Today started at 3:30am when I awoke to get ready for my early-morning trip to Portland for a quick meeting. Much to my delight, I got finished three hours early, which meant I had three hours to kill in the city before having to return to the airport. This meant a trip to one of my favorite places: Powell's City of Books.
After an all-too-brief (but wholly unexpected and serendipitous) visit to the City of Roses, I headed back to the airport where I ran into Vahid and Sir, for another all-too-brief (but wholly unexpected and serendipitous) visit before flying out to Denver.
So here I am in The Mile High City, which I haven't been to in six long years. That's a darn shame, because I love it here and wish I had an excuse to visit more often. After wandering down to the 16th Street Mall for dinner I saw District 9, a movie that came out of nowhere to become my favorite film of 2009 so far...
South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp has recreated the horrors of his country's apartheid days in a surprising way. Instead of white colonists subjecting black natives to racial segregation... human natives are subjecting alien refugees to species segregation. And what wonderful-looking aliens they are...
What's astounding here is how fully-realized the world of District 9 is. By the time the film takes place, the aliens have been around for decades and their presence is treated as commonplace. That the actors were able to inhabit this reality so believably is what makes the story so compelling. You simply believe it's happening as you watch it, even though there are these fantastical creatures wandering around.
The film is best experienced clean... with no spoilers or story points to ruin it... so run, don't walk, to a good theater and see it before all the talk about it diminishes the impact for you.
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Now I’m even more excited to see District 9 today!
I have only been to Denver’s airport, which I loved. If the city of Denver itself is just as awesome as their airport, then I have to stop by. Possible TequilaCon city?
I would probably call it my fave of 2009 thus far, as well. I’ve seen it twice now. Amazing film.
That’s it – I might actually venture out and see this movie. Looks good, sounds good… Yep – I will. 🙂
Have fun in Denver!
Poppy and I are going to see it tomorrow. I’m pretty psyched for it… and the fact it’s one of your new faves has me even more excited to see it!
TRUTH! Also, Sharlto Copley=amazing.
Even more amazing? IT’S HIS FIRST FEATURE FILM AS AN ACTOR! How in the heck did THAT happen? He truly was genius… especially when you consider that a lot of his “documentary” footage was improvised!
It was an outstanding movie – that and Inglourious Basterds might be my two favorites of the year so far for completely different reasons.
Now I really have to go see it! I’m going to take hub to the movies right after my cake delivery.
It’s such an awesome movie!
I might have to go see it again before it leaves theaters.
i have a bad habit of getting my expectations up so high that there is no possible way i can be satisfied with whatever i am eagerly anticipating. everyone’s talk of district 9 threw my expectations into over drive. which has to be why i am the only person i know who wasn’t thrilled with the movie. it was good and i am glad i went, but it just wasn’t the be all end all for me.
so now i am sad.
You know what’s funny? I had originally come to see if you had done a review of “(500) Days of Summer” and now I really want to see THIS movie. It’s been on My List since the first time I saw the trailer so now I’m pretty pumped up to see it. You have great recommendations, Dave.
But first! I’m up to look up this Copley guy!
You won’t find much on Copley as an actor… his history is with producing and directing. That being the case, his performance in “District 9” was remarkable… especially considering he has only one other small role to his credit!
If you can stomach some blood and gore, it’s an incredible film that I recommend highly. 🙂
When will improvisation ever ben taken as a serious art form? Sigh. Great, eh? It was good, good, good and my fav of this year so far as well.
I kind of think it IS appreciated as a serious art form… particularly with the success of such shows as The Groundlings, Spontaneous Broadway, and television’s Who’s Line Is It Anyway? And we have a few talk show hosts who are some of the most genius improv artists working anywhere, with people like Graham Norton and Dame Edna showing everybody that talk doesn’t have to mean mere canned discussion. Improv is everywhere. 🙂
Saw it yesterday! The acting and special effects were amazing. I liked it a lot. But there were a few sort of M. Night Shyamalan-esque moments that kept me from loving it. Of course, I am picky and hate everything, so there you go.
The way you describe watching District 9 “clean” should be applies to every movie. I think too many people go with why others think (and sometimes the total opposite of what people think) such that they make up their mind on a movie before they’ve even seen it.
They might read a blog post of how G-force sucked so bad “insert funny deprecating and witty remark here” and then they decide that it’s better to rip it apart than objectively watch it.
I refuse to read/watch reviews. There isn’t a person alive who can even come close to matching my movie tastes so why bother?
Dude. You’re the one who liked “August Rush”… so I would not presume to debate you on that! 🙂
The “one?” I didn’t think it was *that* universally disliked!
I loved August Rush. And Across The Universe. An Xanadu and Moulin Rouge and Once.
And 300 and Watchmen on case any gay police are reading.