First Hit: Extraordinary film which had lasting effects about how one thinks about the human race and our actions towards ourselves and others.
It’s wonderful when a film defies and goes far beyond its trailers. For about two months I watched the trailers. Each time I wondered if I’d bother to go see it.
Something inside me kept knowing at me saying, “it might be more than you think”. In fact there is one scene in a trailer that stuck with me, it was one about the aliens not having the ability to go back home. This scene pulled me in because if aliens were able to land on earth and their space ship is hovering, and they can’t leave it, then the story might be interesting.
The beginning of the film gives enough information by using a reporter and news bulletin format so that when we’re dropped into the story we are not in disbelief about situation. The space ship is stuck a few miles above the city, and after an extended period of time of exploration and contact attempts, earthlings broke into the ship and found numerous aliens in desperate need of nourishment. To assist the aliens and keep them separate from humans, the government set up a walled refugee camp for them on the edge of Johannesburg.
Although the Prawns (as the aliens were called because they look like shrimp) started thriving, by having more children, they are trapped in this camp and are being taken advantage of by both the human race (who is experimenting on their bodies) and a small group of Nigerians who are running a strong-arm black market operation.
In retaliation, the Prawns wreck their own camp and riot from time to time. Sound familiar? It should, because this is what humans to do other humans as well. We take special groups of people and “for their protection”, create camps, special housing, and planned developments as a way to control their lives.
The main character Wikus (played by Sharlto Copley) has been promoted to lead the project to relocate the Prawns to a new location outside the city limits. The Prawns have been in their current location for 20 years and the city folk would rather have them leave, but as a second best thing they want them moved farther away from Johannesburg.
The plan goes awry when they attempt to oust a Prawn who’s created a way to start their spaceship, gather the remaining Prawns and go home.
Copley was excellent as the lead character moving from a man with a slight attitude based on the position he was given towards a man with compassion towards the Prawns as he began to see how the actions of the government and corporation in charge of security were affecting the Prawns. As the film moves forward he teams up with a Prawn and together a bond is created. Neill Blomkamp directed and also co-wrote this interesting and powerful film. Although there are a lot of violent moments, the theme carries this film to a beautiful end.
Overall: This film was entertaining, thoughtful and violent. And, although the violence was pointed, the theme of compassion and humanity were the shining lights as the film winds to a beautiful end.