I heard a lot of buzz about this movie and I knew that it was shot in a semi-documentary way, but I wasn't prepared to be awed.
Everything about this picture is great! The editing, the cinematography, the set design, the action and the acting are all perfect.
Don't go to this movie thinking you are about to see a good science fiction movie with the standard feel good moments, this isn't that type of film. This film takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa, and unlikely place for a set of a science fiction story, but the way it's portrayed, we could be watching a movie about victims of apartheid.
If you were to replace the aliens with those South Africans who have been the victims of apartheid, you would hardly have to change a thing (apart from the alien technology and weapons). The tone of this film is completely real. That's what I love about it.
You can tell, Neill Bloomkamp (Director and co-writer) knew exactly the type of movie he wanted to make and how to execute it. I can just imagine he told everyone of his actors that they need to play their part with these thoughts in mind,
- these aliens are living among them for 20 years (so they are no longer a novelty)
- the aliens are completely real
- and they are really becoming a nuisance now and they need to go
But even though the aliens are living in slums and to us, are near to being animals, they are not without intelligence and compassion.
The fact that they are being harassed by Nigerians doesn't make living with them any easier.
The special effects are fantastic! I used to work in the film business and I know what it takes to make a special effects film, and for them to make this movie for $30 million is amazing.
I can't say enough about the lead actor Sharlto Copley who plays Wikus Van De Merwe, an agent for an alien commity who has been given the opportunity to handle moving the aliens from one slum to another. He's a South African actor who I'm sure will get a Oscar nomination. He completely sells this movie.
If I could I would thank Neill and Peter Jackson for boldly making this film. It's one of those gems that will go down in history as a great science fiction film.
