A Rec & Musings on Distrct 9

[clawofcat]

The other night I read Memory Shines Like Teeth and Moonlight by lynnenne and kita0610 and it was incredible. I don't read much Spike/Angel, but I would if they were always written the way they were in this fic. It's lyrical, chock full of emotion, so true to character that I feel comfortable saying this is my Spike and Angel, and actually made me

Comments

[rahirah]

Apparently there was some backstory that got cut out of the movie - the aliens were a hive culture, and their queen had been killed, which was why they were just milling around in confusion and letting humans round them up.

[clawofcat]

Thanks for chiming in!

Hm. That explains some of their behavior, but how do they procreate if their queen is dead? There must be other female aliens running about since they still are laying eggs (that whole "abortion" scene was horrible) and their population practically doubles by the end of the movie.

There was also that little part of me wondering how it was possible that Christopher was the only dude in that berg that knew how to fly the dang shuttle.

I now have to go in search of District 9 LJ communities!

[rahirah]

Damifino. I think a lot of times people who are writing social allegorical stories don't bother with such picayune details as creating a logical, workable biology for their aliens. (I've been really wavering on going to see this one, as I've heard very mixed reviews, ranging from OMG INSIGHTFUL to RACIST/SEXIST POS!)

[clawofcat]

Oh, woops. I assumed you saw it. Sorry for the ramble about details you clearly don't have the answers to!

As for seeing it, my vote is go for it. Unlike you though, I didn't have any expectations going in, so that will no doubt color your viewing if you do decide to take the plunge. Despite any distasteful content, and there certainly is some, it's a well written screenplay, has great special effects, characters you root for and don't necessarily fill the typical tropes of "hero" (Human Guy definately is a shady dude) and certainly got me thinking about some of the issues presented in the scope of the story. I also found it refreshing that the movie doesn't take place in the US and (I think) all of the actors are South African and Nigerian.

[slaymesoftly]

I bookmarked it for later. Nag me every once in while about whether or not I've remembered to take a look at it, will you?

[clawofcat]

Sure thing!

[sevvy_o]

Oooh I really wanted to see District 9!! But Scott wanted to see Inglourious Basterds more so we saw that instead. lol

[clawofcat]

How was Inglorious Bastards? That's on my to-see list. My mom wouldn't stop raving about great it was.

[sevvy_o]

Really good! I went in not wanting to see it so I was really impressed. =)

[hello_spikey]

My reading of the picture was that the aliens did NOT have human gender, but the male was being used as neuter. *shrug* In which case Christopher WAS female. And Male. And Mother and Father. In absence of any prawns being referred to as "she" - at ALL - I stick by that reading.

Of course I agree with you on the gender question - I don't think it should have mattered if Christopher was called "he" or "She". It could never have been a romance between them - Because Vikus is in love with his wife! DUH!

Honestly, the only movie with a kick-butt female who has no romance is Alien. That's it. *bitches and moans*

I have a whole side-rant on how This Is Why Female Super Hero Movies Suck.(TM) - the writers can't seem to get over the main characters FEMALENESS. It has to be an overt ISSUE, and the issue has to be how she relates to men. /rant

[clawofcat]

My reading of the picture was that the aliens did NOT have human gender, but the male was being used as neuter.
That makes total sense, but it still annoyed me that male was being used. *harumph* I guess it "simplifies" things. It would have been awkward English for the kiddo to have gone around yelling "Parent!" all the time. But I do think they could have avoided using gender prnouns at all. Most of the scenes Christopher was in were solely with Wikus, so referring to each other by name wasn't really necessary. And when the government lackies were involved they could have fallen back on prawn. Not like my opinion mattered or was factored in to the screenwriters process. I'm sure it didn't even occur to them.

the only movie with a kick-butt female who has no romance is Alien. That's it.
There's also Terminator II. At that point, Sarah Connor no longer has a love interest. She's just crazy and badass to the max. I always get this weird feeling of excitment whenever I see her busting kneecaps with a nightstick :D

It has to be an

[kseenaa]

And thats why I love Xena. :-D *grin*

[clawofcat]

Heh. You know, I've never actually watched Xena. I think I was too little to really be interested in it when it originally aired. Funny enough, Gus loves Xena and has, like, all the DVDs. Maybe we should watch a few eps together.

[kseenaa]

I think you should. :-) It is a lot of fun, and don't take itself seriously at all. ;-)