| In "District 9", an alien spaceship has come to rest | | | | in the process risk possible harm upon the human |
| over Johannesburg, South Africa. After an extended | | | | race. |
| period of time waiting for something to happen which | | | | Where "District 9" really excels is in creating |
| never does, the government decides to drill into the | | | | characters that you feel emotional attached to. As |
| spaceship to try and make "first contact". In doing | | | | the viewer, you may start to care for Wikus and |
| so, they discover that the aliens are malnourished and | | | | Christopher, and become enthralled in their plight to |
| without a way to go home. The government decides | | | | help each other. When the moral dilemmas are raised, |
| to build a camp for the aliens, known as District 9, to | | | | as the viewer you too begin to ask yourself the |
| house the aliens until they decide a better course of | | | | same questions. Another success in this film is the |
| action. After 20 years, the citizens of Johannesburg | | | | use of a different filming technique. For almost the |
| have had enough of the aliens and want them | | | | first 45 minutes of the film, and then again at various |
| moved. It becomes the charge of MNU (Multi-National | | | | points throughout the conclusion of the film, the |
| United) to move them to a new home, 200km | | | | story is told through interviews from after the |
| outside of Johannesburg. This is when the main story | | | | events that the plot of the film depicts as well as |
| line of the movie takes place. | | | | video footage leading up to the actual exposure of |
| Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley) is given the | | | | Wikus to the chemical. In doing this, you are able to |
| assignment of leading the task force to give eviction | | | | get a clearer picture of the back story of the |
| notices to all of the aliens (derogatorily known as | | | | characters and events that are about to occur. |
| "prawns" for both looking like prawns from the sea | | | | "District 9" does have a couple flaws though. |
| and also for being bottom-feeders). In the process, | | | | Although the filming techniques are new and unique, |
| Wikus becomes exposed to an alien chemical and | | | | when the first 45 minutes pass and you are back to |
| begins a transformation. The plot of the movie then | | | | following the main characters without the emphasis |
| centers around Wikus trying to reverse this | | | | on security footage, you have to ask yourself, |
| transformation versus MNU trying to stop Wikus | | | | where does this footage come from? Is this what |
| from doing so. | | | | really happened to Wikus (because we can't be |
| "District 9" brings to light a couple of moral dilemmas | | | | completely sure as we can be with the home |
| faced by the characters. The first, and much more | | | | footage style of Wikus and MNU in the beginning)? |
| subtle situation is a couple references to "human | | | | Another spot that creates some confusion is in the |
| rights organizations" and their role in the situation in | | | | decisions behind some of the characters actions. At |
| South Africa. They claim that some of the living | | | | times, they rapidly change their minds on huge issues |
| conditions of the prawns are "human rights violations" | | | | with little hint as to why they did. For example, after |
| and that the process of moving the aliens must be | | | | the transformation begins, Wikus's wife calls him and |
| done in accordance to the code of "human rights". | | | | essentially tells him she cannot love him anymore. |
| This brings about the question of whether or not a | | | | Then, in the next scene, she's calling again and telling |
| species of beings such as the "prawns" actually have | | | | him how much she still loves him. In addition, up until a |
| rights, and whether or not they are equal to or | | | | certain point, Wikus is all about saving himself, and |
| better than those of human beings. Can an alien really | | | | then all of a sudden becomes self-sacrificing, and it is |
| have human rights? | | | | unclear where this transformation came from. |
| The second and most-important moral issue raised in | | | | However, as with many good films, these flaws |
| the film is at what cost is one willing to stand behind | | | | become minor and can be over-looked in the grand |
| his or her own set of ethical rights. Is there a point | | | | scheme of the movie. As a whole, "District 9" is a |
| where the negative impacts of standing firm in your | | | | great film, not just a great science-fiction film. It is |
| beliefs is too much, causing you to go against them? | | | | action-packed, but also delivers a great story which |
| Wikus is faced with exactly this sort of dilemma, | | | | raises many questions in the viewers. A movie I |
| when he must decide whether or not to help | | | | would highly recommend seeing. |
| Christopher Johnson (the main alien in the movie), and | | | | |