District 9

We saw District 9 last night. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, even after seeing the short film on which it's based. It was a good movie ... it keeps your attention from beginning to end. The special effects were tremendous ... CGI just gets better and better. If you're into fluffy little tidy endings, this film isn't for you.

The overt apartheid metaphor got annoying, though. Like we need a sci-fi movie to surreptitiously tell us that apartheid and racism are wrong. Really?!? Racism is wrong?!?!? Where have I been?!?!!? Oh, and humans will abuse power when given half a chance ... but Machiavelli told you that way before Peter Jackson...

There were other themes-du-jour in the film that have been worn out as of late: multi-national corporations are greedy, not controlled by governments and are therefore evil; mercenaries are greedy, not controlled by governments and are therefore evil; refugees are always the victims ... you get the idea. I enjoyed the MNU / UN blending, though (because, hey, I think the UN is evil at worst and useless at best. Opinions are like assholes...)

Anyway, it's a good movie - worth your ten bucks. There's quite a bit of violence, so it's not for the kids. It's a political statement as sci-fi with plenty of action and great special effects. Go see it.