8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.4 |
Violence ensues after an extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth finds a kindred spirit in a government agent exposed to their biotechnology.
Starring: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James (XLII), Vanessa Haywood, Mandla GadukaAction | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 82% |
Thriller | 81% |
Foreign | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH, French, Hindi
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy (on disc)
BD-Live
movieIQ
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
The entire world was watching him.
Exciting but contemplative. Slick but grimy. Intense but purposeful. Fatiguing but captivating.
District 9 is a film of two words, both literally and figuratively. In the literal sense, it
features protagonists and antagonists from two planets struggling to co-exist on Earth.
Figuratively, the film incorporates plenty of fast-paced action and glossy visuals inside a world that's
wholly depressing and subconsciously reflective of the human condition and human history;
District 9's juxtaposition of shiny special effects and slick filmmaking consistently clashes
with the alien-inhabited slums of Johannesburg, South Africa, where tragedy unfolds upon tragedy
and where everyone -- human and alien alike -- is on some level both hero and villain,
culminating in several days of upheaval that promise to forever alter the course of human and alien
events.
Hi, my name is Wickus, and do I have a special offer for you today.
Sony's 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer of District 9 is practically of reference quality in every frame. Shot on the Red One high definition digital camera, every square inch of the frame looks extraordinary; only deliberately rough and aged standard-definition footage as seen primarily at the beginning of the film, slightly underwhelming blacks in select scenes, and incredibly minute banding in a couple of high definition shots represent any sort of distraction from what is, overall, a brilliantly rendered high definition image. Colors are marvelously vibrant but never overpowering; the slums of Johannesburg take on a slight earth tone considering the dirt, grime, and rust, but clothing stands apart as particularly striking. Complementing the wonderful color scheme is an incredibly fine level of detailing that's generally nothing short of astonishing. Wikus' sweater as worn at the beginning of the film features a particularly strong texturing. Facial detail in close-up shots reveal beads of sweat, pores, and facial hair stubbles as handsomely and realistically as any other Blu-ray disc to date. Additionally, the rough detail of the slums -- the rust, filth, and broken down shacks and equipment -- as evidenced in most every exterior shot throughout the film offers breathtakingly sharp and finely-rendered imagery. Even distance shots remain sharp, focused, and intricately detailed. This digital high definition image is pristinely clean, with only slight noise to be found in but a few particularly darkened shots. Flesh tones are consistently accurate as well. District 9 is the latest in visual eye candy and another stellar Blu-ray transfer from Sony.
District 9 explodes onto Blu-ray with a mesmerizing DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. A full and exceptionally balanced presentation, Sony's latest system-pushing sonic extravaganza immerses the listener into the world of of the 9th district, distributing every sound with pinpoint accuracy to create a seamless 360-degree living, breathing environment. From subtle background ambience -- voices over intercoms or shuffling debris around the slums -- to explosive shootouts and high-pitched whines, this DTS mix delivers a full range of sonic goodness that never misses a beat whether the action be near or far, loud or quiet, and anything and everything in between. Gunfire crackles with startling precision as rounds explode in rapid-fire succession from automatic weapons, while the wide array of alien sidearms each deliver a unique and frightening sonic signature. Most impressive about District 9's soundtrack, however, is the tight, clean, and precise bass; a seat-rattling but never overwhelming experience, the low end is decidedly powerful but not abundantly messy. District 9 gives the subwoofer a prodigious workout that's sure to test its limits, not to mention the structural integrity of the surrounding structure. Rounded out by pitch-perfect dialogue reproduction, District 9 delivers a reference-quality lossless soundtrack that perfectly aids the visuals in fully immersing the viewer into the alien slums of Johannesburg.
District 9 lands on Blu-ray with an impressive array of extras, the collection headlined by
a commentary track with Director/Co-Writer Neill Blomkamp. Recorded before the film was
released to theaters, Blomkamp covers a nice array of materials with an easygoing and friendly
tone. He speaks on his relationship with actor Sharlto Copley, his previous short film Alive in
Joburg and District 9's connection to it, the realism of film's visual effects, parallels
with real-life problems that plagued South Africa at the time of filming, the film's metaphors,
Wikus' personality traits and his character's arc, shooting locations, the social hierarchy and
subsequent physical design of the aliens, Peter Jackson's contributions, the film's gory visuals,
shooting the action and ensuring its authenticity (including a good discussion on the film's
weaponry), and much more. Blomkamp's commentary is solid from beginning to end, and fans
will definitely want to give this one a listen.
Joburg From Above: Satellite and Schematics of the World of 'District 9' -- Interactive
Map allows viewers to navigate around a map of the places seen in District 9 -- the
alien mothership, MNU Headquarters, and the district itself -- and learn more about crucial areas
within each one. Detailed imagery of select locations reveals the ability to further study materials
such as text biographies and backgrounds of characters, learn the basics of alien biology, view
conceptual drawings and 3-D schematics of vehicles, see clips from the film, and much more.
This interactive piece offers enough in-depth material to keep District 9 fans busy for
some time.
The Alien Agenda: A Filmmaker's Log (1080i, 34:19) is a three-part feature
broken into three segments. Envisioning 'District 9 (7:49) is a piece that examines
the film's origins in Alive in Joburg, the story's evolution from that film to this, the story's
themes, creature design, and more. Shooting 'District 9' (16:34) offers a solid
behind-the-scenes look at the making of several scenes and the challenges of the shoot, intercut
with cast and crew interview clips. Finally, Refining 'District 9' (9:54) looks at the
finalization of the film's sound effects and score, cast and crew reflections on the experience, and
more. Next up is Metamorphosis: The Transformation of Wikus (1080i, 9:52), a fun
segment that looks at the gruel and the skill of applying the 100% practical make-up used on
Wikus throughout the film. Innovation: The Acting and Improvisation of 'District 9'
(1080i, 12:05) is another solid piece that looks at the importance of improvisational dialogue in
crafting a more realistic film that blends with the Documentary approach. Conception and
Design: Creating the World of 'District 9' (1080i, 13:18) offers a fascinating glimpse into the
set dressing and prop design, creating alien biology and technology, crafting the mothership and
its nods to 1970s and 1980s Science Fiction, designing one of the effects that plays central to the
film's climactic action sequence, and more. Alien Generation: The Visual Effects of 'District
9' (1080i, 10:18) examines the challenges of bringing the film's digital aliens to life.
Also included is a collection of 22 deleted scenes (1080p, 23:28); a playable demo of God of
War III, accessible via the Playstation 3's
"Xross Menu Bar" (or "XMB") under the "Game" tab when the disc is inserted into the player;
Sony's Cinechat functionality; Sony's "MovieIQ" that offers live, up-to-date details about every
scene, including
cast and crew filmographies and biographies, soundtrack listings, and more; BD-Live functionality;
and additional 1080p trailers for Moon, The
Boondock Saints II: All Saint's Day, Michael Jackson's This is
It, 2012, and Zombieland. This
set also features two digital copies of District 9, one on the Blu-ray disc itself and for
replay on a PSP portable gaming device, and the second on a standalone disc for playback on a
computer or select portable devices. Unfortunately, the PSP digital copy was
unavailable for download at time of publication. However, the included iPod-compatible Digital
Copy
contained on disc two was sampled on a Second-Generation iPod Touch; the video quality delivers
clear, sharp details; solid color reproduction; and a fair sense of depth. The audio is surprisingly
spacious across the two channels, with crisp dialogue, strong ambience, and loud and clear sound
effects.
While Producer Peter Jackson's name has been attached with everything -- and its promotional materials in particular -- revolving around District 9, Writer/Director Neill Blomkamp's film stands solidly on its own two feet. It's not an example of a pet project with only a name behind it to get it noticed, but instead a one-of-a-kind, intricately structured, breathtaking, attention-grabbing roller coaster ride of most every emotion, including awe, excitement, and despair. Few films grab the attention so vigorously and never let go quite like District 9, and through its many layers -- allegory and hard-hitting action in particular -- the film gels wonderfully from beginning to end, every angle falling into place for one of the summer's most exceptional films and one of the decade's most unique Science Fiction experiences. Sony's Blu-ray release of this impressive film is up to the task. Boasting startlingly clear visuals, a faultless lossless soundtrack, and plenty of bonus materials, District 9 is yet another feather in Sony's cap, a perfect example of why the studio may very well be Blu-ray's best and most consistent. District 9 comes highly recommended.
2009
2009
Blu-ray Essentials
2009
Limited Edition Collector's Set | MNU Vest
2009
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2009
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1986
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1992
40th Anniversary Edition
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