Did I like it. No! I f##king loved and agreed with everything you said. It's about time somebody did this because its the best sci-fi I've ever seen and 1 of the best films I've seen come on District 10......
He was also amazing in "Hardcore Henry" and "Free Fire." I would not have been interested in either except for his involvement. His ability to play several aspects of a single character in"Hardcore Henry" was absolutely acting at its finest.
It was a very unique part. Definitely not a traditional role, really against a lot of traditional acting principles so we'll suited to a keen novice. The film played out like a documentary after all.
Also in Elysium. Dude played Krueger or whatever well too! Took me a second to realize it was him. Hardcore Henry was so much better than it aught to be.
The Prawns are my favorite alien design. They’re scary, but there is a sense on innocence in their faces and how they move. And yes this movie is hilarious and it makes me upset Neill Blomkamp isn’t doing the new RoboCop anymore.
@@BTScriviner Yeah its basically the films version of a derogative racial slur. Using it to describe them normally makes me think the whole meaning of the film went over this persons head
Would love to see a retrospective on The Gods Must Be Crazy 1 and 2, the best South African films ever made (at, unfortunately, a dark time in it's history). They bring me unending joy.
There is something about new concept movies attempting to make things work that comes off so genuine and awesome. People really work hard to put everything they have into making it work, in contrast with films that are assumed to do well with a fantastic budget and well known actors. Not to say many people don't work hard on big budget blockbuster, but something is lost which really makes the work really standout.
I always felt like District 9 signed the end of several years where SciFi was pretty much empty in meaning, Sunshine came close to being good but messed up towards the ending (my humble opinion) but District 9 embodied what SciFi should be and from that point onwards a strain of brilliant SciFi movies started to come out quite regularly
I initially saw this movie in SD, and thought that that was the way that it was intended to be watched. He blew my mind the first watching of that movie to the point where I ended up buying the Blu-ray version of it and was saddened when I got to see all the graphics. I guess slightly blurring my TV screen might be the best way to watch this movie in the future.
I recognised a lot when you started talking about the humour in the movie. Some scenes are actually kinda funny whilst others make you go "what the actual fuck" (in a good way) so hard that it's funny.
I've got a setup for a sequel. 20 years have passed and District 10 has developed a bit. The next generation of prawns have grown up and they are a bit smarter. They build a nice secluded sustainable colony without interference from humans. MNU is like boarder security with flyovers, but aren't present inside the colony much. You have a smart prawn rise the ranks and he becomes a politician of sorts and wants to prosper alongside humans (could be prawn Wicus even). You got a lot of prawns now that only know earth as home. So there's something at stake for them. Christopher Johnson comes back to save the prawns. His kid is grown up. Some prawns are willing to go, many aren't. There's conflict between the prawns. Humans are involved. Wicus is weaved into the story and he would be returned human. Maybe halfway through. He gets redemption by the end.
This is by far one of my all time favorite movies. ever. when i saw it, opening day back in 2009, i remember watching it and being amazed. There is one scene where Christopher Johnson is in the back of a truck and i remember thinking, holy shit that looks real to me. i would forget it was CG sometimes.
Yeah, I remember watching the trailer for this on Digg and was completely blown away. This movie became an instant classic for me,the verite approach was such an inspired choice and made it really felt lived in with the verisimilitude and alt history narrative, especially with all the allusions to the real world socio-political weight of South Africa. The FPS/covershooter videogame aesthetics was the real draw for this for me, because this was around of the height of COD MW and Gears of War franchise. At the time, it gave then lowly aspiring filmmakers like me some hope seeing that relatively low budget on imdb was, also those expectations were tempered later learning the actual narrative behind that. Look a guy got taken out with a pig carcass via gravity gun, that's an A plus movie right there for me.
I loved this movie upon it's release. Went as far as getting a DVD copy for my collection. Loved the relationship between Wikus and Christopher. I would love to see a sequel on which Christopher returns to help Wikus to regain his humanity or at least take him away so he can start a new life, but at the same time as we all know sequels tend no to be as good as the original and they ruin the whole concept
Fantastic video as ever! I found the only blemish on District 9 to be the weirdly awful depiction of Nigerians as cannibals. Really strange choice, but otherwise, it's such a wonderful movie. Crossing fingers for a sequel! Thanks for your work and effort. Your vidz are always a pleasure
Two things. One, can you call them cannibals if they eat aliens? Two, I assume it might have been the religious reaction to aliens. After all, this wasn't in northern hempishere where Christianity and Islam are dominant, but Africa.
Such a cool little bit of history with the old nuclear weapon storage bunker showing up in this film. South Africa is the only country to develop nuclear weapons and then voluntarily dismantle them.
Much like District 9, I took some time before watching your video. But again was pleasantly surprised. I remember the buzz in 2009 and I think watched it either late 2009 or early 2010. I loved it. The high concept of refugee aliens was a great idea in my opinion. And then giving it a setting of someplace ELSE other than than the US really worked for me. Now I understand that wasn't just an artistic choice. But when I first saw it I was enthusiastic that someone made a decision not to make the USA the focus of aliens. It's a f'n big world! But they do some great world building too with how the "prawns" have become part of society. And then there's the overall style that you commented on which works well and does transition almost seamlessly from "documentary" style to standard filmmaking which I remember happening but don't' recall ever noticing. However I feel this was almost a one and done move by a promising director. What has he done since? Chappie? what else?
I dont think vickers is anything like youre describing him. He seems like a soft person living in a hard land, trying to fit in and doing very well for himself thank you very much, to me at least. He shows himself to be far kinder than many of the people around him, he has a pretty unfortunate accident and is then utterly dehumanised by everyone except the prawns. There he displays the courage tenacity and hope of a hero. A better man than everyone around him.
@@zarkflappysheep He clearly is less comfortable treating prawns badly than everyone around him. I watch him operating for his company and I beleive if he attempted to oppose the world around him he would be utterly crushed. When he has a work accident he is experimented on, his company tell lies about him to cover up their dody dealings and his father in law manipulates the relationship vickers has with his daughter for the sake of his company. His morals regarding not shooting prawns in experiments are ignored and he is forced to comply with the companies experiments regardless of his feelings. It ismade clear he ill be tortured if he does not comply and he still doesnt leap enthusiastically into the exploittion of prawns, ironic given that he is becoming one and still doesnt understand where that will take him. The father in law reveals that he is completely indifferent to vickers and that vickers is only onboards for as long as circumstance dictates that this is viable. When Vickers no longer has the option of attempting to fit in, He sacrifices himself and fights hard against cruel oppressors. He may not understand why he should treat the prawns with respect at the start of the film but hes finding it hard to ignore his nature. At the end of the film he embraces his nature, having ironically become the oppressed himself he is now free/forced to chart a course for himself that doesnt involve attempting to fit in with a cruel world.
Although the other 2 films in the "trilogy" aren't quite as good, "District 9", "Elysium" and "Chappie" make a nice binge watch if you've got a day with nothing better to do
Not enough good body horror out there. This movie has some of the best, most genuine body horror I have ever seen. District 9 is in my top 5 films ever.
When I watched this movie, I wondered how much I’m missing out on by approaching it from my perspective as someone white from the US. To me, the racial/alien metaphor almost felt disrespectful to folks who experience discrimination. At the same time, morality metaphor in sci-fi blockbuster is something I usually love
The ridiculous government stooge evicting giant ets was what really held me Great inventive ideas and just a 5 star job all around. Really enjoyable with a deep societal moral.
This is one of few movies I can't watch. The use of shakycam instead of steadycam made me rage-quit only after few minutes. I once heard that shakiness was actually increased in post. I don't know it it's true, but it looks like it is. The ironic part is that documentaries are recorded in such a way to keep image stable and steady as much as possible. For example they use a shoulder rig with battery moved back to balance the front part of the camera, this makes it more steady even when running with it...
Blomkamp's only good movie, but it is really good. Excellent mixture of The Fly crossed with some social commentary, and it works really well. His other films have been conceptually great, but the execution just hasn't been there, and the less said about his awful Alien 3 retcon the better.
Have you ever considered a retrospective on Alien Nation? The movie which led to the tv series ( still fantastic ) and the later tv movies are such an interesting IP Dealt w social issues in a way and at a time where it was unheard of Fox of course canceled the show regretted it so much they started making tv movies about the series Honestly I think you would love the series it’s a little hard to find these days since it’s not streaming Most of its on UA-cam I’d be happy to send the series for a retrospective on it
If the same people are involved, I’m invested either way. Just hope no wokeness seeps it’s way in, hopefully that movement will uncover itself by than and be dead in its tracks just like BLM is doing. Sad that this even has to be mentioned in a movie like this.
This is a damn fine film. So glad you were able to produce this Retrospective. Thank you Rowan. The ending of the film is a real treat, leaving the audience wanting more. It did not set up a sequel per se, instead one is left with one's imagination and speculation. Ideal for discussions with friends. Clever ideas generated in an after-dinner discussion can be genuinely enthralling.
What amazed me most about District 9 was that the SFX were so realistic. It really looked as if there was a massive spaceship hanging in the air over the city!
What’s amazing about the SFX is that the budget of the movie was only $30 million, but the SFX looked so much better than other big blockbuster movies that costs over $100 million to make!
I'm surprised you didn't mention the metaphor of SA's history with discrimination, especially in terms of forced removals. For many in SA it was such a clear allegory of our history.
Not to mention for many outside of SA it was a way to spread awareness and discussion about parts of history that may have been glossed over or otherwise ignored.
I remember little of "Avatar" after two viewings. "District 9" stuck in my mind for years, and then got better at second viewing; it hit me all over again.
That was a great retro/review to start off 2023. D9 is such a unique gem in the genre, and despite the teasing of a sequel with Christopher's promise to return the film is so weirdly perfect in its own way that I actually wouldn't be mad if the sequel never actually materialized. Looking forward to your Elysium retro/review.
District 9 was amazing and realistic and disturbing in some ways. I think I watched it twice when I got it (didn't get to watch in the theater) but I haven't rewatched it since, and not sure why. This makes me want to rewatch. It was brilliant and unique science fiction and criticism in its own way. Great stuff.
I havent watched it since I realized how effed up Die Antwoord is... their presence in this movie now overshadows everything and leaves me with a bad taste... wich is sad because it is a good movie...
I’ve never understood why the sequel hasn’t been made, Christopher has yet to return and save his people, Wikus is waiting to be ‘fixed’, MNU getting its comeuppance for the experiments etc. there’s definitely a lot more story to tell.
I friggin love Niel Blomkampf's movies, they are all so unique and awesome. District 9, Chappie, and Elysium are three of my top ten favorite movies, whatever he touches turns to gold in my opinion.
I loved that movie and when I saw(and bought) the art book of it, I was blown away from discovering all the imagination behind the alien designs along with all the logos, and made me realize that a movie is not a singular vision but a collectives collaborative work among many artists, that is what sparked my interest in wanting to go in concept artist and discover a whole other world.
This film is the reason I'm in film school now... this was such a special film for me at the time of its release. I was way too young to watch it, but I was hooked and amazed by it. It sparked that passion for filmmaking, I thought big films could only be made in Hollywood, but this was made in my country! So cool, I love this film.
To be fair, Chappie might be one of the worst movies I've ever seen (I don't actively seek to watch bad movies though) so I can see why. That horror movie he made some years ago was critically panned too. At this point, I think the is just not cut out for the feature filmmaking, that said his shorts from the Oasis Studios label are pretty good. Interested how his Grand Turismo movie will turn out, making something outside his wheelhouse (sorry for the pun) might be what he needed.
@@koklusz89 100% agree, Chappie is absolutely dreadful. I also thought Elysium was underwhelming and moribund. district 9 showed so much promise in Bloomkamp as an artist and I've been disappointed since.
I loved District 9, but in a weird way I think I preferred Alive in Joburg. Blomkamp is fantastic at creating a world, but I feel like his feature films tend to run out of ideas story-wise. While I think District 9 is likely his strongest, the overall plot doesn't feel very special once it moves away from the documentary style. Alive obviously doesn't have the budget or runtime, but I love the way it just puts us down in this fascinating and believable world.
I went into this movie blind at the theater. For the first part of the movie I didn't know what to think. By the last third I was transfixed. It's one of my favorite movies of all time...a very rare masterpiece of science fiction.
My GF just took me to the theater to see this and I still remember how blown away I was on the bus ride home. It was so refreshing to see something different in science fiction at the time. At first the documentary-style reminded me of predator 2 and the drug war. During the pandemic I had opportunity to watch the film second time and it still holds up so well.
District 9 remains as impressive now as it was back in 2009. So well crafted and fully realised you'd have been forgiven for thinking Blomkamp had been making movies for decades. It's a shame none of his follow-ups have lived up to his first go. He and Gareth Edwards seem to be these guys who put their all into their initial efforts, with so much creativity with so little to work with, that there's seemingly nothing left afterwards. But shit, they made them and continue to have a career, so good for them. And I would have loved to have seen Blomkamp's Halo movie
IMHO hes a criminally underrated actor. His WWI British soldier character in Hardcore Henry made me want a video game with him as my team mate. And his take on Howling Mad Murdock in A-team was hilarious. Id watch just about anything with him in it.
Yep, not even close, it's almost an insult to even compare them. D9 is just in another league from "look eye candy and actions, look at our fancy effects". Avatar is so meh to me, it's just trying to BUY it's way into history, D9 earns it's place.
This movie is an incredible example of a genre that often goes unstated, and seems so little talked about (literally, look at the wiki page for a sad sad example of this), but which I love nonetheless. It is a fantastic tragicomedy, and a solid recommend for thos who like it. It is not just drops of humor to spicy up a tragedy or serious bizz drama otherwise. It is a proper blend of both.
Remember seeing this at the movies. I was going to see something else that turned out to be sold out so I picked this at random. Knowing nothing about it and going in blind made it one of the best cinema experiences I ever had.
When I was 8 or 9 I was taken to the cinema to see Clash of the Titans. Was very upset to find tickets sold out ; fortunately my dad was able to get tickets for some little film playing in the cinema's smaller screen. Than film was a little know indie 😃 film, Raiders of the Lost Ark .....
I went to see District 9 and G.I.Joe the same day. One cost 30 million, and one cost 170 million. Lower budgeted film had better effects. Money doesn't actually buy everything.
Listening to the description of how Microsoft wanted to retain creative control: "...partnering with 20th Century Fox" Well that's your problem right there, Microsoft...
The new Star Trek movies were meh to awful. Avatar was so bad I couldn't get through more than the first 20 minutes of it. District 9 was pretty darn good.
CG artist and filmmakers often throw around the term "photo realism" but District 9 is one of maybe three movies where the CGI is so good I honestly can't tell what's practical and what's not.
I think if Copely had been a more seasoned actor then the character of vickus wouldn't have had the same level of awkward charm while being followed about by a documentary crew.
So far I've liked District 9, Elysium, and even Chappie (it's like a Short Circuit reboot, w/o being a SC3) D9 - i saw in a smaller art theater, it was incredible, and everyone I told about it was riveted ... but didn't go. It's like a big sci-fi cult movie at this point. I definitely would've preferred Neil's Halo, and if we are lucky, MCU will pick him up to direct their XMCU for a 'Days of Future Past' analog. I'd really like to see what he can do with Sentinels Vs Mutants in a dystopian setting.
This movie resonated on so many levels. I think it facilitated a spirit beyond what it's creators imagined. That's the trait of a really good movie. It becomes a endearing yet repulsive metaphor for things people would like to forget but know deep down that they must remember.
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Did I like it. No! I f##king loved and agreed with everything you said. It's about time somebody did this because its the best sci-fi I've ever seen and 1 of the best films I've seen come on District 10......
One of the most meaningful science fiction films around.
The metaphor is thick as tree sap, but intentionally so.
I hope it's remembered
Yeah? Bet you wanted all the unvaccinated prawns killed on the spot.
Wow I had no idea Copley was a new actor, I assumed he was seasoned and well known, just not in America. He was so incredibly good in that part!
He was also amazing in "Hardcore Henry" and "Free Fire." I would not have been interested in either except for his involvement.
His ability to play several aspects of a single character in"Hardcore Henry" was absolutely acting at its finest.
He was the head of a south african tv network i believe
It was a very unique part. Definitely not a traditional role, really against a lot of traditional acting principles so we'll suited to a keen novice. The film played out like a documentary after all.
He is AWESOME. Loved him in Hardcore Henry. This and District 8 need a sequel yesterday.
Also in Elysium. Dude played Krueger or whatever well too! Took me a second to realize it was him.
Hardcore Henry was so much better than it aught to be.
Can't wait to bawl my eyes out of Wikus and Christopher's camaraderie one more time 😭
Hey slow down the clicks
What are you crying about?
The Prawns are my favorite alien design. They’re scary, but there is a sense on innocence in their faces and how they move.
And yes this movie is hilarious and it makes me upset Neill Blomkamp isn’t doing the new RoboCop anymore.
Isn't calling them "prawns" being speciest? 😉😂
@@BTScriviner Yeah its basically the films version of a derogative racial slur. Using it to describe them normally makes me think the whole meaning of the film went over this persons head
They’re remaking Robocop AGAIN?! JFC.
District 9 Chappie and Elysium hold an extremely special place in my heart
they did an amazing job on the special effects. looked very realistic. this is probably my favorite movie. it was very well done.
I love these non Trek reviews because the BTS info is almost always new to me!
Would love to see a retrospective on The Gods Must Be Crazy 1 and 2, the best South African films ever made (at, unfortunately, a dark time in it's history). They bring me unending joy.
There is something about new concept movies attempting to make things work that comes off so genuine and awesome. People really work hard to put everything they have into making it work, in contrast with films that are assumed to do well with a fantastic budget and well known actors.
Not to say many people don't work hard on big budget blockbuster, but something is lost which really makes the work really standout.
I always felt like District 9 signed the end of several years where SciFi was pretty much empty in meaning, Sunshine came close to being good but messed up towards the ending (my humble opinion) but District 9 embodied what SciFi should be and from that point onwards a strain of brilliant SciFi movies started to come out quite regularly
It's a shame Neill Blomkamp has never been allowed to work on huge franchises.
Because Chappie was terrible.
one of the best sci fi ever made!!
I initially saw this movie in SD, and thought that that was the way that it was intended to be watched. He blew my mind the first watching of that movie to the point where I ended up buying the Blu-ray version of it and was saddened when I got to see all the graphics. I guess slightly blurring my TV screen might be the best way to watch this movie in the future.
16:34 I couldn't stop laughing at the 'pop pop' of the Ps here 😂
I recognised a lot when you started talking about the humour in the movie. Some scenes are actually kinda funny whilst others make you go "what the actual fuck" (in a good way) so hard that it's funny.
Sadly I won't be able to catch this because of work, but I will watch it later tonight. Always enjoy the quality of your retrospectives.
I've got a setup for a sequel. 20 years have passed and District 10 has developed a bit. The next generation of prawns have grown up and they are a bit smarter. They build a nice secluded sustainable colony without interference from humans. MNU is like boarder security with flyovers, but aren't present inside the colony much. You have a smart prawn rise the ranks and he becomes a politician of sorts and wants to prosper alongside humans (could be prawn Wicus even). You got a lot of prawns now that only know earth as home. So there's something at stake for them.
Christopher Johnson comes back to save the prawns. His kid is grown up. Some prawns are willing to go, many aren't. There's conflict between the prawns. Humans are involved. Wicus is weaved into the story and he would be returned human. Maybe halfway through. He gets redemption by the end.
This is by far one of my all time favorite movies. ever.
when i saw it, opening day back in 2009, i remember watching it and being amazed. There is one scene where Christopher Johnson is in the back of a truck and i remember thinking, holy shit that looks real to me. i would forget it was CG sometimes.
Sharlto Copley was perfectly cast.
This was one of my favorite sci-fi movies of the decade.
Yeah, I remember watching the trailer for this on Digg and was completely blown away.
This movie became an instant classic for me,the verite approach was such an inspired choice and made it really felt lived in with the verisimilitude and alt history narrative, especially with all the allusions to the real world socio-political weight of South Africa.
The FPS/covershooter videogame aesthetics was the real draw for this for me, because this was around of the height of COD MW and Gears of War franchise.
At the time, it gave then lowly aspiring filmmakers like me some hope seeing that relatively low budget on imdb was, also those expectations were tempered later learning the actual narrative behind that.
Look a guy got taken out with a pig carcass via gravity gun, that's an A plus movie right there for me.
I loved this movie upon it's release. Went as far as getting a DVD copy for my collection. Loved the relationship between Wikus and Christopher. I would love to see a sequel on which Christopher returns to help Wikus to regain his humanity or at least take him away so he can start a new life, but at the same time as we all know sequels tend no to be as good as the original and they ruin the whole concept
Fall 2009 was a good time at the movies. Inglorious Basterds came out around that same time.
I hope they make, a part 2 in my life time.
Fantastic video as ever! I found the only blemish on District 9 to be the weirdly awful depiction of Nigerians as cannibals. Really strange choice, but otherwise, it's such a wonderful movie. Crossing fingers for a sequel! Thanks for your work and effort. Your vidz are always a pleasure
Two things. One, can you call them cannibals if they eat aliens? Two, I assume it might have been the religious reaction to aliens. After all, this wasn't in northern hempishere where Christianity and Islam are dominant, but Africa.
@@nikoladedic6623 It just seems like a needlessly negative representation. At the least offensive?
District 9 is in my own top 10 films list, not just sci-fi but of any genre. It's a fable, the end scene always gets me. Mon the Scotland!
jee wiz i totally forgot all those movies came out in 2009. Loved the new star trek, loved avatar, loved district 9!
Christopher Johnson: I thought you said not to kill them?
Wikus Van De Merwe: He shot at me!
An excellent film, it sparked a fiery curiosity for more
Such a cool little bit of history with the old nuclear weapon storage bunker showing up in this film. South Africa is the only country to develop nuclear weapons and then voluntarily dismantle them.
I actually rewatched thisa couple of months ago, still totally stands up. Even the cgi isnt bad
District 9 was my favorite film of 2009, and I thought it should have won the Oscar for Best Picture instead of The Hurt Locker.
Much like District 9, I took some time before watching your video. But again was pleasantly surprised.
I remember the buzz in 2009 and I think watched it either late 2009 or early 2010. I loved it.
The high concept of refugee aliens was a great idea in my opinion. And then giving it a setting of someplace ELSE other than than the US really worked for me. Now I understand that wasn't just an artistic choice. But when I first saw it I was enthusiastic that someone made a decision not to make the USA the focus of aliens. It's a f'n big world!
But they do some great world building too with how the "prawns" have become part of society. And then there's the overall style that you commented on which works well and does transition almost seamlessly from "documentary" style to standard filmmaking which I remember happening but don't' recall ever noticing.
However I feel this was almost a one and done move by a promising director. What has he done since? Chappie? what else?
Never realised the music in this movie was done by the guy who did the Expanse ost afterwards
When he said _"film two",_ I died a little inside 😔
Your Wikus comparison to Rimmer: YES!
I knew there was something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Brilliant.
I fucking love this film. It's up there with Silent Running and Moon in the category of weird little off-kilter sci-fi classics.
I dont think vickers is anything like youre describing him. He seems like a soft person living in a hard land, trying to fit in and doing very well for himself thank you very much, to me at least. He shows himself to be far kinder than many of the people around him, he has a pretty unfortunate accident and is then utterly dehumanised by everyone except the prawns. There he displays the courage tenacity and hope of a hero. A better man than everyone around him.
He is very selfish and at the beginning of the film doesn’t understand why he should treat the prawns with respect at all
@@zarkflappysheep He clearly is less comfortable treating prawns badly than everyone around him. I watch him operating for his company and I beleive if he attempted to oppose the world around him he would be utterly crushed. When he has a work accident he is experimented on, his company tell lies about him to cover up their dody dealings and his father in law manipulates the relationship vickers has with his daughter for the sake of his company. His morals regarding not shooting prawns in experiments are ignored and he is forced to comply with the companies experiments regardless of his feelings. It ismade clear he ill be tortured if he does not comply and he still doesnt leap enthusiastically into the exploittion of prawns, ironic given that he is becoming one and still doesnt understand where that will take him. The father in law reveals that he is completely indifferent to vickers and that vickers is only onboards for as long as circumstance dictates that this is viable. When Vickers no longer has the option of attempting to fit in, He sacrifices himself and fights hard against cruel oppressors.
He may not understand why he should treat the prawns with respect at the start of the film but hes finding it hard to ignore his nature. At the end of the film he embraces his nature, having ironically become the oppressed himself he is now free/forced to chart a course for himself that doesnt involve attempting to fit in with a cruel world.
Although the other 2 films in the "trilogy" aren't quite as good, "District 9", "Elysium" and "Chappie" make a nice binge watch if you've got a day with nothing better to do
Any plans to do a similar video for Chapi and Elysium?
Not enough good body horror out there. This movie has some of the best, most genuine body horror I have ever seen. District 9 is in my top 5 films ever.
When I watched this movie, I wondered how much I’m missing out on by approaching it from my perspective as someone white from the US. To me, the racial/alien metaphor almost felt disrespectful to folks who experience discrimination. At the same time, morality metaphor in sci-fi blockbuster is something I usually love
Hell yes! Why can't we get movies like this anymore...
Elysium is also brilliant and for that matter Chappie. Not sure what he did after that
Love this movie so much!
The ridiculous government stooge evicting giant ets was what really held me Great inventive ideas and just a 5 star job all around. Really enjoyable with a deep societal moral.
If only Fox had greenlit Neil's Alien 5
now that Picard is in its last season, did you start rethink on wether or not to do a retrospective video on it?
Been waiting for the sequel ever since I first saw it. Hope that happens someday
Top 10 for sure
Really good episode 👌👌
This is one of few movies I can't watch. The use of shakycam instead of steadycam made me rage-quit only after few minutes. I once heard that shakiness was actually increased in post. I don't know it it's true, but it looks like it is. The ironic part is that documentaries are recorded in such a way to keep image stable and steady as much as possible. For example they use a shoulder rig with battery moved back to balance the front part of the camera, this makes it more steady even when running with it...
Okay but evil mega corporations aren't a trope that's just real life.
Blomkamp's only good movie, but it is really good. Excellent mixture of The Fly crossed with some social commentary, and it works really well. His other films have been conceptually great, but the execution just hasn't been there, and the less said about his awful Alien 3 retcon the better.
This movie is amazing
To me this was the movie of the decade.
These guys should have been bigger. This film was sooo worth the $.
I never watched District 9, it just never appealed to me.
Still can't say I feel like I missed out.
Have you ever considered a retrospective on Alien Nation?
The movie which led to the tv series ( still fantastic ) and the later tv movies are such an interesting IP
Dealt w social issues in a way and at a time where it was unheard of
Fox of course canceled the show regretted it so much they started making tv movies about the series
Honestly I think you would love the series it’s a little hard to find these days since it’s not streaming
Most of its on UA-cam
I’d be happy to send the series for a retrospective on it
Did ever know krull
they should have had Blomkamp do Star Wars....
This is an interesting film ...
Why are you still on Windows 7?
2:15 Stargate Based
MS was right wanting to keep the control, look how paramount has trashed it...
After I first watched this film, the phrase "fooken' Prons" entered my everyday vocabulary.
"Ten years? Ten fokkin years???" 🤣
“Holy shit!” In African accent.
By order of the pesky fooken blinders
Yup 😂😂
Let's all go to Gunters for some lunch!
I'm dying to try that menu with French fries.
Want a sequel but scared to death of one.
Some films are just fine being left untouched as they ended perfectly. Just look at Pacific rim for example...
@@TeoTH80 why did you have to remind me there is a sequel to Pacific Rim? Here I was thinking I had forgotten that dumster fire...
@@TeoTH80
It never happened... It never happened...
Uprising isn't real...
If the same people are involved, I’m invested either way.
Just hope no wokeness seeps it’s way in, hopefully that movement will uncover itself by than and be dead in its tracks just like BLM is doing.
Sad that this even has to be mentioned in a movie like this.
@@markvonschober6872 as if the original wasn't already 'woke' as fuck?
This movie is hands down one of the greatest and also the most underappreciated movies of all time. Sheer brilliance.
Blomkamp has such a unique and striking visual style with so much potential. It's a pity that the long form screenwriting sometimes falls a bit short.
Yeah elysium seemed like same place same thing
@@dosmastrify And Chappie had a similar structure because of the documentary segments.
@@freemantle85 I really liked “Chappie”
This is a damn fine film. So glad you were able to produce this Retrospective. Thank you Rowan. The ending of the film is a real treat, leaving the audience wanting more. It did not set up a sequel per se, instead one is left with one's imagination and speculation. Ideal for discussions with friends. Clever ideas generated in an after-dinner discussion can be genuinely enthralling.
What amazed me most about District 9 was that the SFX were so realistic. It really looked as if there was a massive spaceship hanging in the air over the city!
I know one of the CGI team.
@@MrkBO8 How did they make it look so good (in simple terms please)?
@@NavarinoDC WETA studios has the amswer
What’s amazing about the SFX is that the budget of the movie was only $30 million, but the SFX looked so much better than other big blockbuster movies that costs over $100 million to make!
I'm surprised you didn't mention the metaphor of SA's history with discrimination, especially in terms of forced removals. For many in SA it was such a clear allegory of our history.
Not to mention for many outside of SA it was a way to spread awareness and discussion about parts of history that may have been glossed over or otherwise ignored.
The people in the street interviews in the movie were actually talking about Nigerians, not extraterrestrials, so yeah...
South Africa is a present day tragedy
@@DuckmanYaHeard still better than at any time in the past
I'm guessing if you mention stuff like that UA-cam buries it for being "controversial" or some crap
I remember little of "Avatar" after two viewings. "District 9" stuck in my mind for years, and then got better at second viewing; it hit me all over again.
Exactly.
Me too the second time it was better
Right! I barely recall Avatar, but I can remember most every scene in this movie!
Only thing i remember from avatar is that they had tentacle sex with a weed.
You remember little of Avatar because there is little to remember. It’s an empty shell of a story. Even the second is
That was a great retro/review to start off 2023. D9 is such a unique gem in the genre, and despite the teasing of a sequel with Christopher's promise to return the film is so weirdly perfect in its own way that I actually wouldn't be mad if the sequel never actually materialized. Looking forward to your Elysium retro/review.
I think this should have gotten the Oscar instead of The Hurt Locker. And Blomkamps Alien movie would most likely have been just as awesome.
I think we know the reason why hurt locker won the oscar
District 9 and 5 other film should have won Best Picture at the Oscars instead of The Hurt Locker in my opinion.
District 9 was amazing and realistic and disturbing in some ways. I think I watched it twice when I got it (didn't get to watch in the theater) but I haven't rewatched it since, and not sure why. This makes me want to rewatch. It was brilliant and unique science fiction and criticism in its own way. Great stuff.
I havent watched it since I realized how effed up Die Antwoord is... their presence in this movie now overshadows everything and leaves me with a bad taste... wich is sad because it is a good movie...
I’ve never understood why the sequel hasn’t been made, Christopher has yet to return and save his people, Wikus is waiting to be ‘fixed’, MNU getting its comeuppance for the experiments etc. there’s definitely a lot more story to tell.
I friggin love Niel Blomkampf's movies, they are all so unique and awesome. District 9, Chappie, and Elysium are three of my top ten favorite movies, whatever he touches turns to gold in my opinion.
One of the best Scifi films ever created. And im gonna rewatch it NOW!
I loved that movie and when I saw(and bought) the art book of it, I was blown away from discovering all the imagination behind the alien designs along with all the logos, and made me realize that a movie is not a singular vision but a collectives collaborative work among many artists, that is what sparked my interest in wanting to go in concept artist and discover a whole other world.
This film is the reason I'm in film school now... this was such a special film for me at the time of its release. I was way too young to watch it, but I was hooked and amazed by it. It sparked that passion for filmmaking, I thought big films could only be made in Hollywood, but this was made in my country! So cool, I love this film.
I think Neill is most famous for what films he hasn't made.
He has an even harder time getting things made than Guillermo del Toro.
To be fair, Chappie might be one of the worst movies I've ever seen (I don't actively seek to watch bad movies though) so I can see why. That horror movie he made some years ago was critically panned too. At this point, I think the is just not cut out for the feature filmmaking, that said his shorts from the Oasis Studios label are pretty good. Interested how his Grand Turismo movie will turn out, making something outside his wheelhouse (sorry for the pun) might be what he needed.
@@koklusz89 100% agree, Chappie is absolutely dreadful. I also thought Elysium was underwhelming and moribund. district 9 showed so much promise in Bloomkamp as an artist and I've been disappointed since.
This movie had everything; great cast, engaging story, realistic effects, subtext, and humor.
I loved District 9, but in a weird way I think I preferred Alive in Joburg. Blomkamp is fantastic at creating a world, but I feel like his feature films tend to run out of ideas story-wise. While I think District 9 is likely his strongest, the overall plot doesn't feel very special once it moves away from the documentary style.
Alive obviously doesn't have the budget or runtime, but I love the way it just puts us down in this fascinating and believable world.
I went into this movie blind at the theater. For the first part of the movie I didn't know what to think. By the last third I was transfixed. It's one of my favorite movies of all time...a very rare masterpiece of science fiction.
My GF just took me to the theater to see this and I still remember how blown away I was on the bus ride home. It was so refreshing to see something different in science fiction at the time. At first the documentary-style reminded me of predator 2 and the drug war. During the pandemic I had opportunity to watch the film second time and it still holds up so well.
District 9 remains as impressive now as it was back in 2009. So well crafted and fully realised you'd have been forgiven for thinking Blomkamp had been making movies for decades. It's a shame none of his follow-ups have lived up to his first go.
He and Gareth Edwards seem to be these guys who put their all into their initial efforts, with so much creativity with so little to work with, that there's seemingly nothing left afterwards. But shit, they made them and continue to have a career, so good for them. And I would have loved to have seen Blomkamp's Halo movie
I’m still waiting for Christopher to return.
I've seen Copely in a couple of films and he's bloody great.
IMHO hes a criminally underrated actor. His WWI British soldier character in Hardcore Henry made me want a video game with him as my team mate. And his take on Howling Mad Murdock in A-team was hilarious. Id watch just about anything with him in it.
I remember watching Avatar after this. Man what a come down. District 9 was so damn good.
Yep, not even close, it's almost an insult to even compare them. D9 is just in another league from "look eye candy and actions, look at our fancy effects". Avatar is so meh to me, it's just trying to BUY it's way into history, D9 earns it's place.
This movie is an incredible example of a genre that often goes unstated, and seems so little talked about (literally, look at the wiki page for a sad sad example of this), but which I love nonetheless. It is a fantastic tragicomedy, and a solid recommend for thos who like it. It is not just drops of humor to spicy up a tragedy or serious bizz drama otherwise. It is a proper blend of both.
Remember seeing this at the movies. I was going to see something else that turned out to be sold out so I picked this at random. Knowing nothing about it and going in blind made it one of the best cinema experiences I ever had.
When I was 8 or 9 I was taken to the cinema to see Clash of the Titans. Was very upset to find tickets sold out ; fortunately my dad was able to get tickets for some little film playing in the cinema's smaller screen. Than film was a little know indie 😃 film, Raiders of the Lost Ark .....
I went to see District 9 and G.I.Joe the same day. One cost 30 million, and one cost 170 million. Lower budgeted film had better effects. Money doesn't actually buy everything.
Listening to the description of how Microsoft wanted to retain creative control: "...partnering with 20th Century Fox" Well that's your problem right there, Microsoft...
Since you covered Avatar and District 9, both of which use motion capture, could you do videos on the modern Planet of the Apes trilogy?
The new Star Trek movies were meh to awful.
Avatar was so bad I couldn't get through more than the first 20 minutes of it.
District 9 was pretty darn good.
CG artist and filmmakers often throw around the term "photo realism" but District 9 is one of maybe three movies where the CGI is so good I honestly can't tell what's practical and what's not.
I think if Copely had been a more seasoned actor then the character of vickus wouldn't have had the same level of awkward charm while being followed about by a documentary crew.
So far I've liked District 9, Elysium, and even Chappie (it's like a Short Circuit reboot, w/o being a SC3)
D9 - i saw in a smaller art theater, it was incredible, and everyone I told about it was riveted ... but didn't go. It's like a big sci-fi cult movie at this point.
I definitely would've preferred Neil's Halo, and if we are lucky, MCU will pick him up to direct their XMCU for a 'Days of Future Past' analog. I'd really like to see what he can do with Sentinels Vs Mutants in a dystopian setting.
This movie resonated on so many levels. I think it facilitated a spirit beyond what it's creators imagined. That's the trait of a really good movie. It becomes a endearing yet repulsive metaphor for things people would like to forget but know deep down that they must remember.