District 9

There are very few movies in this world which make peole ask questions. One such movie which I watched recently was D-9. Apart from being a refreshingly different storyline its a visual delight for the viewers. The documentary style story telling and use of hand held camera for shooting should be a welcome change for the viewers.
The story is about an alien ship which has landed on Earth (Rather stuck on earth.... because it remains in Air withoout touching the ground..... now how did they manage to do that..... probably Alien technology :) ).... Ne thts not the point. The point is simply that the Aliens reach earth and are stuck and cannot leave. So the good old human race comes to the rescue of these hapless creatures and gives them shelter and food on our very own earth. Now as so often with human misadventures this help which turns into a curse for the people. The Highly intelligent alien race which has the power to make Spaceships which break the light speed barrier.... is somehow on reaching earth.... dumb..... and aimless....... ( Don't ask me how.... but I know the why...... for the story's sake.). Probably the aliens were infected by some space virus which killed their brains.
Now these aimless and dumb.... yet technologically superior aliens behave like mob and it seems that blowing up trains is their favorite time pass.
So now realizing their mistakes the humans now decide to shift these creatures far away from Human civilization into desert where they will no longer be able to damage the Humans.
This is the point where the story begins. The debutent director Niel Blomkamp does a wonderful job of story telling using his expertise at hand held cameras to the fullest. The unknown starcast was a boon to the movie giving it a more realistic humane touch. The protagonist Wikus Van Der Merwe played by Sharlto Copley does an amazing job of carrying pratically the whole movie on his back. The story is gripping... Special Effects optimal.... and the end leaves you wanting for more.
The social and moral issues highlighted by the movie are the hidden yet the strongest points making this a must watch for all the Movie lovers. By selecting South Africa as the location of all the action in movie... Director is merely reflecting the dogmas that the South African society was suffering from 2 decades ago. The Signs showing Only Humans Allowed... bring back the images of the apartheid regime of South Africa.
The treatment of hapless Aliens ( who are suffering from brain Eating Space virus disease ) at the hands of humans is heartwarming. The way these confused aimless aliens were made to leave their homes shacks rather to far off desert makes us think how the Africans were made to leave their lands at the hands of whites during the imperialistic era.
The biggest question the movie raises is what do we mean by Human Rights. Are these rights reserved for only Humans or they can be extended to human like creatures.? What do we mean by Human like creatures? the ones sharing our gnomes ( Monkeys ).... or the ones who are totally different from us but the only thing connecting both of us is the term 'Civilization'? ........
The list of such questions can go on and on....... its better if you are reading this.......... to go and watch the movie......
Hope you enjoy it........ because I surely did.......