9 Reasons To See District 9
Yep, I know – plenty of noise and hype and buzz around District 9 already. I’m not hopping on the bandwagon though – I am genuinely excited about what this movie means for Johannesburg, South Africa and South African cinema (which I’m sure you’ll agree could use a kick up the butt).
My 9 reasons to go see District 9:
- It has already amassed a formidable rating of 8.7/10 on the Internet Movie Database – which has it currently ranked #41 on the IMDb’s Top 250 Movies of all time list – very significant achievements
- The director, Neill Blomkamp, is South African born and thus yet another example of the horde of amazing young talent South Africa has to offer the world
- The cast is all South African. No overexposed Hollywood faces. Fresh, exciting new talents that more than hold their own throughout the film
- It’s shot in Jo’burg. Need I say more? Gritty, dusty, broken, sad, triumphant, beautiful… my city
- It will remind you as a South African about what happened here not so long ago, and in my opinion, there’s a whole generation of young Saffas who need reminding. Non-South Africans may see, if they choose, a deeper side to our story. Or feel free to ignore the political undertones and enjoy the action :)
- The word ‘doos’ in a Hollywood blockbuster is not just worth viewing for, it’s priceless :P
- The CGI is phenomenal, and the action scenes are brilliant
- Sharlto Copley delivers a moving performance as the protagonist, Wikus van der Merwe, and I hope to see some nominations steered his way…
- I have not seen a reaction in a cinema, to both the humourous and shocking elements of a film, like I saw to D9 in a very long time. People REALLY laughed. People were REALLY challenged. People were REALLY in awe. It made me proud to be called South African
So what you waiting for? If you have seen it, would love to hear your thoughts…
“People REALLY laughed. People were REALLY challenged. People were REALLY in awe.”
Totally agree with you on that. I can’t remember that I’ve ever been so engrossed in a movie since District 9. Don’t forget the, “People were REALLY grossed out”. That nails picking part!? Holy shit, ouch.
Yeah that was rather icky – but not totally original – two of those ‘evolution’ scenes seemed to pay homage to Cronenberg’s “The Fly”
Have to agree with you, Mike. D9 has given me nightmares already and I only saw it yesterday – quite telling since I usually forget a movie’s plot within hours.
I absolutely loved the way subtle Apartheid reminders were used, a fantastic way to encourage and celebrate how far our country has come in 20 years.
I gave it a total two-thumbs-up. Despite taking just a leeeetle too long to get the movie’s storyline really going.
Caught myself squirming in my seat at times. Got quite emotional watching the Casspirs & the fear induced violence – so recent in our past and yet so quickly forgotten. Also found myself glancing up at the sky on my way home and for a second or so life and art became blurred – realised how easy it must have been to panic when War of the Worlds was first aired on the BBC.
You’re right Mike, it does make one proud to be a South African – particularly when you realise how far we have come.
Still so much to do.
Haha, despite watching the late show on Friday so almost falling asleep in crucial bits, totally loved it, too. We can be proud as it didn’t try to come across as a serious SA tale, it had all the makings of a great sci-fi/ comedy ;) Peeps were shrieking with laughter! Cool list, Mike.
Watched the movie on Saturday, it was awesome. For some reason the nigerians cracked me up, Hakim Kae Kazim has already blasted the movie for stereotyping Nigerians…
Only South African, rephrase, only white South Africans don’t see the racism in this film, WHY, BECAUSE TO THEM RACISM IS JUST AS NORMAL AS EVERYDAY BEHAVIOR. The movie is racist, has racial stereotypes that possible can lead to xenophobia.
Neill had a great idea but his being South African got the best of him, like Darrel Roodt(Faith, Zimbabwe, Yesterday) has one vied of African people, witchcraft, barbaric, and mindless!
Well it will not end as Mike, a filmmaker finds nothing wrong with the picture painted. Mike let me ask you. if the script said ‘The Jews/ started trading catfood with the prawns, and even having sexual relations with them’ do you think the Jewish Board of Deputies would laugh or white South Africa.
Media is a powerful tool and people who engage it need to stop pretending they are not aware of its impact, it is a continuation of disrespect for the African people.
The movie is out of taste!
See
1) http://daveguzman.blogspot.com/2009/08/is-district-9-racist.html
2. http://mikeely.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/mike-ely-on-district-9-choking-on-that-spoonful-of-tar/#comment-16907
3. http://www.thetimes.co.za/Entertainment/Article.aspx?id=1055858
I’m not so sure what you mean by “South African cinema … needs a kick up the butt”
We have some really good talent out there. Charlize, Gavin Hood to name but a few.
Making movies is expensive, yet a lot of films that do get made in SA are actually quite good. Tsotsi, for example, won an Oscar for best foreign film.
Forgiveness was excellent.
But District 9 will teach us that homegrown works commercially.
http://nypress.com/article-20206-from-mothership-to-bullship.html
I rest my case
@Sabstance
Of course the movie is about racism & stereotypes. Racism is a disease we’re all afflicted by to some degree or other. We all have to deal with it within us.
Did this movie not challenge you in any way? It challenged me, and I consider myself “enlightened”. But that is of course my own perspective of myself mixed with the feedback I get from others.
I’ll revisit my thoughts about the movie and try to see it from your perspective. I only ask that you do the same.
@DaveG
I accept that and I did look at it that way. I am a 2D animator and film editor so I went to see it mainly for the effects(3D) that got praised. Like I said to me its a good idea and if Neill had racial sensitivity, I’d have a facebook page telling people how great it is, but am not cos it offended me as a filmmaker and someone working to fix the image and mind of the African in my community.
@sabstance
i only went to see a hopefully good movie and judged it as such. racism was far from my mind
however,
if you look for racism you will find it. of the bat before even seeing the movie i noticed the parallel with this films title and topic.and the events in cape town, old district 6. the racial themes are far from subtle. only an idiot could miss it, no points to you for pointing it out.
so why is it that “if the jews” were portrayed as selling catfood it would have caused an international row but, africa could never provoke such a response. because:
1.) africa is insignificant to the world economically. money is power
2) stereotypes are earned. nigerians are known internationally for their criminal creativity. personally i can not think of any other attribute nigerians are known for. africa as a whole has rightfully earned its reputation as the continent of criminals and beggars.
3) in general the world is fed up with africas problems that never go away despite very generous from the west.
4) africas woes always being blamed on the west
if only africans could raise such big alarms to corruption and incompetence as they whine about racism then it might have had the clout and respect in the eyes of the world not to be “painted in such a picture.”
this is africas own fault.
http://www.zasucks.com/?p=3192#comment-9191
This is where I get what White South Africa is up to.
# I hate K4s Says:
May 25th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Can anybody tell me when the uprising will begin, we are wasting time and they are gathering strength. It should have been done long ago, these savages need to be wiped of the face of the planet.
# Leanna Says:
May 25th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Ek het die woord Didi aan die binnekant van my venster gekry woensdag oggend en haar mail van Zandri later die oggend. Ek kan dit nie verklaar nie? Toeval of is daar iets daar agter? Sal graag wil hoor wt ander se.
My email vanderml@molapo.co.za
# Leanna Says:
May 25th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Ek het die woord Didi aan die binnekant van my venster gekry woensdag oggend en haar mail van Zandri later die oggend. Ek kan dit nie verklaar nie? Toeval of is daar iets daar agter? Sal graag wil hoor wt ander se.
My email vanderml@molapo.co.za
# Uhuru Guru Says:
May 25th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
@ Jeff VA Rebel: Thanks for your comments, always appreciated.
@ Bacteria: Sound like a good idea, I’ll look into it!
@ I hate K4’s: Sorry mate, but it won’t happen.
@ Leanna: Interessant, verduidelik bietjie? Ek het self ‘n eienaardige gewaarwording van haar gehad maar wil dit liefs nie hier bespreek nie.
# I hate K4s Says:
May 26th, 2009 at 3:37 am
Uhuru Guru, so you are saying the whites wont rise up and fight against this black scum in SA. Then what is the point of this site?
# Anonymous Says:
May 26th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
@ I hate K4s Says:
I think the point of this site is to educate whites on what is really happening in SA and for the benefit of whites abroad who can do something to stop their country from becoming a third world shit hole full of niggers.
I is also a unifying force in SA.
# Duckshlong Says:
May 27th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
who can do something to stop their country from becoming a third world shit hole full of niggers.
There is no way to prevent this happening. I live in the caribbean, and not 200 years of freedom has made these wogs better.
The bottom line is in any country in the world ; the darker the skin, the bigger the fuckup
http://kaffer.uuuq.com/
I gues this seals the debate and this kaffer accepts your opinions and let you keep your world view. I will send you love and prayers to heal your blindness and hate for life.
@sabstance
I’m angry with you.
Angry with you for allowing a racist, bigoted minority (who by the way can be found in any country in the world) to cause you to tar all of us who are lighter in pigmentation with the same brush! That is not what is happening in all of SA.
I suppose the fact that I witnessed close to 1,000 mainly white volunteers give of their time and sweat this week to build houses in townships for total strangers (who happened to be black) is a total anomaly and will effect your thinking not one bit.
You’re intent on seeing the half empty glass. Those of us (of whatever race and colour we are) who see the glass as half full will build this country into a great nation. It will not happen overnight and the path will be one of pain and learning.
Stop seeing what you want to see.
@daveg
You said Neill is right to show the Nigerians as depicted in District 9 based on the ‘facts’, why am I wrong to conclude on ‘white South Africa’ based on the ‘FACTS’ I just provided.
All I did was apply your thinking on Nigeria and take it to the case of ‘white South Africa’
STOP SHOWING ME WHAT I DON”T WANT TO SEE!!
@Sabstance
I’ve just reread all of my comments to tried to work out where you got the impression that I gave ANY kind of thumbs up to depicting Nigerians as gangsters as a morality statement. I think you’re are either confusing me with someone else or you’re making an assumption. As I have never visited Nigeria and the only Nigerians I have interacted with (apart from emails from a few 419 scammers) have been well educated, pleasant, and professional people, I don’t have any specific “thinking on Nigeria”.
And surely, if you are not prepared to open your eyes and be shown what you don’t want to see, how do you expect the bigots you are complaining about to change their worldviews and attitudes.
C’mon mate – stop painting the world and SA specifically in monochrome – life is full of subtle colours.
DaveG
Would you say the same in defense of prejudice against the people of Nigeria?
My point here is that South Africa will never stop prejudice, hate, racism, xenophobia if there are parts of society who organise to engage in hate speach, hate theories and speak prejudice as the fact, that movie is loved by so many white South Africans because it depicts exactly the view they hold in the websites/blogs I provided above. I am saying to you, the websites quoted are the reason why people bite my head off when i say that film is anti-African.
If you must know, I am a community development agent, 9 years in developing this country, I studied at a community started and funded college (thanks to the Schengen states ha ha) SO, I have a good understanding of where ‘black South Africa’ is taking this country, but after 9 years I am irritated at how White South Africa has refused to change the way they see us, and am generalising because its hard to say there is an un-racist white South Africa because the one you think un-racist might be the one contributing most to the websites using ‘psuedoname? SEE MY POINT.
C’mon mate – stop painting the world and SA specifically in monochrome – life is full of subtle colours. HAVE SOUTH AFRICA NOT PAINTED NIGERIA IN MONOCHROME???? WHERE IN THIS POST DO YOU SAY THAT? YOU ARE BIASED OF COURSE.
think:
Akin Omotoso
Abena Ayivor
Hakeem Kae Kazaam
Paulino YQ
Prof. K. Omotoso
J. Onanuga These are the Nigerians i know personally, all hardworking, contributing to this country more than anyone. Name me 3 Nigerian druglords and I will accept the South African view as theirs!.
Am at a point where am very disappointed by this country, its liberalism, its emotionless, its passive citizens.
Prejudice against any people is evil and dangerous, before the holocaust, Europe created prejudices against the Jewish people, before Genocide the Hutus created (ok the Belgians did that!) stereotypes that ended in Tutsis being called ‘cockroaches’(prawns) the list is endless Dave!!
NOW HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN A FILMMAKER ENDORSING A VIEW THAT NIGERIANS ARE THE CRIMINALS IN SOUTH AFRICA WHEN HE WITNESSED THE XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS TO FOREIGNERS, will the conclusion is simple, ‘AFRICAN WILL ALWYS KILL EACH OTHER’ said a US senator when asked to push for UN SECURITY counsel to send forces to Rwanda.
Anyone who tells me that we should not learn from our past is asking for history to repeat itself. And no with the way things happen in South Africa, the African foreigners may not be the next victims when people in poverty revolt next time, ‘White’ people might be the victims! Which is why DaveG YOU NEED TO STOP ANY PREJUDICING STATEMENT BEING MADE AGAINST ANY PEOPLE. Because no people are ever immune from being painted by the shit brush. i know this because I am a Zulu who had the most terrible experiences when working in Johannesburg.
We need to understand that media, film, radio, newspapers, carry with them many possibilities and one is the ability to change perception, WHY DO WE ALL THINK NIGERIANS ARE GANGSTERS WHEN NONE OF CAN GIVE ME AN ADDRESS TO ONE SUCH GANGSTER, THE MEDIA TOLD YOU SO!
For all the racist racing, I have but one thing to say – GET A LIFE !No matter what color skin you have, there is a lot of people who screw up or succeed and they come in all colors,shapes and sizes.Don’t critisize guys.Point is that there was a movie made in South Africa and it placed us on the map.
@sabstance I agree 100%
Just watched the movie and as an African it makes me cringe. The movie is stereotype from the word go and yes while I hate using the “racist” in a lose way, this film unfortunately has to be one. Check the cast out: White=heads of the multinational arms industry; powerful, business like, not blemish free but generally portrayed as living in a rarified world of board meetings and cooperate intrigue; whites= all the expert commentators, University professors, savvy journalists technical experts on human biology etc whites= the no nonsense action hero but oppressive neverthless military types. Now look at blacks: the now famous Nigerian gangsters which I must say was the worst stereotypical portrayal I have seen in years; black:=the hoards of “burn them on the stake” xenophobes: blacks= the “follow me and see what I do” trainees and “yes baas” askaris; blacks=the cow’s head relishing street vendors; blacks= the simpletons on the street whose wives and sneakers are stolen by the aliens. It started off very nicely and the idea was realy great. But it quickly degenrated into a uncreative and lazy play with stereotypes … no subtlity; no hard research but instead anyhting that your average tabloid in South Africa would spew.
Sools I don’t want to be in the map for insulting people or claims that the insults are in order to put me on the map what nonsense r u on about!
I strongly believe that white South Africa will have to unlearn their prejudices fast and black South Africa will have to deal with their relating and prejudice towards Africa very fast.
@ Sabstance
I actually stopped reading the whole comment feed after your quotes from some chat.
I am a 17 year old white female…. I was 2 when SA had its first democratic elections! My best friend is Indian, my head boy and deputy head girl in my school are black (which I voted for). It is because of people like you that ALWAYS pull the racism card that I am losing faith in this wonderful country. We are a wonderful nation with the most beautiful land in perhaps the whole world! SA is credited with so many wonderful things that get over looked because people like you always claim racism at every oppertunity! (Please note that I am not refering to a specific race group but to all people who are guilty of it.)
You have no right to insult me by refering to me as scheming “a white south african”. I am as African as you are brother. I was born and raised here, Africa flows through my veins. Perhaps your culture has been on the continent longer but MY culture was started here to! You have no right to refer to white people as you have. I will not deny that there are some very racist white people but there are some very racist black/coloured/indian/chinese/and every other culture people to!
I am *excuse me* gatvol of having to hear “the black people said blah blah” “the white people said blah blah” “the coloured people said blah blah” ect. I played no part in Apartheid I should be exposed to “the people said” because that is all that we are!! Just people!! So pretty please, for the sake of YOUR and MY children (one day) stop pulling the race at out at every chance you get. How will SA ever get to be up there where it belongs if people do?
and by the way while you are at it please research the anglo-boer war. This will show you that “the white (Afrikaans) people” have also fought, been suppressed -and died, for this country. If you think the holocast in Germany was bad! You should hear some of the HORROR stories of how the British tortured, abused and killed innocent woman and children JUST because they were of a certain “Race”… Apartheid was by no means right, but it was not (and still isnt) the only racial unfairness in SA!!!!
Please do yourself a favour and get out there and smell the fynbos, hike table mountain or have a braai coz Goodness we are lucky to be Saffas!!!! Dont get caught up in things that will make you forget to be grateful for what we have now…
@Melode
My best friend is Indian, my head boy and deputy head girl in my school are black (which I voted for)….Does voting for a ‘black head girl end racism in people’s heart’ …ha ha ha you just found a solution to the world most evil ill!
IF GENERALISATIONS ABOUT WHITE PEOPLE ARE UNFAIR WHY ARE THEY FAIR ABOUT NIGERIANS and AFRICANS?????????
Problem is everyone of you comes with an argument to redeem and explain their white guild and put it as a base for argument. I am making a simple point here…YOU DON”T SEE THE RACISM AND PREJUDICE IN THE MOVIE BECAUSE IT IS PART OF YOUR WORLD VIEW and if THIS IS A GENERALISATION think there fore ABOUT THE GENERALISATION District 9 makes against Nigeria and Afrika in general.
And if you fail to understand this agin its because you’ve been looked inside your surbubia house for too long to know whats rignt and whats wrong.
Melodie you asking me to ‘smell the fynbos, hike table mountan or have a braai’ don’t you see here that again you are projecting/suggesting your culture to me as a superior culture cos, yet again if I educate you u will say am pulling a race card, something you don’t seem to understand as much as you don’t understand racism as concept.
I am really not interested in the death of your people in the supposed camp because you seem to suggest that lets accept evil because it was also done against white people..a stupid argument really, but hey you are 17 maybe you stay at Reizt for all i care.
I DidnT LIKe THat .. :P ..
If only more people would hear about this.
If I had a dollar for each time I came here… Incredible read.
Hehe I’m really the only comment to your great post.