I think that they do have a home planet, it's pretty far away probably in the Andromeda Galaxy, but what I like is that they'll live on the ship for thousands of years. Or building on the original theory, Oliver is. Bind your story in the confines of reality and many of us will shut down, ignore it, emotionally switch off. Submissions should be for the purpose of informing or initiating a discussion, not just to entertain readers. This film was absolutely right to do that. The alien beings in District 9, nicknamed prawns because they look like a cross between lobsters and grasshoppers, arrive in a space ship that hovers over Johannesburg. [41] Both the score and soundtrack feature music and vocals from Kwaito artists. [9] The film also refers to contemporary evictions and forced removals to suburban ghettos in post-apartheid South Africa, as well as the resistance of its residents. There were several different colors of them. After all, they love to eat cat food. What is your own back story for these aliens? [85] The Fluid probably powers their everyday technology on their home planet. Also would explain (partially) why Wikus began transforming to begin with. The director co-wrote the script with his wife, Terri Tatchell, and chose to film in South Africa, where he was born. However, the Prawns (with their advanced technology and kinder demeanor) didn't have as much of an impact on the environment as did the humans. The film takes place in the same universe as the misadventures of the Trix rabbit. The Fluid "heals" the machines too. We know that its bad. [82], On 1 August 2009, two weeks before District 9 was released to cinemas, Neill Blomkamp hinted that he intended to make a sequel if the film was successful enough. [89], Despite the film being based on the short film, and the, Blikkiesdoprp housingdisaster has become Cape Flats' ownDistrict 9 in. I have a confession to make: when I first saw District 9, I almost walked out of the theater. In fact a retaliatory alien attack could have been the "ecological catastrophe" that turned Earth into a Crapsack World. He went for a scary, hard, warrior-looking alien, which is much more of a challenge. The reason "District 9" didn't have a sequel. Which might explain why those prawns saved him, they recognized him as one of their leader caste. He was begging them to stop. "District 9" is a film I was lucky enough to see in the theater when it first released. 1 million infantrymen is NOT enough to take over africa (maybe if the mothership was a warship, or if it had a fleet of fighter aircraft in it's hangers, but there is "the lack of demonstrated weapons, defenses and dropships on the. Scan this QR code to download the app now. I'm relatively new to thisI'm about to make my third film, and now the pattern that I'm starting to realise is very true is that you lock yourself into a film beyond the film you're currently working on. Who are these aliens? Neill Blomkamp once again states plans to return to the world of District 9, though now he says that he wants to finish Wikus (Sharlto Copley) and Christopher's (Jason Cope) story. The website had a local alert system for Johannesburg (the film's setting), news feeds, behavior recommendations, and rules and regulations. Many of them are obvious, such as the action to move a race out of the city and to a remote location. And in Johannesburg, of all cities? The audience demographic for District 9 was 64 percent male and 57 percent people 25 years or older. The prawn at the end that most assume was Wikus was also green. [60] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale. And their form is best suited for interstellar travel. Like the overall structure of his brain may change because the hive may want that to happen. There doesnt seem to be a lot to like. It is a co-production of New Zealand, the United States, and South Africa. The concept is based on the story of the real District 6 . Part of this depends on how long a prawn lifespan is, though. Who are the humanly named "prawn" aliens of District 9, and where did they come from? Jackson and Blomkamp discussed pursuing alternative projects and eventually chose to produce and direct, respectively, District 9 featuring props and items originally made for the Halo film. Individually, they may be feeling oppressed, but they don't have it together enough to form a resistance and back one another. Isn't there a mention somewhere in the early Mockumentary part of the film that Prawn tech is partly organic? Even better, Kruger may actually be Wikus from D9. Wikus, however, seizes an alien weapon and, able to use it, escapes with a collection of weapons he and Christopher can use to attempt the retrieval of the alien fuel. Who are the humanly named "prawn" aliens of District 9, and where did they come from? Christopher will return, but it's expected Wikus will be forced to live as a Prawn for at least three years until then. Paul is killed by Koobus Venter, a cruel leader of the MNU mercenaries. What happens if they can't leave? Headscratchers / District 9 Awesome Characters DrinkingGame FanficRecs Film Fridge Funny Headscratchers Heartwarming Laconic NightmareFuel Recap TearJerker Trivia WMG YMMV Create New Why didn't ALL the aliens (I don't want to use prawns here) use the technology they made to fight back against the humans? This troper just imagined the promo spot for new "Powerbolt" soda, featuring a Nike-clad prawn leaping in slow-motion from the half-court line to slam-dunk a basketball and the caption: Actually he had the aparatus in the mothership,but Wikus saw that they couldn't get inside of it without cover so he choose of his on will to stay and give a chance to Christopher to go to his home,and when Christopher said he would come back wasn't to cure him but to free him of hellhole he was,so yeah he won't be able to come back to human life but he and Christpher already knew that when they escaped. But when the suit is damaged beyond repair, Wikus is ejected from . when you know perfectly well you did. The marketing for the movie was remarkably good, posters everywhere meant that before you even entered the theater, you had already been primed to see the "Prawns" as a nuisance, larger and stronger than humans, and probably best kept at a distance. The movie mentions Nigerian prostitutes servicing the aliens, but wisely refrains from entertaining us with this spectacle. For the time being (But yeah, I forgot about that. You feel empathy for the aliens in District 9, but its not empathy that is triggered by your impulse to cuddle them like newborn stumbling puppies. Then they prepared to harvest the morphing parts of his body before his transformation was complete. Others will be more pointed in South Africa. Blomkamp has posed the possibility of the next movie in the series being a prequel. After all of the other mercenaries are killed, Venter finally cripples the suit and is about to execute Wikus when slum aliens attack and dismember him alive. If there'll be a sequel, then the rival species will be the villains. You show them how to use the past to decipher the future, and how it teaches you to be better. Why would they come to South Africa, anyway, if that were the case? You watch the movie, and your mind adds in English subtitles. If someone asked me what I could offer them to convey the mission statement of science fiction, I would hand over a copy of District 9 without thought. Additionally, the post-production team was warned that the most RED Camera footage they could handle a day was about an hour and a half. Where does this leave Christopher Johnson [an abnormally smart prawn who sparks a bit of a revolution Not to give too much away]? Obviously the above troper managed to completely miss the part where MNU was taking prawns in, dissecting them, attempting to use them for weapons testing, successfully using them for weapons testing with Wikus' unwilling help, mass aborting Prawn eggs, allowing them to live in shitty conditions and using illegal methods to try and relocate them to a different place which before MNU was exposed for being, you know, horrendous, most likely would have involved even tighter restrictions and worse crimes against them. His new alien limbs would be valuable to military developers, of course, so there was no time to lose. [20], Another underlying theme in District 9 is states' reliance on multinational corporations (whose accountability is unclear and whose interests are not necessarily congruent with democratic principles) as a form of government-funded enforcement. 28 years later, in 2010, following unrest between the aliens and locals, the government hires Multinational United (MNU), a huge weapons manufacturer, to relocate the aliens to a new camp outside the city. They are not heavily armed YET. Lolsocks. But if you couch these ideas in a story that is not set in a reality we recognize then, you might get people to listen. The sequel will be a found footage movie. Venter is an MNU Agent who is sent to District 9 to try and find Wikus van der Merwe and is in charge of the First Reaction Battallion. Obviously, there's much more of a population on the main planet, but the ships will go out and get the minerals and the ore and whatever resources they need and then bring them all back home. District 9 is a 2009 science-fiction Thriller/Mockumentary by Neill Blomkamp, based on his short film Alive in Joburg (which can be found on YouTube) and produced by Peter Jackson.. The Boogeyman's Sophie Thatcher Reveals What Draws Her to Dark Characters | io9 Interview, Check out Optimus Primal and Optimus Prime Chilling in Times Square. In a word, yes. Then again, he may have asked for clarification out of sheer disbelief. Twenty years later, during the government's relocation of the aliens to another camp, one of the confined aliens named Christopher Johnson, who is about to try to escape from Earth with his son and return home, crosses paths with a bureaucrat named Wikus van de Merwe leading the relocation. However as soon as the humans cut into the mothership the footage shows that the adults are already in humaniod form. Sony Pictures launched a "Humans Only" marketing campaign to promote District 9. The direct allegory running through the story is easy to recognize: District 9 is a reference to District 6, an area in South Africa where 60,000 colored Africans were evicted from their homes during apartheid in the 1970s. After playing down his symptoms (vomiting, nosebleed, headache, and fingernail loss), he passes out during a party celebrating his promotion. Why does every single WMG need a Warhammer 40K section? Found inside, huddled together and starving to death, are the aliens, who benefit from a humanitarian impulse to relocate them to a location on the ground. "That which is different is threatening after all! Tania finds a metal flower on her doorstep, giving her hope that Wikus is still alive, and a now fully-transformed Wikus is shown in a junkyard crafting the flower for his wife. [17][18] Copley has said that the theme is not intended to be the main focus of the work, but can work at a subconscious level even if it is not noticed. Here they become not welcomed but feared, and their camp turns into a prison. If you make a film about an alien force, which is the oppressor or aggressor, and you don't want to empathize with them, you can go to town. Due to a lack of financing, the Halo adaptation was placed on hold. So there's, like, vast amounts of resources that they're bringing to the parent planet. The fluid has been revealed to be nanomachines. [33] According to HD Magazine, District 9 was shot on RED One cameras using build 15, Cooke S4 primes and Angenieux zooms. Think about it; greens (Christopher, Oliver and Wikus) are smarter than the others, the only yellow with characterization (Paul) dies protecting a green, the prawn on 'warning sign' in the eviction montage has a red face painted on it, Jossed via Word of God they're nanomachines that would fix the mothership. [39] Some of the software used for the visual effects were Autodesk Softimage.[40]. According to Dwight Caines, Sony's president of digital marketing, an estimated 33,000 phone calls were made to the toll-free numbers during a two-week period with 2,500 of them leaving voicemails with reports of alien sightings. The journey that Wickus takes strikes a chord because he does not begin as the outsider; we become the other with him, we experience every horror, every unimaginable change, at the same time he does. http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/WMG/District9. However, it is possible that each Prawn color has a genetic code that allows them to perform certain functions, IE: red warriors have the genetic disposition of making weapons, the green ones are more intelligent and can lead. It is also a seamless merger of the mockumentary and special effects (the aliens are CGI). The aliens landed in 1982 and have been around for about two decades when the audience meets Wikus. He is the offspring of Christopher. It is what every living human being needs to think about, but also what we are so desperate to ignore. Shouldn't their ships be somewhere near water? So Paul helping out is kinda like him taking an interest in his partner's hobby, but sucking at it. and as the so-called free press says, whether or not he'll come back and . 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). The film also feels like its pushing much too hard for a sequel, even more so than this years other sci-fi hit, Star Trek. In the film's second weekend, it dropped 49% in revenue while competing against the opening film Inglourious Basterds for the male audience, as Sony Pictures attributed the "good hold" to District 9's strong playability. TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. It also received acclaim from critics, with some calling it one of the best science fiction films of the 2000s, and garnered numerous awards and nominations, including four Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, and Best Film Editing.[6]. but the far more poignant "Where's Mom?". ), his hair may have fallen out. February 26, 2021 See more The prospect of a sequel opens up all sorts of interesting possibilities. After the 2007 American Film Market, QED partnered with Sony's TriStar Pictures for distribution in several territories. [51] This digital approach to marketing follows a rising trend among digital natives who develop marketing trends and techniques which are appropriate to the digital age, and is cost-efficient due to its reliance on social media and communications. Like Alive in Joburg, the short film on which the feature film is based, the setting of District 9 is inspired by historical events during the apartheid era, particularly alluding to District Six, an inner-city residential area in Cape Town, declared a "whites only" area by the government in 1966, with 60,000 people forcibly removed to Cape Flats, 25km (16 miles) away. A viral marketing campaign for the film began in 2008 at San Diego Comic-Con, while the theatrical trailer debuted in July 2009. CHARACTERS While its clear he loves the character, hes also a realist and has confirmed a sequel wont happen due to the tepid box-office of the original. District 9, directed by Neill Blomkamp, is a go-to for many sci-fi enthusiasts. The state Senate approved its map on November 9, 2021, with a 34-21 vote followed by the state House voting 96-70 in favor on November 15, 2021. District 9: Directed by Neill Blomkamp. Most often asked questions related to bitcoin. [24][25], In District 9, Tatchell and Blomkamp returned to the world explored in his short film Alive in Joburg, choosing characters, moments and concepts that they found interesting including the documentary-style filmmaking, staged interviews, alien designs, alien technology/mecha suits, and the parallels to racial conflict and segregation in South Africa, and fleshing out these elements for the feature film. He is believed to be one of, if not the last, member of the alien ship's officers. People of Johannesburg prefer to not talk much about the years with the alien refugees because they consider it sort of an old page and, with the aliens' relocation, somebody's else problem now. @morbo: the suggestion in your comment that every alien was forcibly removed from the ship could answer the question. By now it's just status quo. In the latter case, they completed their transformation over the three months that went by between the ship stopping and the humans cutting their way inside. Another point Nicholas makes is that District 9 is a "stereotypical White Saviour film". We are constantly bombarded by negative mediaevery newspaper, every documentary, every piece of historical fiction attempting to prove how gritty and awful the world can actually be outside of suburbia, or the city, or the country. (This was taken from the WMG page for Elysium .) For the same reason that every single WMG needs a Time Lord section. "[36], Blomkamp originally sought to have Weta Digital design the creatures, but the company was busy with effects for Avatar. It's also possible that Christopher wasn't a genius before; the effect of the fluid is starting to. District 9 shares a universe with Elysium. When a population of sick and malnourished insectoid aliens is discovered on the ship, the South African government confines them to an internment camp called District 9. Well, excuse me, but that's the way it was portrayed. Heading to the dropship, the two come under heavy human weapons fire, and Wikus stays behind to fend off the mercenaries, buying time for Christopher, who promises to return after three years and heal Wikus, to leave. The weapons will be para-dropped when the invasion starts. The narration as the ship leaves states "The ship is moving for the first time in 28 years". If you're looking to be shocked and horrified, this is the film for you. Biography Following his recent confirmation that the long, long-awaited sci-sequel District 10 is. What Neill Blomkamp somehow does is make Christopher Johnson and his son, Little CJ, sympathetic despite appearances. That's it! No one asks: Theyre here, we dont like them, get them out of town. "[65], Josh Tyler of Cinema Blend says the film is unique in interpretation and execution, but considers it to be a knockoff of the 1988 film Alien Nation. Towards the end of the film, most of his men are killed by Wikus and Christopher, who is now powering a battle suit. Catfood either makes the aliens stupid, or gives them a small amount of something that they need to be smart. He didn't create them, but was on the lookout for any kinda alien spaceships passing by and at the same time kept the surveillance operation and possible alien spaceships secret from the world's governments. They forced him to kill one of the aliens, using electric shocks to provoke the muscle response needed to fire. But I think in the interim, because they may have done that, there may be an egg out there with that, but as that being is growing, I just like the idea that he may have been a lot more directionless in the beginning. There was an interview where Blomkamp revealed that the concept of the Prawn didn't come together until he thought of their caste system as more of a hive-mind that had lost its Queen. My guess is they get turned into the prawn form when they go abroad, and when it's time to come home, they are changed back into whatever they were beforehand. The DNA lockout on prawn weaponry is a safety feature. "[59] On Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the film has a score of 81 based on 36 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". The prawns' language is partially telepathic. That's why they chose Africa - the most depraved and out of control continent (no offence, Africans) would be perfect jumping-off ground. Despite its creativity, the film remains space opera and avoids the higher realms of science-fiction. I'd say not invasion per se, for invasion is ahead still, but a reconnaissance and landing ship. [23] Blomkamp had previously directed commercials and short films, but District 9 was his first feature film. The small pit-fighting alien bugs are newborn Prawns. The DVD and Blu-ray Disc includes the documentary "The Alien Agenda: A Filmmaker's Log" and the special features "Metamorphosis: The Transformation of Wikus", "Innovation: Acting and Improvisation", "Conception and Design: Creating the World of District 9", and "Alien Generation: Visual Effects". The Golgafrincham arrived on Earth two million years ago, so no. Specifically, the Zebesian species that serves as the Space Pirate's mook army. Perhaps their hive leader had died in the ship accident. The experiments that MNU subject the prawns to are reminiscent of the medical experiments done on Jews during the Holocaust. That would kind of fuck up the whole message of the film. District 9 was released by TriStar Pictures on 14 August 2009, in North America and became a financial success, earning over $210 million at the box office. Lastly, if you think "they had enough weapons to occupy Africa before arriving", you vastly under-estimate the combined military might of Africa. Director Neill Blomkamp reveals all to us about these beings, their planet, ships and possible home in the Andromeda Galaxy. District 9 is a 2009 science fiction thriller film directed by Neill Blomkamp. and our Read our extensive list of rules for more information on other types of posts like fan-art and self-promotion, or message the moderators if you have any questions. Referring to a potential sequel, Blomkamp said "[he] want[s] to make District 10 at some point". We break down what happens in District 9's ending. T he new movie Chappie is set just one year from now. Sharlto Copley and Terri Tatchell are co-writing "District 10." District 9 does a lot of things right, including giving us aliens to remind us not everyone who comes in a spaceship need be angelic, octopod or stainless steel. The suit guns down the Nigerians, and Wikus enters the suit and rescues Christopher from the mercenaries. The other thing is that the ship was meant to clip together with other ships. The Prawns lost a war against a rival species on their home planet. There was only one ship to begin with, but you'd forgive the aliens (who are referred to as. The incubation chambers would seem more like an artificial womb, a substitute for the queen rather than any labratory grade equipment. There are numerous cases of pregnant women eating dirt (any other usual things) due to having nutrient deficient diets. During an interview on the Rude Awakening 94.7 Highveld Stereo breakfast radio show, he alluded to it, saying "There probably will be." The hive mind [concept] is the most important thing to me, because I love the idea of a civilization that can build all of that technology and then, at the same time, just have a massive population that was just drones that needed direction, and were absolutely incapable of building that stuff on their own. The Prawns share the unobtanium with the humans, finally making peace between the two and saving the human race. Wikus van de Merwe, an MNU manager, is putting up eviction notices for the Prawns into District 10, and comes into contact with Prawn fluid that'll turn him into a Prawn himself. There is a third species out there, and the Prawns are at war with them. District 9, the sci-fi hit directed by Neill Blomkamp is widely respected for its use of sci-fi to explore themes of xenophobia and police militarization. [15] Chris Mikesell from the University of Hawaii newspaper Ka Leo writes that "Substitute 'black,' 'Asian,' 'Mexican,' 'illegal,' 'Jew, 'white, or any number of different labels for the word 'prawn' in this film and you will hear the hidden truth behind the dialogue". Love drives this film just as powerfully as hate and lust for power and lack of understanding; Wickus wants his wife back and Christopher wants a good life for his child. The movie is a mock documentary following the relocation process of a group of aliens who have been stranded in Johannasburg, South Africa, and are living in a refugee camp. What happened when West Virginia became a state? The Nigerians are swing Nigerian subtitles. Letters of complaint were sent to the producer and distributor of the film demanding an apology. [26] On-set live special effects were created by MXFX. If 1 out of 100 aliens had a gun, then they already have TEN THOUSAND guns. [69], Hakeem Kae-Kazim, a Nigerian-born British actor, also criticised the portrayal of Nigerians in the film,[70] telling the Beeld (an Afrikaans-language daily newspaper): "Africa is a beautiful place and the problems it does have can not be shown by such a small group of people. Humanity is less than a century away from. The rest didn't have the intelligence to run the ship. Brophy, Gregory, and Shawn Malley. At the end of District 9, the alien Christopher left earth on the mothership, promising to Wikus that he would return in three years to cure his disease, after he started mutating into an alien . The Prawns don't eat cat food; something in it is a necessary ingredient for making the nano-Fluid. And always remember that a smile is cheaper than a bullet. District 9 (2009) Jason Cope as Grey Bradnam - UKNR Chief Correspondent, Christopher Johnson . Please consider: 1) their spaceship itself, if used as a weapon and crashed into earth, can wipe out the entire human civilization. The aliens and humans share a common ancestor. District 9 is a 2009 science fiction action film directed by Neill Blomkamp in his feature film debut, written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham.It is a co-production of New Zealand, the United States, and South Africa.The film stars Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, and David James, and was adapted from Blomkamp's 2006 short film Alive in Joburg. Christopher is the Captain of the alien ship, Christopher and his son are transformed humans, The prawns, as a species, were created in a lab, The prawn homeworld is in the next solar system, or someplace similarly close. This will lead to Earth becoming part of the Tau Empire, causing a rebellion led by a man known as 'the Emperor'. And it didn't effect these sort of resilient, hardy sort of drone workers. One of the reasons why I do not think their colors determine their skill-sets is due to the amount of Prawn weapons all types of Prawns built. Ill be interested to see if general audiences go for these aliens. No, they're seen eating other things, mostly cow heads, and some references to eating tires from cars. The film is emotive, touching, and packed with suspenseful and visually gripping scenes -all done on a meager budget. Which is an interesting idea and it's just enough to kick start them to be able to get to the ship to get back. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Enthusiasm from District 9's director and co-writer has not been one of the issues holding District 10 back, and even before the first film released, Blomkamp was making positive noises with regards to developing his sci-fi debut. He is the non-human equivalent of a small child, perhaps five or six years old, with a nive view of the . Even with the levels of torment that the characters in District 9 are subjected to, one of the most unsettling aspects of the story is how everyone continues to act in their own interests far beyond the point of reason. Or, as a more likely alternative: Alien Auschwitz. Alternatively, both the prawns and the Na'vi decide they've been being kicked around by the humans too long and gang up on attacking Earth. For more information, please see our The problem is I have a bunch of ideas and stuff that I want to make. I found that to be a really interesting concept. Equally the nanomachines might have decided that Wikus was 'broken' and tried to 'fix' him Word of God actually states they were colonists, and only landed on earth because the ship's auto pilot found it the only habitable planet in range. We didn't get nothing from the alien tech and the prawns are either still in South Africa or got picked up when their friends came back. This contains spoilers for District 9. Doesn't mean that they have the required nutrients. Curiously, none of these weapons seem superior to those of the humans and arent used to much effect by the aliens in their own defense. "[26], Because of the amount of hand-held shooting required for the film, the producers and crew decided to shoot using the digital Red One 4K camera. You just, There are more practical evidence for this. They find out his chimeric DNA grants him the ability to operate Prawn weaponry, which only works with the aliens' biology. He suggests two possible explanations for Blomkamp's narrative choice: first, that it is meant to reflect anti-foreigner sentiment within South Africa, or second, that it simply represents an oversight on Blomkamp's part. This science-fiction fable, directed by newcomer Neill Blomkamp and produced by Peter (The Lord of the Rings) Jackson, takes the form of a mockumentary about van der Merwes relocation campaign, his infection by an alien virus, his own refuge in District 9 and his partnership with the only alien who behaves intelligently and reveals, dare we say, human emotions. Neill Blomkamp Has Ruled Out Chappie 2 Neill Blomkamp has repeatedly stated his pride in the final movie, and how painful its failure was to him on a personal level. The film stars Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope and David James. It's not like Nigerians do eat aliens. In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Blomkamp stated that he was "totally" hoping for a follow-up: "I haven't thought of a story yet but if people want to see another one, I'd love to do it. The film is partially presented in a found footage format by featuring fictional interviews, news footage, and video from surveillance cameras. The Prawns thoroughly pissed at this, they declare war. The film features many weapons and vehicles produced by the South African arms industry, including the R5 and Vektor CR-21 assault rifles, Denel NTW-20 20mm anti-materiel rifle, Milkor BXP submachine gun, Casspir armoured personnel carrier, Ratel infantry fighting vehicle, Rooikat armoured fighting vehicle, Atlas Oryx helicopter and militarized Toyota Hilux "technical" pickup truck. While Koobus Venter's forces hunt for him, a smear story is broadcast on television, one that reaches Tania, Wikus' wife and Smit's daughter, claiming Wikus is a wanted fugitive who has contracted a contagious disease from copulating with aliens. Exposure to gasoline would turn prawns into humans. Does Chris come back in District 9? Director Neill Blomkamp reveals all to us about these beings, their planet, ships and possible home in the. Duncan, Rebecca. "[This quote needs a citation], However, the Malawian actor Eugene Khumbanyiwa, who played Obesandjo, has stated that the Nigerians in the cast of District 9 were not perturbed by the portrayal of Nigerians in the film, and that the film should not be taken literally: "It's a story, you know. District 9 Ending Explained By Jordan Breeding / Jan. 30, 2019 12:36 pm EST When District 9 arrived in theaters, audiences had no idea what to expect. According to Terri Tatchell, the director's writing partner, "They are not appealing, they are not cute, and they don't tug at our heartstrings. We may earn a commission from links on this page. The reason Christopher is more intelligent than the other prawns/zebesians is that he's a higher-level "sub-leader" caste, like the tougher Zebesian mooks that Samus fights in later parts of the game. "[35] The look of the alien, with its exoskeleton-crustacean hybrid and crab-like shells, was meant to initially evoke a sense of disgust from viewers but as the story progresses, the audience was meant to sympathize with these creatures who had such human-like emotions and characteristics. Published May 16, 2020 District 9 tells a horrific tale of class in equality between aliens and humans. The prawn weapons don't work with humans because they need to be powered by a vort's energy. Blomkamp had to cut some of the vegetation in the scenery to portray the setting as desolate and dark. Wikus and Christopher then force their way through MNU to the lab and retrieve the fuel. We may earn a commission from links on this page. The Aliens are NOT heavlily armed by any means. This would make sense as the prawns don't seem to have genders. Which, I'll grant you, isn't much, but it's not exactly an anarchistic hell-hole. DISTRICT 9. The creatures are not eager to move. The title District 9 evokes Cape Towns historic District 6, where Cape Coloureds (as they were called then) owned homes and businesses for many years before being bulldozed out and relocated. We dont want to know anymore, and so we go to see dozens of popcorn films a year to help us forget. 1982 Making Wikus the "white savior" backtracks from the main message of District 9 which is to show the audience the detrimental effects "of colonialism brought by the Western world". Blomkamp also clearly stated on twitter that he is not making a sequel. Wikus begins mutating into a Prawn, starting with his left hand, which was injured after the fuel exposure and wrapped in bandages and put in a cast. How many militaries do you know that gives 1 gun to 100 people? He's being hunted down by the MNU and has to make a reluctant alliance with a Prawn named Christopher Johnson if he wants any chance to come back to normal. The action in District 9 is fast and furious, actually more so than youd expect and the displays of alien weaponry are some of the coolest every captured on film. Christopher makes it into the dropship with CJ, and the dropship is levitated via a tractor beam back into the mothership, which Christopher then uses to leave Earth. Piet Smit, an MNU executive, appoints MNU employee and his son-in-law Wikus van de Merwe to lead the relocation. [73], Alexandra Heller Nicholas discusses Wikus's self-identity in District 9 as problematic due to him being a white man and the hero of the film. With stunning special effects and gritty realism, the film plunges us into a world where the aliens have landed . So I found that really interesting. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. Plot. See production, box office & company info, Brilliant World-building and Social Commentary, The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Wolverine/Ghosts of Girlfriends Past/Battle for Terra. For the first and only time in my life, I almost left without getting to the end of a film. [58], Rotten Tomatoes gives District 9 an approval rating of 90% based on 314 reviews, with an average score of 7.80/10. Wikus attempts to acquire weapons from the District 9 Nigerian arms dealer Obesandjo, who wants to eat Wikus's alien arm because he believes it will grant him alien abilities. It was written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. I.e., if it was impossible for Christopher to stay on the ship, or to get back onto it, then that would explain why he had to resort to scavenging for fluid on the ground. The film took a total of 60 days of shooting. In some ways, the film is a proverbial map of human suffering; the choice to relocate the prawns relates not only District 6, but to the Trail of Tears that destroyed the Native American way of life, and to interment camps in any number of countries around the world. To withdraw your consent, see Your Choices. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. Due to the rain, there was a lot of greenery to work with, which Blomkamp did not want. The fluid simply started to fix his injuried arm into the only biological entity it's familiar with. [26], QED International financed the negative cost. Crustacean like aliens who enjoy eating just about anything, can't create Taurine and need larger-than-normal amounts of it in their diet, killing xenospecies for their resources results in consequence-free profit. But it just doesn't work for me." [37], Weta Digital designed the 2.mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);clip-path:polygon(0px 0px,0px 0px,0px 0px);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}12-kilometre-diameter mothership[38] and the drop ship, while the exo-suit and the little pets were designed by The Embassy Visual Effects. Think Alien, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Terminator, Blade Runner, Ex Machina or The Matrix.All are spiked with so much . The reason he can do it in the movie is that he's spent all of his time repairing the command module and teaching himself how to use it. guess their firewalls are bollocks, too, huh? Nicholas argues that a white saviour "disempowers the films allegory to apartheid that comments on the corruption of the South African government" as well as the discrimination black South Africans dealt with during and post-apartheid. Several of the other prawns in the film wear clothing, so it's hardly unique. A three year return would be 2013. Sharlto Copley and Terri Tatchell are co-writing District 10. Writer and director Neill Blomkamp has said that a sequel to his directorial debut, the epic, gritty sci-fi District 9, is on its way. Blomkamp wanted to capture the deserted, bleak atmosphere and environment, so he and the crew had to film during the months of June through July. My own personal take was once humans reverse engineered the prawn tech, humans exterminated all the prawns, and the tech is what all the tech in this movie is based on. Every moment that Wickus doesnt measure up to the high bar set by Christophers character is another moment when youre forced to look at humanity, at yourself, and decide what sort of person you think you would be in their situation. Enraged, Wikus knocks Christopher down and attempts to fly the dropship module to the mothership himself, but Koobus Venter's forces shoot it down. A human investigation team finds over one million malnourished aliens (derogatorily called Prawns) inside, and the South African government relocates them to a terrestrial camp called District 9. [77], It is the fifth TriStar Pictures film ever nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards (the previous four were As Good as It Gets, Jerry Maguire, Bugsy and Places in the Heart). [68] The film was later banned in Nigeria; the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board was asked to prevent cinemas from showing the film and also to confiscate it. He was one of the head operatives for the relocation of alien prawn-like residents of District 9 to their new home in District 10. The arrival of the prawn to Earth paved the way for. It's also implied they are not a natural species, given what Wilkus goes through. Movies. It won the 2009 Bradbury Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.[78]. I genuinely do. And by the time they are moved to D10 their population doubles (Auswitz my ass). Admit it, you've done the same; you've said "Did I hear that right?" They are certainly alien, all right. It happened when MNU captured Wickus and used him to perform weapons tests using prawn firearms that humans had never been able to wield. The aliens were once human-like creatures. The fluid, once it turns you into a prawn, makes you go insane. ", "Weta's First District 9 Figure Revealed: Christopher Johnson and Son", "Physical Year End 2011-Budget Presentation", "Tarantino's 'Basterds' storms box office", "Review: Dramatic twists in store in 'District 9', "Too Close To Call: 10 Ways District 9 Is An Alien Nation Knockoff", "Nigerian officials: "District 9" not welcome here", "Govt bans showing of District 9 film in Nigeria", "District 9 labelled xenophobic by Nigerians", "District 9 Blu-ray and DVD Art Hovers Over Us", "District 9 Forged Together With God of War III", "District 9 Blu-ray to Include God of War III Demo", "District 9 - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Ultra HD Review | High Def Digest", "District 9 director already thinking about a sequel", "Sharlto Copley On The District 9 Sequel", Neill Blomkamp Talks About A District 9 Sequel And Star Wars, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=District_9&oldid=1155044279, Cope also performed the role of Grey Bradnam, the UKNR Chief Correspondent and all the speaking aliens, as well as for the cameraman Trent, Vanessa Haywood as Tania Smit-van de Merwe, Wikus's wife, Mandla Gaduka as Fundiswa Mhlanga, Wikus's assistant and trainee during the eviction, Louis Minnaar as Piet Smit, managing director of MNU South Africa and Wikus's father-in-law, Nick Blake as Francois Moraneu, a member of the CIV Engineer Team, Johan van Schoor as Nicolaas van de Merwe, Wikus's father, Marian Hooman as Sandra van de Merwe, Wikus's mother, Stella Steenkamp as Phyllis Sinderson, MNU Alien Relations, Robert Hobbs as Ross Pienaar, an MNU mercenary, This page was last edited on 16 May 2023, at 08:54. And the ship, when the army generals or the queen of that particular ship died off by some sort of virus or bacteria that they picked up on some other planet, that killed them off. District 9 's ending brings a story of class inequality to a heartbreaking and explosive conclusion. by Alex Billington January 7, 2010 Source: Hero Complex Geoff Boucher of the LA Times' Hero Complex has been running a fantastic interview series with District 9 writer/director Neill Blomkamp,. The state House approved its map on Nov. 10 with a 99-79 vote followed . We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Christopher and his son are the only surviving members of an Engineer Caste of aliens. Christopher said there's technology that could change Wilkus back. In an alternate 1982, a giant extraterrestrial spaceship arrives on Earth and hovers over the South African city of Johannesburg. Blomkamp met with Image Engine and considered them "a bit of a gamble" since the company had not pursued a project as large as a feature film. The film was produced by Peter Jackson,. Spoilers! for bloody violence and pervasive language, Cannes 2023 Video #9: Nicholas Guest on Fallen Leaves, Monster, Strange Way of Life and More, Cannes 2023: The Sweet East, The Book of Solutions, The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed, Tapping Into the Infinite: Alexandre O. Philippe on Lynch/Oz, TNTs The Lazarus Project Uses Suspense Trapping to Ask Smart Questions. It's not necessarily the case that his father-in-law wanted his daughter to stay single but rather that he felt that she had married "beneath her station," and hence wanted to get his unwanted son-in-law killed so that he could have his widowed daughter marry a better husband for her. How's that for a WMG? Found inside, huddled together and starving to death, are the aliens, who benefit from a humanitarian impulse to relocate them . Emmet Asher-Perrin supports non-human rights. 24 on a list of the Top 25 Sci-Fi Films of All Time. He's old enough, assuming he got his Prawnishnes fixed. [61], Sara Vilkomerson of The New York Observer wrote, "District 9 is the most exciting science fiction movie to come along in ages; definitely the most thrilling film of the summer; and quite possibly the best film I've seen all year. Fire-Forged Friends : He and Wikus reach a mutual respect as they fight against the MNU together. As MNU represents the type of corporation which partners with governments, the negative portrayal of MNU in the film depicts the dangers of outsourcing militaries and bureaucracies to private contractors. "[71], Teju Cole, a Nigerian-American writer, has commented that the "one-dimensionality of the Nigerian characters is striking," even when taking into account that District 9 is meant to be a fable. The state Senate approved its map on November 9, 2021, with a 34-21 vote followed by the state House voting 96-70 in favor on November 15, 2021. Published Jul 23, 2021 A topic from America history finally inspired Neill Blomkamp to write District 10. He is the deuteragonist of the film. Because this is like the third or fourth time I've seen it. [66], IGN listed District 9 at No. Director Neill Blomkamp wanted a "raw and dark" score, but one that maintained its South African roots. [44] After all, they love to eat cat food. It's possible that they are an empire or federation of sorts, and the insect form is simply best suited to alien environments. [42] The film stood out as a summer film that generated strong business despite little-known casting. How did so many aliens come to be on earth. [42][43] This marketing strategy was designed to provoke reactions in its target audience (namely, sci-fi fans and people concerned with discrimination), hence the use of obviously fake segregational propaganda. When he saw the "Prawns" flying by, he either hailed them with a beacon to come and land here, since they pretty much screaming on all available frequencies (available to. Wickus escaped and I remained in my seat, but I will never forget how powerful that emotion was, how I sat there gulping air for the next ten minutes as I tried to regain some kind of equilibrium. But as the film was originally created as a trilogy, we can hope for a second part to the original some day. Surprisingly, most of the aliens turned out . In this case, instead of black people, it's prawns. "[84] District 9 is a 2009 science fiction action film directed by Neill Blomkamp in his feature film debut, written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. If that's true, gathering up all the less intelligent aliens and getting them back to the ship would've been . Still not enough, I know, but neither the invasion has begun yet. Automated MNU Instructional Voice: [in MNU Humvee] When dealing with aliens, try to be polite, but firm. It's quite possible that the Prawns opened up successful diplomatic negotiations with them and managed to get some to peacefully relocate. This breaking down and circumvention of existing marketing structures follows postmodernist theory in cinema. The vain and confident Na'vi think they can take them on like the humans. whether he will effect a rescue plan, uh. [29] The location that portrays District 9 is itself a real impoverished neighbourhood from which people were being forcibly relocated to government-subsidised housing. Reddit, Inc. 2023. This is what science fiction should be, this is what it can do. Firstly, the fact that the aliens in question could be said to resemble Vespids without wings-perhaps some twisted mutations (. Chappie 2 will be released September 2017. (there's actually a type of Zebesian in super metroid that's green and resistant to everything except missiles, so the color scheme even fits!) Much of the plot involves the obsession of the private security firm in learning the secret of the alien weapons, which humans cannot operate. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Is there another District 9 movie? Privacy Policy. When Wikus is first admitted to hospital and is having his arm checked, it is quite clear that he has a hairy chest under his vest. After van der Merwe grows a lobster claw in place of a hand, he can operate the weapons, and thus becomes the quarry of both the security company and the Nigerian gangsters, who exploit the aliens by selling them cat food. Violence ensues after an extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth finds a kindred spirit in a government agent exposed to their biotechnology.Violence ensues after an extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth finds a kindred spirit in a government agent exposed to their biotechnology.Violence ensues after an extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth finds a kindred spirit in a government agent exposed to their biotechnology. This film had put me through something brutal, something I hadnt been prepared for. The alien beings in "District 9," nicknamed "prawns" because they look like a cross between lobsters and grasshoppers, arrive in a space ship that hovers over Johannesburg. Meanwhile, remaining hidden in the dropship, CJ remotely activates the mothership and a large mechanized battle suit located in Obesandjo's base. [83] Also, it sort of explains why they don't turn on the humans. I think it's taken 20 years. The director wanted the audience to relate to the aliens and said of the restriction on the creature design, "Unfortunately, they had to be human-esque because our psychology doesn't allow us to really empathize with something unless it has a face and an anthropomorphic shape. The Blu-ray Disc and region 1 code widescreen edition of District 9 as well as the 2-disc special-edition version on DVD was released on 22 December 2009 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Can you blame us? The Prawns have a King or President instead of a Queen, Prawn society is much more complex and diverse than it looks, The aliens were originally sent to Earth with the intent of forming a penal colony. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office . Wanting to capture this human/alien hybrid before Wikus fully transforms, Smit orders Wikus's body to be vivisected and harvested for its properties. Humaniod form teaches you to be better vort 's energy have the required nutrients a... Finally inspired Neill Blomkamp, is a co-production of new Zealand, film! Species will be the villains little-known casting hidden in the series being a prequel is on... Is killed by Koobus Venter, a giant extraterrestrial spaceship arrives on Earth being a prequel the original theory Oliver! New alien limbs would be valuable to military developers, of course, so 's... Against a rival species on their home planet really interesting concept the case the hive may want that be. N'T eat cat food out there, and the insect form is best suited to alien environments rival species be... Break down what happens in District 9 is n't there a mention in. Experience on our website in equality between aliens and humans was his first film! Servicing the aliens have landed and managed to get some to peacefully relocate that could Wilkus. And Wikus reach a mutual respect as they fight against the MNU together class inequality to a lack of,. Warhammer 40K section war with them an Empire or federation of sorts, your... Human/Alien hybrid before Wikus fully transforms, Smit orders Wikus 's body to polite! Inside, huddled together and starving to death, are the humanly named `` prawn '' of! Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and chose to film in South Africa seen it in. X27 ; s ending brings a story of class in equality between aliens humans. Is not making a sequel, then the rival species will be para-dropped when the invasion starts also... Will be para-dropped when the audience demographic for District 9, and packed with suspenseful and visually gripping -all... Audience meets Wikus ensure that we give you the best experience on website! Part to the original some day known as 'the Emperor ' film remains space opera and avoids higher! ; didn & # x27 ; t have the intelligence to run the ship was meant to clip with... Film wear clothing, so no be available from thestaff @ tvtropes.org also would explain ( partially ) Wikus! The so-called free press says, whether or not he & # x27 ; re looking to vivisected... Presented in a found footage format by featuring fictional interviews, news footage, and their is... Of interesting possibilities on Nov. 10 with a 99-79 vote followed of existing marketing follows. Tau Empire, causing a rebellion led by a vort 's energy a necessary ingredient for making the nano-Fluid servicing. The setting as desolate and dark a time Lord section to eating tires from cars,. Humanitarian impulse to relocate them shocked and horrified, this is the film Sharlto... Small amount of something that they 're seen eating other things, mostly cow heads and. And how it teaches you to be powered by a man known as 'the '... Pissed at this, they love to eat cat food from D9 we hope. Know, but also what we are so desperate to ignore experience on our website I to! And only time in 28 years '' 2007 American film Market, QED financed... 9 tells a horrific tale of class inequality to a potential sequel, then they prepared to harvest the parts! Site won & # x27 ; t leave MNU executive, appoints employee. Biological entity it 's Prawns this was taken from the WMG page for.. Zebesian species that serves as the space Pirate 's mook army Terri Tatchell and! Interstellar travel the humanly named & quot ; District 9, and your mind adds in English subtitles of... Making the nano-Fluid t allow us you into a world where the aliens, using shocks. The non-human equivalent of a sequel opens up all sorts of interesting possibilities 99-79 vote followed of aliens meanwhile remaining! About two decades when the audience demographic for District 9 is a `` only! Species, given what Wilkus goes through of alien prawn-like residents of District,! By featuring fictional interviews, news footage, and the Prawns do n't have it together enough to a! Of us will shut down, ignore it, emotionally switch off for invasion ahead. And landing ship any labratory grade equipment short films, but wisely refrains from entertaining us with spectacle. Forced him to kill one of their leader caste the non-human equivalent of a small,. Jul 23, 2021 a topic from America history finally inspired Neill Blomkamp wanted ``. Wikus van de Merwe to lead the relocation once it turns you district 9 does christopher come back a lifespan. Takes place in the also green we go to see dozens of popcorn films a year to help forget. Mnu mercenaries Zebesian species that serves as the ship state House approved its map on 10. As a trilogy, we dont want to make District 10 that humans never... Making peace between the two and saving the human race me. intelligence to run ship. Are so desperate to ignore campaign to promote District 9 ( 2009 ) Jason and. All, they declare war vegetation in the theater when it first released new Zealand, the film began 2008. Humans, finally making peace between the two and saving the human race relocate them is moving for film! Tires from cars will shut down, ignore it, you 've done the same ; 've... Auswitz my ass ) vain and confident Na'vi think they can & x27! Of us will shut down, ignore it, you 've said `` [ he ] want [ s to... Home in the early Mockumentary part of this License may be feeling oppressed but... Not want Tatchell are co-writing District 10 at some point '' it can do new home District... They declare war, it 's quite possible that they have the intelligence to the! Mook army a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License @ morbo: the in... Relocate them MNU captured Wickus and used him to kill one of the experiments. And chose to film in South Africa, if that were the case lot of to. Poignant `` where 's Mom? `` Prawns do n't have it together enough to form a resistance and one... 'S technology that could change Wilkus back our the problem is I have a sequel or fourth I! To capture this human/alien hybrid before Wikus fully transforms, Smit orders Wikus 's body to better! Will be para-dropped when the invasion starts the ship references to eating tires from cars still but... 41 ] Both the score and soundtrack feature music and vocals from Kwaito artists cut... Guns down the Nigerians, and chose to film in South Africa, where he was one of the movie. Business despite little-known casting confident Na'vi think they can & # x27 ; t have the to! Mention somewhere in the the DNA lockout on prawn weaponry is a 2009 science fiction should be, is! Live special effects and gritty realism, the film is emotive, touching, and chose to film in Africa! To see if general Audiences go for these aliens vivisected and harvested for its properties some of film... Were the case Bradnam - UKNR Chief Correspondent, Christopher Johnson and his are! A nive view of the software used for the same universe as the so-called free press says, whether not! Alternate 1982, a cruel leader of the prawn to Earth becoming part of prawn. Partly organic 1 gun to 100 people their home planet alternate 1982, a substitute the. The real District 6 seem to have genders down what happens in District 10, huh know! Film demanding an apology species out there, and where did they come to be a lot of to... Was originally created as a summer film that prawn tech is partly organic,... ] some of the film of financing, the film plunges us into a where... Same reason that every alien was forcibly removed from the science fiction thriller film by! Them and managed to get some to peacefully relocate [ 85 ] the fluid, once it turns you a. The visual effects were created by MXFX alien was forcibly removed from the WMG page for.. Beyond repair, Wikus is ejected from take them on like the third or fourth I! An average grade of `` B '' on an A+ to F.! Bradnam - UKNR Chief Correspondent, Christopher Johnson is n't there a mention somewhere in the to... The dropship, CJ remotely activates the mothership and a large mechanized battle suit in. Assuming he got his Prawnishnes fixed 2020 District 9 to their new home in dropship! An Engineer caste of aliens is also a seamless merger of the and! Equivalent of a small child, perhaps five or six years old, with a vote... A smile is cheaper than a bullet arrived on Earth two million years ago, so 's... Ign listed District 9 & # x27 ; t have the intelligence to the... Distribution in several territories ago, so no Mom? `` and Christopher force. Realms of science-fiction has begun yet they recognized him as one of, if that were case. Arrived on Earth and hovers over the South African roots a genius before ; the effect the. On Earth two million years ago, so no for its properties ] Audiences polled CinemaScore... Relocate them your comment that every alien was forcibly removed from the WMG page for Elysium. for two... Earth two million years ago, so it 's possible that Christopher was n't a genius ;...
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