Tuesday 13th October

District 9

Director: Neil Blomkamp
Year: 2009
Stars: Sharlto Copley

When I first heard about this movie, I wanted to see it. The trailer made it look really interesting, and the reviews I read were, on the whole, very positive. It sounded like an unusual take on the alien-invades-earth movie. However, I was a little put off when a friend went to see it and was overwhelmed slightly by the gore. Odd, because gore doesn't normally put me off a movie - I must be getting old. Although the gore wasn't enough to put me off when a friend asked us to go and see it with him and it would only cost us £3 each.

Although District 9 is an alien-invades-earth movie, it's not like you're thinking it is. Another Independence Day this is not. Twenty years ago aliens arrived in South Africa, and they have been living in a slum there ever since. This is the story of a government employee and his experience with those aliens. I'm trying not to give too much away, as the less you know the better. But don't worry, there's plenty of story here.

There's also character building (although not in the normal way - it's more subtle than that), plenty of gore and everything you would expect from an alien movie. But done in an excellent way to keep you watching and, more importantly, engaged. As our friend said, if you looked too hard there would probably be plenty of holes - but I don't think they were that easy to spot. For me, this was a thoroughly enjoyable, original and thought provoking alien movie.

Rating: 4 out of 5