:44 PM »

I have mixed feelings about it. Not a fan of the shooting style, liked the aliens, the story and characters weren't that engaging though, i thought.

I wouldn't let this dude direct halo either.

Bebpo · « **Reply #83 on:** August 17, 2009, 11:01:44 PM »

I think the D9 guy could make it "look" Halo, but I don't think he could make an epic awesome sci-fi movie based on Halo.

I'd want the Band of Brothers guys to make it.

Kestastrophe · « **Reply #84 on:** August 17, 2009, 11:14:20 PM »

Quote from: Oblivion on August 17, 2009, 09:52:24 PM

completely unlikable main character

that was the point

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #85 on:** August 18, 2009, 12:23:38 AM »

To a degree. His character was supposed to be unlikeable to a point, but he never really has a fully developed arc. He ends up doing something out of necessity instead of good writing.

jiji · « **Reply #86 on:** August 18, 2009, 04:35:33 AM »

I liked it a lot. I went in with no knowledge and and no expectations and found something that was more honest about human flaws and selfishness than most action movies I've seen in some time. Wikus was so much of the casually, ignorantly amoral type that drives real "evil corporations" that it was chilling, and made it more effective when he started to wake up. In fact, the whole eviction sequence was chilling. The bland, naive documentary angle worked well for me. I think it's true that the action got more than a little cartoonish in the last act, but it was still satisfying to watch, and it remained intelligent all the way through. At least, there were no blatant bits of distinguished mentally-challenged to got under my skin like in 90% of action movies.

chronovore · « **Reply #87 on:** August 18, 2009, 05:36:18 AM »

Quote from: jiji on August 18, 2009, 04:35:33 AM

At least, there were no blatant bits of distinguished mentally-challenged to got under my skin like in 90% of action movies.

[youtube=560,345]ZW2qxFkcLM0[/youtube]

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #88 on:** August 18, 2009, 06:51:11 AM »

Quote from: WrikaWrek on August 17, 2009, 10:24:44 PM

I wouldn't let this dude direct halo either.

dunno why you would think that.
the action in D9 was pretty top notch and it's not like a Halo movie is going to be a serious drama.

WrikaWrek · « **Reply #89 on:** August 18, 2009, 10:16:38 AM »

Because his style would make Halo look cheap.

Kestastrophe · « **Reply #90 on:** August 18, 2009, 11:09:32 AM »

Quote from: Willco on August 18, 2009, 12:23:38 AM

To a degree. His character was supposed to be unlikeable to a point, but he never really has a fully developed arc. He ends up doing something out of necessity instead of good writing.

I thought he was a pretty well developed character, up until

spoiler (click to show/hide)

he turns into an alien crusader

[close]

WrikaWrek · « **Reply #91 on:** August 18, 2009, 11:24:03 AM »

I didn't like the dude at all. Annoying, unlikable, couldn't relate to him at all. Basically, what is an annoying secondary character in any other movie, was the main character in District 9.

I wanted him to die already.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #92 on:** August 18, 2009, 12:58:00 PM »

Quote from: chronovore on August 18, 2009, 05:36:18 AM

Quote from: jiji on August 18, 2009, 04:35:33 AM
At least, there were no blatant bits of distinguished mentally-challenged to got under my skin like in 90% of action movies.

[youtube=560,345]ZW2qxFkcLM0[/youtube]

That totally should have been the real trailer for 2012!

Also, even knowing that it'll be an absolutely terrible movie, I want to see it for all the crazy-awesome scenes of CG destruction that seem to be liberally sprinkled throughout the movie.

Also, also:

[youtube=560,345]071KqJu7WVo[/youtube]

recursivelyenumerable · « **Reply #93 on:** August 18, 2009, 01:05:55 PM »

Movie actually sounds interesting, maybe I'll see it.

Kestastrophe · « **Reply #94 on:** August 18, 2009, 01:15:08 PM »

Quote from: jiji on August 18, 2009, 04:35:33 AM

Wikus was so much of the casually, ignorantly amoral type that drives real "evil corporations" that it was chilling, and made it more effective when he started to wake up. In fact, the whole eviction sequence was chilling.

Plus he was an obviously underqualified individual that was only promoted because of his relation to the CEO's daughter. I can kind of see it as a condemnation of monarchy.

I don't think he was inherently evil either, he was more a product of societal norms imo.

Was there any significance to the cat food?

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #95 on:** August 18, 2009, 01:15:15 PM »

I can't wait for Zombieland. Could we have two awesome, kitschy horror flicks in one year?!

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #96 on:** August 18, 2009, 02:08:26 PM »

Quote from: Kestastrophe on August 18, 2009, 01:15:08 PM

Was there any significance to the cat food?

Here you go:

Quote

The idea of the prawns being obsessed with cat food came from two inspirations. In impoverished areas of Johannesburg, Neill Blomkamp would see people selling cheese poofs and other snack foods out of large 3-foot tall bags and wanted the aliens to have a similar cheap food. The decision to make them cat food came from one of the producers who used canned cat food to bait hooks when fishing for prawns in Vancouver.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #97 on:** August 18, 2009, 03:29:07 PM »

so basically The Bore sez: it's good but omg people wuz overrating it!

Hm, just admit it's good and get on with it

chronovore · « **Reply #98 on:** August 18, 2009, 09:45:36 PM »

Quote from: Great Rumbler on August 18, 2009, 12:58:00 PM

That totally should have been the real trailer for 2012!

Also, even knowing that it'll be an absolutely terrible movie, I want to see it for all the crazy-awesome scenes of CG destruction that seem to be liberally sprinkled throughout the movie.

Also, also:

[youtube=560,345]071KqJu7WVo[/youtube]

As far as I'm concerned, that IS the official trailer for any Roland Emmerich movie. He brings added resonance to the term "disaster movie."

I'm looking forward to Zombieland, too. I'm worried it will suck, but I think that's just a defense measure for my poor, beleaguered expectations.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #99 on:** August 18, 2009, 10:00:39 PM »

WHOLE CITY DISASTER!!!

Don Flamenco · « **Reply #100 on:** August 18, 2009, 10:14:23 PM »

Got asked to go see this tonight, but fuck it, too tired and not that interested.

CajoleJuice · « **Reply #101 on:** August 19, 2009, 12:55:26 AM »

I went to go see The Hurt Locker tonight instead.

Go me

BobFromPikeCreek · « **Reply #102 on:** August 19, 2009, 03:22:09 AM »

It was pretty good. The way it was shot and the special effects were awesome I thought. My only complaints are that the main character was annoying, and that some things didn't make a lot of sense. You'd think the aliens, with their ridiculous weapon technology, would be able to bargain their way into better arrangements than some shitty ghetto.

Solo · « **Reply #103 on:** August 19, 2009, 08:38:04 PM »

I thought it was pretty awesome. The sheer fact that Blomkamp did more with $30M than most of these guys are doing with $100-200M is enough to warrant praise. Everything about the movie (including the effects) feels so authentic.

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #104 on:** August 19, 2009, 08:41:22 PM »

Quote from: BobFromPikeCreek on August 19, 2009, 03:22:09 AM

It was pretty good. The way it was shot and the special effects were awesome I thought. My only complaints are that the main character was annoying, and that some things didn't make a lot of sense. You'd think the aliens, with their ridiculous weapon technology, would be able to bargain their way into better arrangements than some shitty ghetto.

they weren't organized. and they were addicted to cat food.

chronovore · « **Reply #105 on:** August 19, 2009, 10:09:38 PM »

An entrepreneur should have brought a "catfood for weapons" exchange program to the table.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #106 on:** August 19, 2009, 10:12:09 PM »

Quote from: chronovore on August 19, 2009, 10:09:38 PM

An entrepreneur should have brought a "catfood for weapons" exchange program to the table.

That's what the Nigerian guy did.

Cormacaroni · « **Reply #107 on:** August 19, 2009, 10:55:07 PM »

i don't know about you, but it's beginning to sound like these aliens are some sort of cunning allegory. sci-fi can be subtle that way.

Tauntaun · « **Reply #108 on:** August 19, 2009, 11:30:30 PM »

movie was awesome, seeing again this weekend cause the wife hasn't seen it yet.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #109 on:** August 20, 2009, 08:26:51 PM »

Ah so thursday evenings are for beezy, fridays are for the wife

Tauntaun · « **Reply #110 on:** August 21, 2009, 12:12:18 PM »

I got beezy on call, I say jump, he say how high you dig? Just tryin to kick it with a dude, not fall in love or anything.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #111 on:** August 21, 2009, 12:36:58 PM »

News:

Author Topic: District 9: Internet sensation or mediocre sci-fi? (Read 5969 times)