By Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com
‘District 9’
Directed by Neil Blomkamp
Rated R,
112 minutes
“District 9” is easily the most original film of the year and so much more. A sci-fi, action epic on the outside, a government conspiracy on the inside, “District 9” should be seen by anyone who consider themselves a fan of movies. When a spaceship is found to be holding a large population of malnourished aliens, they are relocated to District 9, a slum in Johannesburg, South Africa. But weird things start happening cultures collide as humans are upset about living among the aliens or “Prawns” and want them out. The government decides to evict the aliens into another location and send Wikus (Sharlto Copley), a pencil-pushing lackey, to get the aliens to understand. But little does Wikus know; evicting aliens will be the least of his problems. Prepare to be in awe of one of the best films of the year. CV
‘They Live’
Directed by John Carpenter
1986, Rated R, 93 minutes
John Carpenter is my favorite director. Not only did he helm my favorite movie, “Big Trouble In Little China,” he has an amazing roster of films (“Escape From New York,” “Halloween,” “Prince of Darkness,” “The Thing”). “They Live” ranks up there with his best. Roddy Piper stars as Nada, an out-of-work drifter who discovers a pair of sunglasses that, if worn, will unmask the aliens who have taken over our government and law officials. Without the glasses, everything looks normal. “They Live” is highly underrated and features one of the best lines ever uttered (“I came here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I’m all out of bubblegum”) and quite possibly the greatest fight scene ever on film (Piper and Keith David). Just make sure you don’t “obey.” CV
