District 9 Movie DVD Review

District 9 was directed by Neill Blomkamp. It is 112 minutes and was released in movie theaters in 2009.

District 9 packs a lot of ideas into one film. This sci-fi mockumentary is part I am Legend, Robocop, Blood Diamond and The Fly. Issues such as apartheid, government military contractors (think 'Blackwater'), immigration, etc are thinly veiled throughout the film. To the director's credit, the film never leaves the audience overwhelmed with all of these ideas. District 9 moves along at a fast and entertaining pace.

There is a lot of shooting and gore in this film much in the same style as Starship Troopers. Speaking of Starship Troopers and, as mentioned above, Robocop, District 9 very much feels like a Paul Verhoeven Film. A sort of comic and tragic satire of multinational corporation power using the world as its marionette.

At times District 9 takes itself a little too seriously and at other times, it does not take itself too seriously at all. This conflict causes some inconsistencies within the film but not enough to do much damage.

If you are in the mood for a satirical, sci-fi, mockumentary that doesn't take itself too seriously, you are in for a treat. I wouldn't nominate District 9 for any awards, but I did enjoy it and think you might too.