Jani H (TheMachinist)

"He was an honest man, and he didn't deserve any of what happened to him. "

Wow. Simply put... Wow. The future of the sci-fi genre is saved and Neill Blomkamp is the reason why it all looks so hopeful. Blomkamp was projected to direct the 'Halo' movie, which is based on the successful video game. Peter Jackson was the producer but things didn't go as planned. The project was cancelled (maybe later?) but Jackson saw something special in this young South African director, who had previously made short films, 'Alive in Joburg' for example (D9 is based on this short film) and visual effects to several TV shows. He gave him a budget of 30 million USD's and free rein to do what he wanted. The outcome? One of the best sci-fi films ever and 200 million USD's worldwide...

In the beginning of the 80's, a huge alien craft landed over Johannesburg, South Africa. When the humans started to check out the ship, they found thousands of crab like creatures inside, fugitives of their own world. None of them were hostile, just in hunger. All of them were transferred to a district, especially build for them. 30 years later, Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley) is given the job to retransfer the aliens to a new district, in other words evict them, and at the same time gather all of their weapons and technology for the company, NMU (Multi-National United).

Van De Merwe gets an alien infection during a search. All of a sudden he starts to feel ill and gets transported to NMU headquarters where things start to go really bad for him. It seems as he has gotten some alien DNA in his own and is now the key to solve the problem with alien weaponry...

The story of 'District 9' is reinforced with current subjects, e.g weapon technology, and criticism against social things, mainly racial segregation aka apartheid, which was a big problem years ago in South Africa. But it's not all that serious though and never gets too preachy or anything... 'District 9' may go a bit campy at times with its humor and storytelling but the mockumentary style will surely make you want to know what will happen next.

Weta Workshop, the company behind several award winning special effects (LOTR trilogy..) has given us very fotorealistic effects. The creatures, the end scene battle with alien tech guns etc. And think about the budget? What would Michael Bay do with, let's say 15 million, besides shooting Megan Fox in slow mo... The action looks just as good, at times even better?, than the effects in other effect driven films (Transformers 2, Terminator Salvation etc...). The editing by Julian Clarke and Trent Opaloch's cinematography boost up the outcome of the movie. And think that Blomkamp, Clarke and Opaloch are just in their early 30's! Can't wait to see what they'll bring us next.

But he real star of the film is Sharlto Copley, I'm sure an unknown face to all of you. 'D9' is his first feature film and what a performance! Copley, a childhood friend of Blomkamp, gives us in overall a mindblowing performance. He shows us that he can do comedy as well as more serious drama. I really can't think of another performance that has amazed me as much as Copley's. His next feature is 'The A-Team' so I'll definitely check it out, just because of him.

'District 9' is now, without any doubt, one of my all-time favourites in its own genre. This film is one of the most original films I've seen and will surely give the audience laughter, excitement without forgetting its serious subjects.

For a debut feature, 'D9' is a really strong performance by Neill Blomkamp. There's already been some discussion of a prequel or a sequel, as the story is left a bit open. Hopefully I'll get to read some good news at some point... Highly recommended to all you buffs!

"With the love. L-O-V-E"

I'd probably have to say that 'This Is It' is by far one of the best documentaries I've ever seen. The focus is not on Michael Jackson as a person but as an artist.

I'm not a big fan of MJ but I've always liked most of his music. Also respected him as an artist despite all the negative fuzz around him. His tragic death just days before his last 50 concert tour will forever remain as a mystery, just as Elvis Presley's. But we are talking about the Kings, right?

His death raised up the material, of the making of the tour, to a completely new value. 'This Is It' could easily have been a cheap rip-off of the fans but Kenny Ortega, who was also the director of his tour, has managed to give MJ fans what they want, a chance to see how the tour would've looked like.

For a 50 year old legend, MJ still has got the moves. The rehearsals look brilliant and prove that MJ still had a strong voice and the charisma of an unique artist. I'm sure that the tour would've given the fans and the world of music something extraordinary.

'This Is It' is an honest tribute to Michael Jackson as an artist. This documentary shows that MJ is and was an unique, honest artist. A legend. 'This Is It' is something that every person, that has had some love towards him and/or his music, should take a look at.

"Let it simmer'

THE movie that has had the biggest influence on me. Great storytelling, acting. All together the best movie of all time!

I hate Nazis, can't tolerate those bastards, but after seeing this for the first time, I started to think that, there could be good people among them, who just are a part of those people cause they don't have anything else. This movie is a perfect portrayal of brotherly love and a man's journey to be freed from his past. I 've seen this way many times and still I'm just stunned. This is one of the best movies ever! Goddamn, I cry at the end!