Thursday, September 17, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Movie Review: "District 9"
I want to say this up front: I love sci-fi, so I walked into this movie with a certain bias -- having read that, if you want to hear my somewhat biased review (and let's all admit it, reviews are chockful of bias).
Go see it. Now. Turn off your computer, and buy a ticket. If you must lie, cheat, rob, kill and perjure yourself to get a ticket -- do it. God will forgive you.
This is what sci-fi is best at: holding up a funhouse mirror to our foibles, flaws and strengths and let us pick and choose what to take away. Some could look at this movie and say: that's us all right, we're never going to change -- even the aliens land on the frickin' White House lawn and sing 'We come in peace' in a three part harmony and the first thing we're going to do is shoot them in the face. Of course, you can watch the movie and say that. However, I watched this movie and would refute that comment with this: people won't change... but one person can.
That's the wonderful thing about the film -- this man changes, but it's not a sudden 'moment of clarity' -- it's a gradual learning process and it's not complete. We know at the climax of this film, Wikus is still looking out for himself, but he's also trying to buy time for the alien.
The fact that one person can change... and make others change is the core of this film and it's pulled off wonderfully.
Reminder: Go see it. Now. Shoo.
Go see it. Now. Turn off your computer, and buy a ticket. If you must lie, cheat, rob, kill and perjure yourself to get a ticket -- do it. God will forgive you.
This is what sci-fi is best at: holding up a funhouse mirror to our foibles, flaws and strengths and let us pick and choose what to take away. Some could look at this movie and say: that's us all right, we're never going to change -- even the aliens land on the frickin' White House lawn and sing 'We come in peace' in a three part harmony and the first thing we're going to do is shoot them in the face. Of course, you can watch the movie and say that. However, I watched this movie and would refute that comment with this: people won't change... but one person can.
That's the wonderful thing about the film -- this man changes, but it's not a sudden 'moment of clarity' -- it's a gradual learning process and it's not complete. We know at the climax of this film, Wikus is still looking out for himself, but he's also trying to buy time for the alien.
The fact that one person can change... and make others change is the core of this film and it's pulled off wonderfully.
Reminder: Go see it. Now. Shoo.
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