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I didn't know much at all about District 9 when entering the theater, which made my experience all the more better. As far as I knew, there were aliens living in a camp on the earth, and that people said it made references to apartheid, since it's set in South Africa. The commercials didn't seem to reveal very much, and in one sense, I'm glad they didn't, because it made the experience that much more delightful, but I think I would have been drawn in earlier if I had known I was going to feel like I was watching Bad Taste on a more impressive scale.

That's right, this movie goes right back to the roots of Peter Jackson, the man who made alien and zombie movies in his youth that were humorous and gory. It's produced by him, and comes after he's made his successes in the world, and thus it feels like watching one of his old movies again. This time, though, the movie is written and directed by Neill Blomkamp, and based on a short film of his made a few years back.

At any rate, like Bad Taste, there's a kind of nerdish protagonist who is desperate and forced into unbelievable action, and Ric and I kept thinking, "I'm a Derek, and Dereks don't run!" (which would make sense to you if you've seen Bad Taste). In this case, the protagonist's name is Wickus, and he's played wonderfully by Sharlto Copley. The movie begins as a sort of documentary of the events leading to the plot of the movie, which I won't be covering. It seemed a little shaky to me at first. I wasn't sure what to think of it. But as soon as Copley showed up and started walking door to door through the alien shantytown, I knew I was probably going to enjoy myself.

Honestly, I'd have to say that for a summer action movie, this movie was so much more satisfying than Transformers: Rise of the Machines or Terminator Salvation. Those focused on wowing the audience rather than integrating creativity or a sense of a real world situation into them. This gritty form of action didn't feel very gimmicky, and the urgency of Wickus' character felt more authentic than those of John Connor and Sam Witwicky, even though in those movies, the fate of all humans rested on their shoulders.

Anyway, going into this movie, I expected something more serious, and something not quite as creative, crazy, and exciting as District 9 turned out to be. I mean, I would have expected more gore in The Hurt Locker than in this movie, but no... this one takes the cake, and definitely reminded me of the old Peter Jackson in that aspect. Ric calls it one of the best sci-fi movies he's seen in years. I'd have to say that I myself was pretty impressed. It won't be for everyone, but it was certainly a pleasant surprise to both of us.