District 9 [Blu-ray]

District 9 [Blu-ray]
by Neill Blomkamp

District 9 [Blu-ray]

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DVD Cover Information

Actor: David James, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt, Sharlto Copley, Sylvaine Strike
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Brand: Sony
Writer: Neill Blomkamp
Producer: Bill Block
Producer: Carolynne Cunningham
Producer: Elliot Ferwerda
Producer: Ken Kamins
Producer: Michael S. Murphey
Writer: Terri Tatchell
Blu-ray: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Hindi (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Original Language); French (Dubbed)
Format: Anamorphic, Color, DTS Surround Sound, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1
Running Time: 112 minutes
Published: 2009-12-01
Blu-ray Release Date: 2009-12-22
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Product features:

Condition: New
Format: Blu-ray
Anamorphic; Color; DTS Surround Sound; Subtitled; Widescreen

Movie Reviews of District 9 [Blu-ray]

Movie Review: Blu-ray: The Blu-ray release offers bang for the buck! Many special features and awesome PQ and AQ!!!
Summary: 5 Stars

Peter Jackson may be known for his work on the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "King Kong" but as producer for the science fiction film "District 9', needless to say that with his name attached to this project, many people had high expectations.

"District 9' is a film adapted from a 2005 short film "Alive in Joburg" directed by Neill Blomkamp (known for his visual effects work for "Smallville" and "Stargate-SG1') that focused on social segregation. This time around the film (which was budged for around $30 million) would take events that took place in South Africa in District Six, Cape Town during the apartheid era but bring a sci-fi feel that features aliens instead of humans in a camp located in District 9.

Needless to say, TriStar Pictures marketed the film virally on the Internet and despite not having any big name actors in the film, Peter Jackson's name and the teaser trailers featuring the film's awesome special effects would help in creating interest and hype a for the film and in August 2009, "District 9' made $37 million in its opening weekend and eventually making over $204 million worldwide. Now the film makes its entry to Blu-ray and comes loaded with many Blu-ray exclusive special features and also a digital copy of the film.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

"District 9' is featured in 1080p High Definition (1:85:1) and what a gorgeous film does this film turn out to be on Blu-ray. The film is not only vibrant and colorful, the amount of detail scene is incredible. From the grime and dirt on Wikus and the surroundings around District 9, to the detail of the clothing and alien and human skin is incredible. The detail of the broken down, dilapidated slums are brought to life on HD and if anything, this film looks incredible on Blu-ray! Definitely one of the most amazing looking film to come out on Blu-ray this year from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. This is a film that is literally "visual eye candy", "District 9' looks fantastic!

As for audio, the lossless audio soundtrack is featured in English and French DTS-HD MA and also features an English audio description track. And similar to the picture quality of "District 9', the lossless audio is also fantastic! There are many action scenes in this film, so from the radio control communications which you hear on all surround channels, gun shots and alien weaponry blasting to the LFE kicking right when the spacecraft starts to move, I was very impressed. The soundtrack really creates an immersive soundscape and the fact that all surround channels are being utilized, people who own a 7.1 or higher setup will love how "District 9' will sound on their home theater system. Absolutely fantastic!

Subtitles are in English, English SDH, French and Hindi.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"District 9' comes with the following special features featured in High Definition and in English Stereo. Included are:

* BD Exclusive: MovieIQ - If you have a Blu-ray profile 2.0 player that can connect to the Internet, MovieIQ connects you to access real-time information on the cast, music, trivia and more while watching the movie!
* BD Exclusive: CineChat -If you have a Blu-ray profile 2.0 player that can connect to the Internet, you can send on-screen instant messages to your friends around the world while you watch the movie together.
* BD Exclusive: Joburg From Above: Satellite and Schematics of the World of District 9 - Interactive Map - Using your remote, people can see a satellite view of District 9, the alien mothership and MNU headquarters. When you click on one of the locations onscreen, you get detailed information and video. Definitely a pretty cool feature for those who want to learn more about the surroundings of key areas in the film.
* BD Exclusive: GOD OF WAR III playable PlayStation®3 Game Demo and unlock an exclusive making-of the game. - For those that own a Sony PlayStation 3, they can play a demo of the video game and making-of video.
* Director's Commentary - Audio commentary with director/co-writer Neill Blomkamp who is giving commentary before the film came out in theaters. What is interesting is a discussion about how polluted the area where they shot the film (slum area) with asbestos and chemicals all around. But overall, good insight from Blomkamp and overall an informative and entertaining commentary.
* Deleted Scenes - (23:26) A total of 23 deleted scenes. The deleted scenes are actually quite good and could have added more info. to the film. But I can understand that they were trying to reduce the time for better pacing but definitely worth watching after the film.
* The Alien Agenda: A Filmmaker's Log -- Three-Part Documentary - (34:19) The documentary features how Peter Jackson chose Neill Blomkamp, the collaborative writing project with Terri Tatchell and Blomkamp, filming in South Africa and working with the film with a limited budget. The second part features the behind-the-scenes of making "District 9' and working with the talent. The third and final part is an interview with Blomkamp and talent during post-production. Incorporating the sounds, CG and the special effects for the film and how they were accomplished and the challenges of editing the film between documentary and cinematic sequences.
* Metamorphosis: The Transformation of Wikus - (9:52) Discussion of Wikus transformation and Sharlto Copleys experience of having to go through the various transformation.
* Innovation: Acting and Improvisation - (12:04) Behind-the-scenes with how the director's worked with many actors and how the dialogue was mostly improvised.
* Conception and Design: Creating the World of District 9 - (13:18) The conceptual art design and set design for the film.
* Alien Generation: Visual Effects - (10:18) Creating the visual effects for the film and working on a budget.

Note: Before the film starts, you get a menu which you can choose human or alien. As far as I've seen, the changes are just menu driven - one featuring humans with a red color scheme with the other featuring aliens and blue color scheme. I have not found any easter eggs or anything at this time to show anything significantly different by choosing a certain menu.

JUDGMENT CALL:

The trailers for "District 9' may showcase the film a human vs. alien type of sci-fi film but once you start watching the film from beginning to end, you realize how many layers this film has. It was not meant to be a political film but yet, the film uses the aliens and the segregation that took part in South Africa and so there is a deep underlying tone to the film.

Typically when I see a Summer film or any film that is pushed virally, films such as "Cloverfield" have left me felt that there was over-reliance on CG and special effects and at first, before watching this film, I was thinking that "District 9' would be a film with not much substance but all visually eye candy. "District 9' is visual eye candy but it's the good kind of candy that you want from a Blu-ray release. Awesome picture and audio quality, a lot of special features and for the most part, a film that goes beyond the average "popcorn-flick" flair.

Sure, Peter Jackson's name is attached to the film but in truth, you have to hand it to first time director Neill Blomkamp (and also screenwriter Terri Tatchell) who adapted his short film and was expected to take that short film and make this monstrous sci-fi film with only $30 million dollars. In contrast, to other 2009 films "G.I. Joe - Rise of Cobra" cost $170 million to make, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" cost $200 million to make and here is a film that was shot by a first-time director, features no major stars, shot in a hazardous area, dialogue that was improvised and yes, they director and crew had to cut corners but what an amazing film "District 9' turned out to be for its low budget, considering how immense this project and film actually came to be.

Actor Sharlto Copley (who plays Wikus Van De Merwe) who has never really acted in a major film was incredible and almost like an Ed Norton who got his first big break with "Primal Fear", "District 9' definitely puts Copley on the map and will be a talent to watch for more and more in the near future.

Overall, "District 9' turned out to be a pretty smart and deep sci-fi film. It definitely was not what I was expecting and that's good because it turned out to be much more fulfilling. Is it a great film? No. But it's a pretty solid, thought-provoking sci-film that features a gripping screenplay, awesome special effects and also solid acting. All from a director, crew (aside from producer Peter Jackson) and cast that we have never heard of. An ambitious film that looks and feels like it should have cost a lot more to make but in the end, Blomkamp made it happen with a low budget. The Blu-ray release of "District 9' actually enhanced my appreciation for this film and in the end, I feel that this "District 9' is just too awesome of an HD release on Blu-ray and definitely earns my recommendation!

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Summary of District 9 [Blu-ray]

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 12/22/2009 Run time: 158 minutes Rating: Pg13

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