DISTRICT 9 (by Neill Blomkamp)

DISTRICT 9 is an upcoming movie directed by Neill Blomkamp (I dude I've admired and tracked since 2005!) and produced by Peter-"Lord Of The Rings"-Jackson. The current movie-plot is "officially" described as: "An extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth suddenly find a kindred spirit in a government agent that is exposed to their biotechnology." [IMDB].


Above screen-shot is of one of the ARG** / viral websites for the movie @ www.D-9.com - which shows a satellite view of "District 9" (Human Zone) - as well as basic guidelines (Rules & Regulations) pertaining to Humans and Non-Humans interactions - run by Multinational United. [CLICK THRU for more]


TRE-INTEPRETATION: From the various online-reports of the screening at ShoWest the past week (links posted below) - I've interpreted "District 9" as a movie filmed via news-report/documentary-style set in a "real-world" scenario whereby Aliens have landed on Earth, and have been assimilated into society but treated less than humans, and have been herded into Johannesburg, South Africa - enclosed within "District 9". Simply put - to me it is "Alien-Apartheid" with a global-perspective.


[Higher-res via SpyFilms.com]
Two prior short films spring into mind: ALIVE IN JOBURG [blogged / circa 2005 / shown above] which quite a few, if not ALL website references point to, and another earlier quasi-corporate piece, with TETRA VAAL [viral-www / shown below] - which dealt more with robots than aliens, but perhaps a precursor to his "affinity" with South Africa - seeing that Neill himself was born in Johannesburg, in 17 September 1979 [via] - which no doubt give him an insight / first-hand knowledge of the locale, if not subject matter, IMHO.


[First posted in 2005]
SHOWEST-2009: Slashfilm has a concise plot-summary, while "Quint" from Aint It Cool News describes the footage seen in fuller-detail, as did Alex Billington @ FirstShowing.net.

Other references have put District 9 in the vein of "Cloverfield" [tagged] - which I feel is only applicable via the usage of "low-tech" handheld camera style. But there is definitely more to just the - by now cliched camera style - which was brought into the public consciousness ever since the dreadful Blair Witch Project (I have seen enough of my film students reference BWP as a "cinematic filming style", it makes me taste my owen upchuck in me mouth), IMHO.

TRE-IMPRESSIONS: What Neill does, is to take the premise of the fantastic, and grounds it into everyday life as if it were a part of it, and not special because of it. Like "a matter of fact". Not intent on spoon-feeding you "awe" - there are no (lingering) hero shots, or dramatic reveals of the "shock", it just "is" - and that's why the gasps of awe are muttered beneath your breathes, and not those you'd scream out loud, and punch your fists in the air for victory, over. In some instances, his sublime eviscarates you silently, like cinematic-seppuku, and perhaps may yet leave you questioning what you have seen - when the credits have rolled, and even asking for more. Perhaps his economical-style of story-telling - with lesser or no need for fantabulous expensive effects at every nook and crannycorner - may put off folks out for, or used to the visual-spectacle, but perhaps may appeal to those who may be sick of the augmentation of an effects-driven filmatic experience, IMHO. [More impressions at bottom of post]

But that's just what I feel from watching his short films and have no firm sense of gauge against his long-form story-telling abilities. And I do not have the privilage nor opportunity to watch what the folks at ShoWest have had. I'm just a wannabe armchair-critic regurgitating 2nd if not third-hand information, yeh? (heh). But thanks the CyberGawds for the www, innit? (heh). Anyways, here's an earlier Adidas Colors Ad Neill had directed, which showcases his "matter-of-fact" / real-world-documentarian style:


["YELLOW" = original post]
ARG/VIRAL-CAMPAIGN: Rumblings of the movie started way back in 2008 even before San Diego Comic Con. FirstShowing had identified and reported on a series of viral websites in relation to "District 9" - which, to me - runs a very ARG**-concept similar to Hellboy2 [tagged] - and compared to say, the current Terminator Salvation Skynet Research & Resist Or Be Terminated-virals [tagged] - is moreso "aggressive" in their implementation and/or roleplay-emersion, IMHO. (**Alternate Reality Game / wiki-definition)
The viral websites are predominately based on the fictitious Alien-governing (and controlling) organization "Multinational United":

- www.multinationalunited.com (Sanctioned corporate website - currently recruiting for both Humans and Non-Humans)

- www.mnuspreadslies.com (Anti-MNU blog, run by an alien named "George")

- www.mathsfromouterspace.com (hilariously low-tech website, touting usage of alien theology in education)

In addition, there is also District9News.com which is keeping track of the film, and even the existence of a District9-wiki @ d9.wikibruce.com.


[Above shows the District-9 satellite map, but of the "Non-Human" zones]


On the toy-front, I'm thinking of a series of nicely geared-out 12-inch figures, both Aliens and Human - predominately combatants - should do the trick, kitbashed would do nicely, IMHO. They can save everything else for HALO - for which mos fanboys might recognize Neill from, via his series of trailers for the "aborted" live-action movie adaptation of the game:


[First posted / Higher-res version on SpyFilms.com / Part Two posted here]

"Neill's deft blend of real-life and the fantasy cybotic-realms melds into a sweet sense of (lulled) "reality" without the overt use of sci-fi grandous - making the unreal; understatedly "real" and at the same time, the excitement of story developments brewing in the undertones, and of scenes foreshadowed but not totally revealed - leaving one in anticipation, ushered in with his signature documentary-style presentation, always in the "middle" of a story, while conveying a measure of "history", IMHO ... and continues to entertain as such, altho it remains to be seen if this could be sustained for a prolonged duration, ie: a feature length project ... and i am looking forward to that opportunity, if ever it will be realized :)"
[My personal impressions circa 2007 - when Neill's HALO movie-trailers hit the www]



SINGAPORIZED: Ironically, in Singapore - "District 9" is a much sort-after luxury central district on this island dot of ours, with Orchard Road (inclusive Cairnhill, Killiney, Leonie Hill, Orchard, Oxley) being the prime property in question [map]

heh.