‘District 9’ Opens Everywhere Tomorrow

You can smell the "We're Such Bastards" moment coming a mile away can't you? That really should be a separate genre of movie: Comedy, Drama, Action, Romance, Sci Fi / Fantasy, We're Such Bastards, Period, Animated, etc

I sense a great disturbance in The Force … leftist hands are at work — I feel it.

I'm really hoping that this isn't another America bash-fest. It looks like it has the potential to either be an awesome flick or just another lame attempt at social commentary.

'socially poignant' = We're Such Bastards

To be fair, it's more likely to be an attack on the South African history than American history, because this is basically a South African with Peter Jackson and a Hollywood budget.

Looks like it'll be a good movie. Hopefully, the "social commentary" will be kept to a minimum.

According to several reviews I've read, it is obviously a takeoff on apartheid but it isn't preachy and is a very good sci-fi movie on its on credit. I agree with many of you, though. I am quite sick of the social commentary, "America is evil" BS. Will somebody please make a movie that's fairly intelligent, has somewaht of a plot and is actually fun and entertaining to watch AND doesn't preach to me. What the hell ever happened to those kinds of movies?

There's nothing wrong with social commentary, if it's done well. The problem is people making bad movies with the excuse that they are, "saying something important." There is plenty of history of abuses by humanity, and plenty of great movies that reflect that. If it's a good story (which it is supposed to be), then I am happy to enjoy it for what it is.

I'm probably going to go see it this Saturday. But I have the same feeling as the general consensus of the posts so far … that it's some kind of preachy multicultural diversity spiel. I hope it isn't. I'll ignore it if it is, and maybe just enjoy that huge floating city (or whatever it is).

Of course everyone here has a negative opinion about something they haven't even seen yet. Why is that not surprising. And by the way, folks, the only America Bash Fest that takes place daily takes place by neo-cons on these blog posts so get a mirror.

Interestingly enough, at least in this trailer and the short film Alive in Joburg on which this full-length feature is based, black South Africans are featured prominently in support of the alien apartheid.

Tons of online comments herald this movie as the new wave of smart sci-fi but that sounds like people have formulated their opinions just because they like the visuals in the trailer. Nobody wants to point out that this is "Alien Nation" meets "Every FPS Video Game Made Since 1998." Nothing particularly smart about a hackneyed story with rote lefty political allegory and nothing scientific about the fiction.

Interestingly, you cannot discuss or debate this with someone who has already convinced themselves that "D9 IS GUNNA BE TEH SH1T DAWG!!!1!" Most will respond with "it's only a movie" and "you're not supposed to have facts in a movie because you have to suspend disbelief" but if that's truly the case then let's extend that to the fantasy movies like "Brothers," "The Day After Tomorrow," "Capitalism: A Love Story" et al.

Found a good comparison of this to Alien Nation here: SPOILER WARNINGS http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Too-Close-To-Call-...

Found this especially interesting: SPOILER: "The film is indeed a loose allegory for Apartheid but it’s not content with tackling just one social issue. D9 also takes on rampant corporate corruption and if there’s a villain in the movie it’s not a bigoted, fearful populace as much as it is an out of control, evil corporation which will stop and nothing to screw over the human race in order to make a tidy profit. Racism and capitalist greed get crammed, successfully, all into one movie. "

So its a sucker punch twofer!

I get it.

An anti-western culture film? Who would have thought?

We can't have that "social commentary" critical thinking stuff, no sir. very un-patriotic.

sounds good to me. where's the popcorn?

"What's so smart about a hackneyed story with rote lefty political allegory?"

because the politics are alive and well today.

are there nations in our world where immigrants are unwanted and unwelcome?

are there ghettos?

since the answer to both is "yes", it is right and well and good and all that stuff for people to use art to discuss these topics. Whether they do that artfully is a secondary issue. The movie might suck, of course. But whether its well done or not, either way, the subject matter is fair game.

Wow you're clever. Ever thought about playing in traffic? I hear it's fun.

"if there’s a villain in the movie it’s not a bigoted, fearful populace"

Well, it should be.

One only has to read about the activities Einsatzgruppen to realize they couldn't have done 10% of what they did if not for the bigoted, fearful poplace of the areas they operated in.

leftist cool aid (according to you): "There are ghettos", "There is hostility to immigrants".

rightist cool aid: "There aren't ghettos", "There isn't hostility to immigrants"

???

okay!

"Socially poignant i.e. people bad especially western culture."

yes, too thoughtful, its true. You should just go see GI Joe instead.

Depends on the foreigner….doesn't matter to me where the person comes from, only the content of their character.

"…corporations to operate in a way that leaves our cities in ghettos…"

Spoken like a true liberal. Absolve everyone of personal responsibility. Maybe you think it's ok that the government provides housing to people that refuse to take care of it? Maybe you think it's ok to blame society for everything rather than the individual's ability to know right from wrong?

If this is the way you think than I'd say you're part of the problem, and a big reason why our great nation is in the hands of a socialist right now.

Most good movies appeal to conservative/right wing virtues even when they try to be left wing. Just as an example off the top of my head, in Watchmen, the author wanted Veidt to come off as the hero and Rorschach as the villain, but quite the opposite happened. Veidt, especially with historical perspective, comes off as a monster, and Rorschach seems like the only sane one in the entire cast, even if he is far too extreme and damaged.

It's ok, I'll sacrifice a few Ewoks and Dark Lord Cheney will promote me to Vast Right Wing Conspriator…

And once those space aliens give up their mind control secrets we'll……I've said too much….

When we have even one movie that has 'social commentary' that sucker punches YOUR sacred cows, CgntvDssdnt, we can talk. The social commentary always runs in one direction as is the most thoughtless, cliched drek imaginable.

okay. 28 years go by and the aliens, who SUPPOSEDLY are more advanced than we, haven't figured out a way to fix their ship and leave? How is it that HUMANS are able to keep these aliens in a "prison camp?" Are they going to make these aliens like the GITMO detainees? And why would that guy go in and say, "it's not a weapon." He has no clue what alien technology is, looks like, or does. I may see it, just to see where this story goes. After all, I'm a big believer in "know thy enemy." The enemy being the hollywood left.

And after 28 years, why wouldn't another ship have come along to rescue these aliens? I would think they'd be like illegal aliens…where there's a truckload, there's bound to be more!

exactly. Thanks Hank.

boo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoooo.

you guys wish you could have a cool a movie as D9 that articulates some of your inarticulate drivel.

"Don't you think it is about time Hollywood and liberals got over it and excepted that "all" of human kind is flawed."

no. Why don't you go ask Jesus to get over his issues while you are at it.

Actually I'm ok with us picking on aliens for once. I've seen a ton of movies where aliens have totally trashed our planet, enslaved or slaughtered humans.

I'm up for a movie where they get some of their own medicine!!! WOOHOO!!!

Well I'll ask him next time I see him at the next Bible/GunClub/KKK meeting! Gimme a break!

What issues would you be speaking of? Jesus had no issues with anyone. Please clarify your statement for me. Am I to assume that you are speaking of Church Doctrine or the Bible?

I saw it about a month ago. The writer is from south africa and grew up during apartheid in the 80's. That's what inspired the story and why it's set there. There are obviously social messages but none of them are too overt or preachy.

It's a great movie. I rarely pay to see movies and i would gladly pay to see this one. Well shot, written, directed and acted.

They also bash eugenics and media manipulation. 2 points for us good guys.

You will like this one. Most Sci-Fi movies are on our side. Serenity, I, Robot even the whole Star Wars series, fighting against totalitarianism. (though star wars tried to spin it against Bush in particular with the prequels.)

With District 9 you have them bashing the eugenics, the media and specifically the way an undesirable mass of people/aliens are going to be moved under th eguise of being able to take care of them better. It brings to mind the Trail of Tears (Andrew Jackson) and also what Stalin did in Russia and Mengistu AKA Little Stalin did in Ethiopia.

Their weapons are actually quite amazing. I hope people go out and see this one.

I'll probably see it, it looks entertaining….

They can't fix their ship because they can't get up to it. Spoiler: that's the driving force of the story, getting back to the ship.

HAHA, that sounds like a pretty good alternative.

I saw the movie. It does not preach. It is not about America. You can draw social parallels from any culture throughout history.

Namely, the ravages of collectivism. The result of treating people like livestock, telling them where to live, how to live, piling them onto one another. The first act action show what happens when you try to move people/aliens en mass a al the Trail of Tears (progressive democrat Andrew Jackson from who we get the dems jackass logo) to Joseph Stalin in Russia to Communist Mengistu in Ethiopia. (AKA Litlle Stalin)

They also address eugenics and forced abortions/sterilization with apathy a la the Communists, Nazi Margaret Sanger crowd. (Obama's Czars) The movie is a winner. The special effects amazing, especially the weapons. Go out and see it. You have the Talionis guarantee.

"There is and always will be ghetto's and hostility towards immigrants."

You are making the cynic's case for the immoral and inhumane status quo.

You have a point, perhaps. But there is a counter point, too. Its called a moral imperative. And anyone who has ever stood up for what is right understands this.

Jesus is merely a well known example. I don't know if that's per Church Doctrine or the Bible, but I would imagine than any concept of Jesus features him as someone who stood up against evil and the regrettable state of the human status quo.

Of course, there are many other examples. For all you patriots out there: George Washington.

oh yes, more of this "everything up is down" conceptual revisionism from the "Obama = Hitler" crowd.

please. Anti-totalitarianism in the form of the anti-establishmentism has been the trademark of the left for generations.

We all know who was subversively plotting for the expansion of executive power at the expense of our own "galactic senate". He didn't earn the nickname Darth Vader for nothing!

I'm sorry anti-totalitarianism is a trademark of the LEFT.

Try picking up Liberal Fascism, CD and give it a good read, if it's not too far above your grade level.

Sorry, the left is ALL about control. Boy, have they got you hoodwinked.

As for the Star Wars reference, it's bovine feces at its most extreme, no matter what Lucas' politics might be.

EPIC FAIL.

You've got a point. At least this is a relatively original idea, and not yet another big-name remake.

No, it's to become a democrat.

What's to comment on anymore? We are led by the perfect human, B Hussein obama. No more war or nastiness to put up with no more … Wait, what's that? STILL 2 wars going on? Geez, I hadn't noticed since no one's protesting them anymore. They must have different goals than Bush did. Wait, what's that? Same wars, different president? Really? How can that be? Didn't he promise … Wait, what's that? obama kept ALL Bushes' anti-terror methods in place? And is trying to add government snooping on every computer to his toolbox? And has a "report on your neighbor" email address? Really? Gee, all this stuff MUST be good, after all obama did it all. Oh wait, he's gonna close Gitmo, right? HAHAHAHAHAHA

Talionis, I'm willing to give it a try since I love sci-fi and I'd love to watch something at least a little fresh, even if it might have some echos of "Alien Nation".

But if it sucks, well watch out!

/joke!

Ok, how's this–you and your family take a cruise. The ship breaks down. Could _you_ fix the engines and get it going again if you were just a passenger? (No fair if you are, in fact, a maritime mechanic)

Yeah, but this is South Africa, not Hollywood.

Okay, but from a physics standpoint: Why would a damaged starship capable of intergalactic travel drop out of geostationary orbit so it would be forced to expend massive amounts of energy required to hover motionless over a dense populated alien city?

From a logical storyline standpoint: Why would aliens with advanced weaponry (so advanced it requires alien DNA to operate–the ultimate in "gun safety") NOT use those weapons against the clearly inferior human forces? Imagine the roles were reversed in the movie and it was the U.S.S. Enterprise hovering over a planet that had roughly 20th century tech. Would the ship's captain allow the alien military to board the ship forcibly?

These things only make sense to an auteur that wants to shove a message down his audience's throats rather than tell a compelling story. As unpopular as this opinion could be, I'll say that's also the problem with many of the Christian movies: Focus solely on message rather than filling obvious plot holes and unrealistic character motivations.

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