I just watched District 9. I have to say as a movie that is supposed to expose us to atrocities that mankind does to one another in the name of racial superiority, I agree with others in that it does a poor job of stamping out its own racist undertones.
The Nigerians are presented as blood-thirsty, opportunist cannibals. I’m not sure if I need to say any more to get my point across further.
Also the aliens only hope is to be (literary) uplifted by a reluctant helping hand from the anthropocentric privileged white male lead.
Those issues aside, visually and technically, the movie is solid. There is even a good amount action, gore, and even some cute factor with the little alien.
However District 9 is utterly predictable. There are no surprises in the plot, no twists, no suspense. It is very difficult to sympathize with anyone in the film because they are either heavily bigoted, alien, or somewhere between; and all are cookie cut. Cookie cut meaning that the characters are the exact same as you would find in any film, even the aliens. Most of them can be found in the movie Blood Diamond
The movie will be a favorite among nerdy professors as a source of discussion, but I feel it has little re-watch value. The movie is too gritty to be eye candy, the plot is too bland to be compelling, the characters are too unsubstantial to feel compassion about them.
I still prefer Enemy Mine
