"Effective and highly emotive, this provocative and unique vision from Jackson and Blomkamp shakes up the sci-fi genre, taking it to an inspiring and intellectual new dimension."

If you've spotted strange, forbidden creature signs plastered around the place, like on the side of phone boxes, don't be alarmed: It's not a new kind of mutated, two-legged vermin found in the depths of London's sewers, but part of a clever and subtle ad campaign for an equally modestly-made sci-fi epic set in South Africa, but produced by heavyweight Peter Jackson (Lord Of The Rings). District 9 is a film that does not fully appreciate its non-conformist impact as it takes a tired Hollywood-dominated alien invasion genre and reinvents it. It is simply out of this world, full of racial prejudice analogies and quite ingenious, plus it is proof that a big Hollywood budget is not required to get the same wow factor, unlike recent blockbusters. ----------

Credit is certainly due to South African writer/director Neill Blomkamp in this, his directorial feature-length debut. Blomkamp has worked with Jackson in the past on Crossing The Line, and has cut his teeth with sci-fi in the past with a short called Alive In Joburg about a close encounter of the third kind set in the same city. Blomkamp also has an impressive 3D animation and visual effects background that includes TV's Smallville, which are all worthy credentials that make him fully qualified to bring such a story to the big screen and within a reasonable budget. The only downside, as far as we are concerned, is the biggest poster credit goes to Jackson. ---------

At first glance at the gripping beginning that is bursting with energy and intrigue with a large, stalled spacecraft hovering over a Joburg township, you could be forgiven from its mockumentary style and frenetic 'news' camerawork that you are in for an intense rollercoaster ride as in, say, Cloverfield and Quarantine. Although this style is a necessary and major factor in setting up the immediacy and gravity of the situation that is to unfold, the greatest buzz of enthusiasm for the story comes from the nerdy and rather bizarre lead, Wikus Van De Merwe, magnificently played by acting newcomer and fellow South African Sharlto Copley, who also stars in Blomkamp's short. De Merwe is a private contractor assigned to processing the illegal 'aliens' - both in the literal and immigrant sense. --------

Here, is where the story deviates from a purely action-packed, simplistic narrative about aliens landing and our handling of the situation, but becomes a very personable investigation and endearing journey through De Merwe's experiences into becoming an alien. What is refreshing are the tongue-in-cheek gibes directed at the mainstream films in the genre, complete with gun-ho soldiers going in heavy-handed to control and move the aliens on. There is also the RoboCop reference as a mutated De Merwe fights back against the atrocities he now experiences in his altered state that are fascinating to contemplate. There are many messages and morals to be had from this, but the overriding ones are the extents of compassion and understanding that are not solely human traits, as well as any species' need to belong. It is this latter point that leaves the story wide open for, undoubtedly, a highly anticipated sequel, with De Merwe left amongst the debris that we are mainly responsible for. -----

Effective and highly emotive, this provocative and unique vision from Jackson and Blomkamp shakes up the sci-fi genre, taking it to an inspiring and intellectual new dimension - which is what film-making should be all about. ------

Synopsis --------

Thirty years ago, aliens made first contact with Earth. Humans waited for the hostile attack, or the giant advances in technology. Neither came. Instead, the aliens were refugees, the last survivors of their home world. The creatures were set up in a makeshift home in South Africa's District 9 as the world's nations argued over what to do with them. Now, patience over the alien situation has run out. Control over the aliens has been contracted out to Multi-National United, a private company uninterested in the aliens' welfare - they will receive tremendous profits if they can make the aliens' awesome weaponry work. So far, they have failed; activation of the weaponry requires alien DNA. The tension between the aliens and the humans comes to a head when an MNU field operative, Wikus van der Merwe, contracts a mysterious virus that begins changing his DNA. Wikus quickly becomes the most hunted man in the world, as well as the most valuable - he is the key to unlocking the secrets of alien technology. Ostracized and friendless, there is only one place left for him to hide: District 9. ---------

Film Facts -------

Official site: http://www.sonypictures.co.uk/movies/district9/

UK Release Date: 4th September 2009

Director: Neill Blomkamp

Producer: Peter Jackson

Writers: Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell

Cast: Sharlto Copley ('Wikus Van De Merwe'), David James ('Koobus Venter'), Jason Cope ('Christopher Johnson/Grey Bradnam/UKNR Chief Correspondent'), Mandla Gaduka ('Fundiswa Mhlanga'), Vanessa Haywood ('Tania Van De Merwe'), Kenneth Nkosi ('Thomas'), William Allen Young ('Dirk Michaels'), Hlengiwe Madlala ('Sangoma')

Distributor: Sony Pictures UK

Certificate: 15

Run-time: 112 mins

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