Film Review: "District 9" (2009)

Peter Jackson's District 9 is truly mind-consuming to who watch.

The story begins with the landing and hovering of an alien species' (Sprawns) mothership over the city of Johannesburg.

Because of their behaviors, practices, and appearance are unfit for the human society, the government of Johannesburg makes the decision to segregate them, caging them inside a designated slum: District 9.

As anticipated as it was for the writer, the film was a basket full of fun to watch. The mixture of documentary, blockbuster, and dramatic style of filming, the piece brings realism, thrill, and emotions all together.

In English classes, students are taught to think deeply about any piece of art work's title. Being that, I could not help but to find out the significance of the title myself, being brainwashed in highschool for nearly four years.

"It is the last of the digits, and thus marks the end; and is significant of the conclusion of a matter.

It is akin to the number six, six being the sum of its factors (3x3=9, and 3+3=6), and is thus significant of the end of man, and the summation of all man's works. Nine is, therefore,

THE NUMBER OF FINALITY OR JUDGMENT,

for judgment is committed unto Jesus as "the Son of man" (John 5:27; Acts 17:31). It marks the completeness, the end and issue of all things as to man—the judgment of man and all his works."

Source: http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/9.html

"Nine represents attainment, satisfaction, accomplishment, and our success to achieve an influence in our circumstances. The spiritual meaning of number Nine deals with intellectual power, inventiveness, influence over situations and things. Nine beseeches us to recognize our own internal attributes, and extend these abilities out into the world to make a positive, influential difference."

Source: http://www.whats-your-sign.com/spiritual-meaning-of-numbers.html

It is all so fascinating isn't it? I've found two meanings for number nine, and they both seem to sort of contradict one another; opposites. If I attempt to go ahead and proceed with my analysis of the relationship between the number and the film, I'd probably have to spoil some of the plots for you, so let me just jot down a brief thought.

The two definitions I wou

ld like to draw out from my sources are "extend" the "abilities out into the world to make a positive, influential difference," and the "end." There was a churnning in my guts that told me this movie was dealing with the issues regarding immigrants and illegal 'aliens'. The number nine does not have any negative annotations with the film itself. The number, and the film itself is taunting our attitudes and behaviors toward these issues and carefully pushing the audience into a realization that should be very simple: We are all the same. We must end the prejudice. WE, have to make the change.

Getting back to the reel, the film was visually stunning with its state of the art CGI and the cinematography that is a major contributing factor to its realness of the District 9 universe. It was a constant edge-of-the-seat suspense, gross and masculine action that draws out gasps from the theatre, and a drama

that attacks deep into the core of our ethics and morales.

The film is a drive to test human's capacity to love, hate, and sympathize through the character of Wikus Van De Merwe.

Sharlto Copley, portraying the character of Wikus Van De Merwe, and his performance well depicts an average human being: holder of prejudice, assumptions, oblivion, selfish, and compassionate.

Once again, Peter Jackson has done an amazing job, again, creating a universe that will creep into your mind that will make you believe what you see.

I strongly encourage everyone to see this movie. I'm giving this four stars.