Saxton Reads! & Reviews

District 9 ***
reviewed by CarolK

I didn't think I'd like this one. First of all, it's sci-fi, secondly it deals with aliens, and lastly I heard there was lots of shooting and violence. On the whole, not my cup of tea. So why did I find myself captivated this past Saturday evening? I'm not entirely certain but the story was just unique enough to keep my interest. It's about a group of aliens, stranded on earth in 1982. Known as prawns, kind of bottom feeding crustacean like creatures, they are relegated to a military guarded slum, District 9, in Johannesburg. Their numbers have increased to well over a million in the 21 century, necessitating The Multinational United (MNU) to relocate the whole mass. The political undertones including apartheid, witch craft and the social themes of segregation keep the plot moving. The main characters, one human and one extraterrestrial, are well drawn. The human, Wikus (Sharlto Copley) is strangely complex and surprises me with his actions. Both are somehow appealing. It could have been better, less shoot-em-up, less over the top antics, better looking aliens. Several reviewers found it extremely racist.

 Yep, it made me uneasy, kept me on the seat of my chair, promises a sequel and provided lots of stuff for my husband and I to discuss. Not bad for a free flick from the library.