Comments on: Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 Trailer

By: Claudia

Claudia — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:12:30 +0000

Well, finally someone made some interesting comments about the story in the film and about how delicately it touches certain fibers of humankind and what we are doing with our fellow citizens.
It is true that the South African history has a lot to tell us and it is also evident that Blomkamp chose Johannesburg for a reason, but it is also true that the story reflects humankind as a whole extrapolating the South African experience to the rest of the world.
I’m both glad that so many people are opening eyes and that good filmmaking serves this purpose.

By: EyeGod

EyeGod — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:56:01 +0000

As a South African myself, and former employee of the directors who mentored Blomkamp in his youth while he was still starting out as an animator in Johannesburg, South Africa, I cannot begin to explain to you on how many levels this film is important – especially to the South African industry. Our industry has been bogged down by films which deal with our past – apartheid – and finally a film comes around which contains elements of this past, and repackages them as something original, unique, and new. Never before have South Africans fathomed their country as one that can be invaded by aliens. Furthermore, one cannot help but wonder if the film serves as a commentary on apartheid, or on the wave of xenophobic violence which swept through South Africa in 2008 due to the Zimbabwean crisis. Perhaps the subtext which this film will undoubtedly contain will deal with both issues. It’s my hope that this film isn’t purely allegory, but that it deals with the important issues metaphorically, with a primary emphasis on entertaining. Needless to say I’m extremely excited about what this means for the South African film industry (I’m a director myself) and I’ve been following Blomkamp’s career with great interest. All the power to him – I hope that one day even Halo may become a reality.

By: Justice

Justice — Tue, 05 May 2009 06:33:02 +0000

As someone who lives on the frontline of the controversy over illegal immigration (Phoenix), this movie looks like it can strike a lot of important chords. I’ve heard nearly everyone of those statements from the actors from people here. I’m hoping it follows in the fine tradition (Night of the Living Dead, Invasion of the Body Snatchers) of horror/sci-fi films pushing cultural envelopes. Lackluster design or not, that’s a personal taste issue, but hey, I thought the Cloverfield monster looked cool, so what do I know.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 03 May 2009 11:14:24 +0000

Also, Jay, you should demand compensation from the ad words that are appearing in your comments over there. Simian Play, based out of Singapore, are profiting off words *you* wrote over there. I would demand nothing less than a cashier’s check made out to the amount of $36.43, or the cost of John’s narrative film.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 03 May 2009 11:10:10 +0000

You guys seen this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU_reTt7Hj4

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 03 May 2009 10:58:52 +0000

If it makes you guys feel any better, I never let Rodney comment on eclecticgamer when it was up. Turn about’s fair play.

Oh, and you know why John and Rodney don’t let scathing criticism get posted on TMB? Because there are so many straw men there the whole site would go up in flames.

By: rus in chicago

rus in chicago — Sun, 03 May 2009 03:17:55 +0000

I got this posted then removed on TMB:

[How do I prove a negative you idiot. Its your conspiracy theory, you keep claiming it, YOU PROVE IT. You can't because 1) you were not part of the discussions and 2) every movie is a push / pull between the creatives and the financiers on establishing a budget.

This is the ONLY official release on the shelving and it has more evidence leading to a simple dispute between producer and financiers on budget versus expectations then any of the Bloomkamp distrust you cultivate:

"As was previously confirmed, we deeply regret that both Universal and Fox did not choose to move forward with financing the Halo film under the original terms of the agreement," it stated. "At this time Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, along with their partner, Microsoft, have mutually agreed to postpone making a feature film based on the Halo video game universe until we can fulfill the promise we made to millions of Halo fans throughout the world that we would settle for no less than bringing a first class film to the big screen. We are fully supportive of Director Neill Blomkamp's vision of the film. Neill is a tremendously gifted filmmaker and his preliminary work on Halo is truly awe-inspiring. While it will undoubtedly take a little longer for Halo to reach the big screen, we are confident that the final feature film will be well worth the wait."

Go ahead Rodney prove your point with evidence or shut the fuck up! And don't link to any of the thousand of blog opinions about Microsoft's actions. Give us real evidence you hack!]

What a spineless bastard!

By: Neil M

Neil M — Sun, 03 May 2009 02:33:41 +0000

Man, the more I watch this trailer, the more hot and bothered I get. That shot of the ship from the chopper looks incredible.

By: swarez

swarez — Sun, 03 May 2009 00:52:49 +0000

Yebb, Rodney’s logic is weak at best and seems to be lapping up what Campea said back in the day.
It’s come to that they simply lock you out of the discussion if they feel their views are challenged, have had that happen a few times.

By: rus in chicago

rus in chicago — Sat, 02 May 2009 17:29:29 +0000

I got your back on TMB Jay C.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Sat, 02 May 2009 17:10:29 +0000

Still Stuck in Moderation over at TMB:

“kurt says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
May 1, 2009 at 11:28 pm

Let me also echo the weird Anti-PeterJackson tone on The Movie Blog. Iâ€™ve gotten into it more than once on John C.â€™s harsh comments in regards to Jackson, and (i guess by association) Neill Blomkamp.

I also find it strange how this site seems to aggressively get its back up with new and interesting approaches to filmmaking (Zodiac, Where the Wild Things Are, District-9) and/or classic hommages (Death Proof) or low-key stories (Adventureland). It all boils down to taste, but I nominate the tagline be â€œOfficial Home of Multiplex Fodder and Special Effects driven Comic Book Action picturesâ€

It seems very strange that this site was once almost morphed into a SCI-Fi only blog, yet canâ€™t tell a potentially interesting science-fiction picture when looking it in the face.

/end criticism”

By: mrbenning

mrbenning — Sat, 02 May 2009 12:51:50 +0000

I get the feeling we’re supposed to identify with the buggy alien who appears to be giving up information, hence why he doesn’t look too weird.

Why’s it so easy to be scared of one of Ridley Scott’s aliens? Because they’re bizarre and scary.