The film in its entirely does deserve the hype and praise its been given. Is it a perfect film? One to break all barriers of film before it? No. But what can you expect? This film came out of something purely commercial. District 9's Halo beginnings are all over this film, sending a big "fuck you" to the studios that showed little confidence in Blomkamp's "amateur" status.
And Blomkamp shows no sign of rookiehood as the film expertly crafts a world in which aliens feel and look like they belong here in our modern world. The small 30 million dollar budget lends itself to an inventive new director, as Blomkamp uses mock documentary footage and grainy CG to layer commercial media into the fabric of modern day Johannesburg. This method, more successful than other recent films like that of Cloverfield or Quarantine, allows the viewer to comfortably hold their meal while the camera moves through uneven shots and scrolling closed circuit security footage. The tension feels and looks real, we become connected to our protagonist Wilkus and even his completely fake "prawn" friend Christopher. We're shocked, disgusted and wow'd by the hurried and rushed cinematic image. It's elegant, dirty, raw, fun and liberating. Tight editing and carefully crafted cinematography gives off a careless feel, while perfectly manipulating the unsuspecting viewer. I'm in love with it.
And then I got bored. District 9 turned from inspirational directorial debut to all-out action-packed Hollywood crap. Suddenly I felt like I was watching Halo, a movie I couldn't give a damn about. And perhaps that's my biggest problem with the film. So much about the end of the film seemed to be focused on showcasing the Halo that "could have been." Our beautifully recreated video and documentary footage turned to classical continuity editing. We lost our shaky camera in exchange for something more typical of the latest Michael Bay film. Destroyed is our intriguing and mysterious plot-line constructed through playfully vague interviews. Instead we got the typical storyline riding on heroics and the power of love. Bleh. Even if it's alien love, it's still boring! What happened? I don't need to see every awesome gun you've got in your giant spaceship or watch a slum be demolished by exploding machinery. I want the mystery and tension back, and not in the "in-your-face" kind of way. If I wanted the end of this film I'd have just tortured myself by watching G.I. Joe or one of the other dozen blockbusters of its kind littering the theaters of our summer movie season. But this disappointment in ending does not make me forget the perfection of the first half. I have high hopes for you, Blomkamp, don't let me down.
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