Review by Gary Tooze

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Description: From producer Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) and director Neill Blomkamp comes a startlingly original science fiction thriller that "soars on the imagination of its creators" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone). With stunning special effects and gritty realism, the film plunges us into a world where the aliens have landed... only to be exiled to a slum on the fringes of Johannesburg. Now, one lone human discovers the mysterious secret of the extraterrestrial weapon technology. Hunted and hounded through the bizarre back alleys of an alien shantytown, he will discover what it means to be the ultimate outsider on your own planet.

 

 

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After pressing 'Play' you have the immediate option to opt for Movie IQ which, if chosen, includes a small icon while the film runs which you can access to have filmic details and information displayed on screen. This only works if your player is connected to the Internet - ditto for the cineChat feature which allows you to chat to friends as the film runs. Supplements include a commentary with Director/Co-Writer Neill Blomkamp, 23 deleted scenes and the three-part documentary “The Alien Agenda: A Filmmaker's Log.” The first part of the documentary explores the pre-production process and creation of the world of District 9, Peter Jackson’s role in producing the film, and the unorthodox approach to using South Africa as the setting for this film. The second part delves into the shooting style of the film utilizing small handheld cameras to tell the tale, the difficulties of shooting in Johannesburg, the challenges of shooting scenes that would include visual effects later in the process, and the overall challenges encountered during the production process. The third chapter of the documentary investigates the task of designing and editing the film's sound effects, and the general challenges encountered during the editing process. There are also four featurettes: “Metamorphosis: The Transformation of Wikus” looks at the practical effects employed by filmmaker Blomkamp and the artists at WETA to create Wikus’s metamorphosis into an alien; “Innovation: The Acting and Improvisation of District 9” shows Blomkamp’s direction of the actors, his encouragement of improvisation, and the actors’ process for working together under these guidelines; “Conception and Design: Creating the World of District 9” depicts the amazing design and theory behind the world of District 9, including Alien Design, Alien Technology, Space Travel, MNU and The First Reaction Force Battalion; and “Alien Generation: The Visual Effects of District 9” offers an in-depth look at the process of shooting visual effects scenes and incorporating CGI aliens realistically into the scenes in post-production. Bonus features exclusive to the Blu-ray Disc include a Digital Copy and the Interactive Map feature “Joburg from Above: Satellite and Schematics of the World of District 9,” that allows users to explore alien technology and weaponry, MNU mercenary armory, and more from the film through a series of satellite maps, schematics and photo-real files. The Digital Copy file will be included on the Blu-ray Disc for transfer to the PSP via PlayStation3, a PC or a Mac.

BOTTOM LINE:
The occasional heavy-handed analogies that spread liberally throughout District 9 partially expose its brilliance. The quasi-documentary persuasion of the film leans to a political undercurrent. It works even with the offhanded humor that is sometimes less obvious to detect. This is an interesting science-fiction - with impressive storytelling and a purposefully unsettling conclusion. Even beyond looking too deep this is a competent and rewarding film experience and the Blu-ray does it all. The remarkable A/V transfer, extensive supplements and excellent price make it a deal home theater aficionados can't, nor shouldn't, pass up. Strongly recommended!