A race of aliens have come to Earth and land in South Africa. The twist is that they arrive starved, frightened and living in squalor. The authorities do what they can for the aliens and group them in their own neighborhood. Before too long their neighborhood becomes a slum. Their slum then descends into a hotbed for criminality and decay.

The first half of the film is like a tongue-in-cheek version of Cops. We are introduced to the characters in documentary style, each one talking about the fate of poor Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley), a government agent who is put in charge of relocating the aliens (who humans have given the slur "prawns".)

Wikus is a bureaucrat with a clipboard who is slightly out of his depth knocking on the shantytown doors of the tall, bug-like aliens. As he deals with a variety of situations, Wikus nervously barks out orders while also keeping one eye on the cameraman following him around.

This opening half is simply great film making. The obvious intent of the film is to draw parallels between the government and aliens and the black residents of real South African slums. Unlike the deeply racist film Avatar, this film acknowledges its analogy and then moves on. It doesn't wallow in its agenda, director Neill Blomkamp let's it develop on its own.

The film runs into a huge wall however. The second half of the film suddenly drops the pseudo-documentary style. It also loses its sense of humor. Wikus gets spun into a government web of deception, torture and violence.

The film abruptly switches gears and becomes a messy chase film. A secondary character is promoted to become the villain and a plot bonding Wikus with the aliens is quickly concocted. The move is jarring and the film doesn't survive the transition.

I understand why so many people found this to be an enjoyable film. The first half includes some very clever and enjoyable film making. Blomkamp obviously has talent. It is also obvious that he can take things too far. I can't recommend the film because I don't think the first half makes up for the latter portion. I will say that if you do find yourself watching it, the second half of the film won't be the worst thing you'll see on film, but it will leave you pining for the opening scenes of the picture.


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Labels: alien, film, movie review, Neill Blomkamp, Sharlto Copley

The first movie in a series is almost always the best and that’s the case here. A classic of both suspense and science-fiction, this film is a must-see. Ridley Scott genius is in full effect in this dark, haunting scarefest. Scott relies on the interplay of characters to build upon the tension set up by the mysterious alien creature set loose on a spaceship. With inspired casting (a young Sigourney Weaver in the lead, supported by Ian Holm, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt and Veronica Cartwright) and a thoughtful script. Scott masterfully built a film for the ages.

In true horror tradition, the monster (the alien) is highly symbolic. In this case it is rather sexual as well. Ninety percent of you just said “huh?” Do you think that the jutting second mouth is just a jutting second mouth? Listen, there is a reason why it is that Lambert (Veronica Cartwright) is raped at the end of the film. Don't remember that? Watch it again, you’ll see.

Beyond the sex stuff, the alien also a result of capitalism. I’m a capitalist, so this irks me some but it is true. Who is the real bad guy here? The corporate suits that are giving the orders from back home. The alien is to be saved for the military-industrial complex back on Earth. The intrusion of capitalist greed is the alien in an otherwise tranquil universe…or something like that. Who cares, they built a billion dollar franchise off a metaphor complaining about big business. Ain’t that rich?

The film itself is a remarkable feat and is worth seeing at least once. Note that some may be disturbed by the frightening, and somewhat demonic, images. If you're sensitive to horror you may have to skip this one.


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Labels: alien, film, Ian Holm, movie review, science fiction, Sigourney Weaver

Short Review: A quiet and inspired film. It is like The 6th Sense but with more annoying children.


For the most part, this is a good film. It is a study in how to patiently unfold a story and its characters. It is certainly refreshing to see a movie where the filmmaker knows that solid scenes don’t need to be rushed. M. Night Shamalamadingdong handles most of the film with a delicate hand and gently presents the horror of the alien invasion without becoming overbearing (until the end of the film.)

I have great appreciated the sound design. It would have been easy to make the aliens growling, violent creatures. M. Night Snuffleupagus’ genius in this film was making them so silent. Quiet horror is unsettling horror. Have you have wakened from a dead sleep thinking you’ve heard something in your house? Have you ever thought someone had broken in? This film plays on that terrified listening we fall into when we try to discern if there is a menace that we cannot see.

The ending of the film is weak, it's Michael Jackson in competitive arm wrestling weak. It wraps up too nicely and too conveniently. The ending wouldn't have lost anything if M. Night Shyma-something-or-another, stopped the action, stepped into the shot and simply said "and everyone lives happily ever after". I understand the point M. Night Sha-Na-Na was attempting to make, I just feel he could have done it less forcefully.

Overall, good film. If you haven’t seen it yet, do. Well worth the rental price.


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Labels: alien, film, Joaquin Phoenix, M Night Shyamalan, Mel Gibson, movie review