District 9 Blu-ray delivers stunning video and reference-quality audio in this exceptional Blu-ray release
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.
For more about District 9 and the District 9 Blu-ray release, see District 9 Blu-ray Review published by Martin Liebman on December 18, 2009 where this Blu-ray release scored 4.5 out of 5.
Exciting but contemplative. Slick but grimy. Intense but purposeful. Fatiguing but captivating.
District 9 is a film of two words, both literally and figuratively. In the literal sense, it
features protagonists and antagonists from two planets struggling to co-exist on Earth.
Figuratively, the film incorporates plenty of fast-paced action and glossy visuals inside a world that's
wholly depressing and subconsciously reflective of the human condition and human history;
District 9's juxtaposition of shiny special effects and slick filmmaking consistently clashes
with the alien-inhabited slums of Johannesburg, South Africa, where tragedy unfolds upon tragedy
and where everyone -- human and alien alike -- is on some level both hero and villain,
culminating in several days of upheaval that promise to forever alter the course of human and alien
events.
Hi, my name is Wickus, and do I have a special offer for you today.
For thirty years, a large alien spacecraft hovered over the city of Johannesburg, South Africa,
presumably stranded when a command vessel plummeted to Earth, never to be found. Its first
three months were met with speculation and panic, until it was decided to infiltrate the vessel,
learn its true intentions, and just as importantly, discover the fate of whatever crew may be
aboard. The huddled, sickly, and malnourished aliens were transported to Johannesburg below
where they were placed in makeshift camps, but after years of unproductiveness and countless
resources that only furthered the creatures' depravity in their slums, and in conjunction with
gang
infiltration, violence, and the plethora of weapons both human and alien within the slum's walls,
the forced relocation of the 1.8 million aliens to a new complex some distance from the
city was chosen as the most prudent course of action for both man and alien. In charge of the
move was Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley). The process proved difficult
as uncooperative aliens and angry Nigerian gangs hindered the operation, but it took a turn for
the
worse when Wikus accidentally came in contact with an alien liquid that slowly altered his
biological structure. Hunted by man for his ability to fire alien weapons rendered
otherwise useless in human hands and sought after by the Nigerian gangs for his mutated
DNA, Wikus became the central player in a series of events that promised to forever alter man's
perception of the aliens and the aliens' place on Earth.
District 9, the brainchild of the relatively unknown Writer/Director Neill Blomkamp and
produced by famed filmmaker Peter Jackson (King Kong), is first
and
foremost a rugged Action/Sci-Fi extravaganza that entwines both pseudo-Documentary and
traditional filmmaking approaches, but below the surface lies an unforgiving commentary on
forced relocation, profiling, and prejudice. Of
course, and in the tradition of classic Science Fiction motifs, the film presents a far-flung and
desperate scenario that would challenge even the most
honest and compassionate mankind has to offer; it was only after months of deliberation and an
effort to do right by the horde of diseased and desperate aliens did man attempt to help the new
arrivals, only to see the alien camps decay into chaos that threatened to tear apart the fabric of
an
already-struggling city but also pit man against man and man against alien in the effort to
provide
for the stranded creatures' basic needs. Despite its unsettling tone and none-too-subtle
message, District 9's thematic
undercurrents prove effective even in the context of plenty of hard-hitting action, extreme
graphic violence, and the film's
attention-grabbing visual style and relentless approach to the material. The allegory is never lost
to action or special effects, even when the movie drastically shifts tones from act to act, going
from engaging yet depressing to a more standard run-and-gun but no less effective and certainly
entertaining third act.
Effectiveness of any allegorical sub-contexts aside, however, District 9's basic structure is
one built around tragedy. Personal tragedy, city tragedy, worldly tragedy, and, indeed, even
intergalactic tragedy defines every frame of District 9, and Director Neill Blomkamp has
effectively woven a picture that, therefore and in conjunction with several other elements, elicits
a broad spectrum of emotions. The film's structurally-appealing and rapid-fire first act
delivers a barrage of information with such a realistic tone so as to be practically overpowering,
the film's Documentary approach and interwoven false news clips effectively throw decades
worth of backstory -- backstory that's comprised of what would undoubtedly prove be the most
monumental
newsmaker in man's history were it real -- as if it were all unfolding freshly and for the first time.
Of course,
the film also leans on its allegorical overtones to draw out feelings of anger and regret and, at the
same time, an understanding of the hows and whys of the conditions, the relocations, and the
general human public's outcry towards the "Prawn" infestation. Lastly, District 9 delivers
plenty of spine-tingling suspense alongside hardcore and gruesome action. Bullets fly, bodies
explode, and the combat sequences are superbly choreographed and intense; even though the
general outcome is rarely in question, Blomkamp maintains a strong level of tension throughout.
Each element lends to District 9 a distinct feel, and all told the film offers a nonstop roller
coaster ride of emotions and visuals that make it one of the year's -- and perhaps the decade's --
most unique motion pictures.
Finally, District 9 is a technical achievement in filmmaking. Its special effects are
generally seamless but sometimes a bit clumsy and not quite up to par with something like Star Trek, but then
again, the film is charged with a far more daunting task of placing complexly-rendered organic
beings in the midst of the filth and grime of a South African slum, and on a budget an estimated
one-fifth the size of Director J.J. Abrams' summer mega-hit. As alluded to earlier, District
9's now not uncommon but nevertheless here incredibly effective Documentary approach
only adds to the gritty visuals and unforgiving tone of the problems and conditions that define the
film. Additionally, District 9's cast is devoid of household name actors, but each
primary -- both human and digitally-rendered alien -- provide solid performances from top to
bottom. In the
film's lead role, Johannesburg native Sharlto Copley plays his pencil-pusher-turned-anti-hero
character splendidly; gradually transforming from hunter to hunted and undergoing massive
physical, emotional, and psychological changes, Copley exhibits a good range
and
professionalism in his craft, and in his first outing proving a solid leading man, his performance
boding well for
his
big-screen future, set to continue in 2010's sure-to-be summer blockbuster The A-Team.
Sony's 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer of District 9 is practically of reference quality in
every frame. Shot on the Red One high definition digital camera, every square inch of the frame
looks extraordinary; only deliberately rough and aged standard-definition footage as seen
primarily at the
beginning of the film, slightly underwhelming blacks in select scenes, and incredibly minute
banding in a couple of high definition shots represent any sort of distraction from what is, overall,
a brilliantly rendered high definition image. Colors are marvelously vibrant but never
overpowering; the slums of Johannesburg take on a slight earth tone considering the dirt, grime,
and rust, but clothing stands apart as particularly striking. Complementing the wonderful color
scheme is an incredibly fine level of detailing that's generally nothing short of astonishing. Wikus'
sweater as worn at the beginning of the film features a particularly strong texturing. Facial detail
in close-up shots reveal beads of sweat, pores, and facial hair stubbles as handsomely and
realistically as any other Blu-ray disc to date. Additionally, the rough detail of the slums -- the
rust, filth, and broken down shacks and equipment -- as evidenced in most every exterior shot
throughout the film offers breathtakingly sharp and finely-rendered imagery. Even distance
shots
remain sharp, focused, and intricately detailed. This digital high definition image is pristinely
clean, with only slight noise to be found in but a few particularly darkened shots. Flesh tones are
consistently accurate as well. District 9 is the latest in visual eye candy and another
stellar Blu-ray transfer from Sony.
District 9 explodes onto Blu-ray with a mesmerizing DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless
soundtrack. A full and exceptionally balanced presentation, Sony's latest system-pushing sonic
extravaganza immerses the listener into the world of of the 9th district, distributing every sound
with pinpoint accuracy to create a seamless 360-degree living, breathing environment. From
subtle background ambience -- voices over intercoms or shuffling debris around the slums -- to
explosive shootouts and high-pitched whines, this DTS mix delivers a full range of sonic goodness
that never misses a beat whether the action be near or far, loud or quiet, and anything and
everything in between. Gunfire crackles with startling precision as rounds explode in rapid-fire
succession from automatic weapons, while the wide array of alien sidearms each deliver a unique
and frightening sonic signature. Most impressive about District 9's soundtrack, however,
is the tight, clean, and precise bass; a seat-rattling but never overwhelming experience, the
low end is decidedly powerful but not abundantly messy. District 9 gives the subwoofer a
prodigious workout that's sure to test its limits, not to mention the structural integrity of the
surrounding structure. Rounded out by pitch-perfect dialogue reproduction, District 9
delivers a reference-quality lossless soundtrack that perfectly aids the visuals in fully immersing
the viewer into the alien slums of Johannesburg.
District 9 lands on Blu-ray with an impressive array of extras, the collection headlined by
a commentary track with Director/Co-Writer Neill Blomkamp. Recorded before the film was
released to theaters, Blomkamp covers a nice array of materials with an easygoing and friendly
tone. He speaks on his relationship with actor Sharlto Copley, his previous short film Alive in
Joburg and District 9's connection to it, the realism of film's visual effects, parallels
with real-life problems that plagued South Africa at the time of filming, the film's metaphors,
Wikus' personality traits and his character's arc, shooting locations, the social hierarchy and
subsequent physical design of the aliens, Peter Jackson's contributions, the film's gory visuals,
shooting the action and ensuring its authenticity (including a good discussion on the film's
weaponry), and much more. Blomkamp's commentary is solid from beginning to end, and fans
will definitely want to give this one a listen.
Joburg From Above: Satellite and Schematics of the World of 'District 9' -- Interactive
Map allows viewers to navigate around a map of the places seen in District 9 -- the
alien mothership, MNU Headquarters, and the district itself -- and learn more about crucial areas
within each one. Detailed imagery of select locations reveals the ability to further study materials
such as text biographies and backgrounds of characters, learn the basics of alien biology, view
conceptual drawings and 3-D schematics of vehicles, see clips from the film, and much more.
This interactive piece offers enough in-depth material to keep District 9 fans busy for
some time.
The Alien Agenda: A Filmmaker's Log (1080i, 34:19) is a three-part feature
broken into three segments. Envisioning 'District 9 (7:49) is a piece that examines
the film's origins in Alive in Joburg, the story's evolution from that film to this, the story's
themes, creature design, and more. Shooting 'District 9' (16:34) offers a solid
behind-the-scenes look at the making of several scenes and the challenges of the shoot, intercut
with cast and crew interview clips. Finally, Refining 'District 9' (9:54) looks at the
finalization of the film's sound effects and score, cast and crew reflections on the experience, and
more. Next up is Metamorphosis: The Transformation of Wikus (1080i, 9:52), a fun
segment that looks at the gruel and the skill of applying the 100% practical make-up used on
Wikus throughout the film. Innovation: The Acting and Improvisation of 'District 9'
(1080i, 12:05) is another solid piece that looks at the importance of improvisational dialogue in
crafting a more realistic film that blends with the Documentary approach. Conception and
Design: Creating the World of 'District 9' (1080i, 13:18) offers a fascinating glimpse into the
set dressing and prop design, creating alien biology and technology, crafting the mothership and
its nods to 1970s and 1980s Science Fiction, designing one of the effects that plays central to the
film's climactic action sequence, and more. Alien Generation: The Visual Effects of 'District
9' (1080i, 10:18) examines the challenges of bringing the film's digital aliens to life.
Also included is a collection of 22 deleted scenes (1080p, 23:28); a playable demo of God of
War III, accessible via the Playstation 3's
"Xross Menu Bar" (or "XMB") under the "Game" tab when the disc is inserted into the player;
Sony's Cinechat functionality; Sony's "MovieIQ" that offers live, up-to-date details about every
scene, including
cast and crew filmographies and biographies, soundtrack listings, and more; BD-Live functionality;
and additional 1080p trailers for Moon, The
Boondock Saints II: All Saint's Day, Michael Jackson's This is
It, 2012, and Zombieland. This
set also features two digital copies of District 9, one on the Blu-ray disc itself and for
replay on a PSP portable gaming device, and the second on a standalone disc for playback on a
computer or select portable devices. Unfortunately, the PSP digital copy was
unavailable for download at time of publication. However, the included iPod-compatible Digital
Copy
contained on disc two was sampled on a Second-Generation iPod Touch; the video quality delivers
clear, sharp details; solid color reproduction; and a fair sense of depth. The audio is surprisingly
spacious across the two channels, with crisp dialogue, strong ambience, and loud and clear sound
effects.
While Producer Peter Jackson's name has been attached with everything -- and its promotional
materials in particular -- revolving around
District 9, Writer/Director Neill Blomkamp's
film stands solidly on its
own two feet. It's not an
example of a pet project with only a name behind it to get it noticed, but instead a
one-of-a-kind,
intricately structured, breathtaking, attention-grabbing roller coaster ride of most every emotion,
including awe, excitement, and despair. Few films grab the attention so vigorously and never let
go
quite like District 9, and through its many layers -- allegory and hard-hitting action in
particular -- the film gels wonderfully from beginning to end, every angle falling into place for one
of
the summer's most exceptional films and one of the decade's most unique Science Fiction
experiences.
Sony's Blu-ray release of this impressive film is up to the task. Boasting startlingly clear visuals, a
faultless lossless soundtrack, and plenty of bonus materials, District 9 is yet
another feather in Sony's cap, a perfect example of why the studio may very well be Blu-ray's
best
and most consistent. District 9 comes highly recommended.
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