District 9

[Silver]

Last week, I bought a couple movies from Walmart for $5. I'd heard good things about District 9, so I snapped it up. Well, it's not exactly 'girl fare' as movies go, and wonder if anyone has seen it and can say whether it's worth it for me to continue watching it - I'm only about 20 minutes in and I'm not all that thrilled with it. I liked the Alien series w/Sigourney.

I also picked up No Country for Old Men. Any comments on that one?

Thanks~

It's all a matter on one's tastes.
I love sci-fi and it's a very intelligent film despite a certain amount of violence.

Very few films have shown stories from an aliens point of view.
The beings are very very different from humans and wholly unlike previous representations of ET's that were sympathetic.

Starman, Powder, K Pax etc..all humanoid with a few exceptions like Close Encounters, ET, where ET's were still cuddly creatures easy to love. Super 8 was a notable exception, and is quite a lot like District 9 in terms of having an unattractive yet sympathetic alien being,

These guys also are a bit ugly, not cuddly or easy to relate to... yet they possess the same human traits we do... and this challenges us to sympathize with their plight ... and succeeds marvelously.

As it's the humans who are cruel, unfeeling, manipulative this time. It has lots of heart, some amazing ideas and lots of action.
But also some disturbing scenes. I'm pretty sensitive to graphic scenes but feel it serves the story. A story that's pretty unique, I'd say.

No Country won an oscar or 3. Won best picture I believe, or something close.

It's a tough call. As opinions are quite polarized.
A very powerful story, significant non graphic brutality, great acting.

As a writer I felt cheated by the ending ... but some felt it was a perfect non resolution.
Yet it's based on a book and that's how the story plays out.

I find critics reviews often are more useful than viewers opinions , and provide a good insight into a film.
Though sometimes reviewers are just being critical to appear perceptive, clever.
8 times out of 10 a trailer alone tells me if I'm gonna enjoy a movie.

[Silver]

I really appreciate your input, Henri. Now, I can go back and finish watching District 9. And just for the stars in No Country, I look forward to seeing that. I can deal with any kind of ending to a show. I have a low tolerance for films that are on the 'slow' side, pace-wise. Sounds like you'd make a decent film critic yourself.

Thanx
I'm a movie lover and have great respect for Roger Ebert
A very witty dude who truly loves movies, good stories.
While I don't always agree with his tastes, I love his insightful compassionate reviews