Way back in 2005, you might remember that I had an area on this website entitled 'seanTV'. On it I posted a number of videos I found interesting or entertaining before YouTube was around to fill the same role. One of those videos was Alive in Joburg, a short little parody of South African apartheid where the filmmakers swapped some aliens for the non-whites.

Two weeks ago I discovered this short film had been adapted to a feature length film entitled District 9. Disregarding my feeling like I had been living under a rock for not knowing this, I quickly set out to view the full length movie. In short, I have to say that District 9 is an awesome movie.

First I need to admit I have a soft spot for South African cinema since I've been in the areas the movie was filmed in and even ridden in those massive police vehicles. Other than my obscure emotional attachments, District 9 is a great movie since it breaks some new ground. In nearly all movies there are two stereotypes of aliens, they are advanced to the point where they are never suffering (except in battle), and they are the oppressors of the humans. District 9 is great since it humanizes the aliens by showing them suffering, but it also demonizes the humans by showing how we oppress them.

If you are interested in District 9 but aren't sure if you should see it, I recommend watching the Alive in Joburg short. The movie is different in a number of ways from the short, but the style and core message is the same.