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Essay / District 9 Movie Analysis and Review
The movie District 9, directed by Neil Blomkamp, tells the story of Wikus Van De Merwe's transformation from human to alien shrimp. Wikus, played by Sharlto Copley, is an MNU officer in Johannesburg, South Africa. Wikus works with the aliens who accidentally washed up on earth. After accidentally landing on earth, the aliens take refuge in a small township known as District 9. Wikus leads a team tasked with evicting the aliens and relocating them to a more "improved" district. During a routine eviction operation, Wikus stumbled upon a house containing alien weapons. Wikus comes into contact with a foreign liquid and splashes it on his face, then begins to develop cold-like symptoms. After more than 30 hours of exposure, it gradually began to transform into an alien shrimp. With the help of Christopher, a shrimp, they go in search of a cure to transform Wikus into a human. Unfortunately, the cure was inaccessible on Earth and Christopher had to return to his home planet. The return journey was estimated to take three years. Ultimately leaving Wikus on earth, mutated into a shrimp and unable to be with his wife. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The director wanted his audience to learn the surrealism of racism between the two groups of species. In the film, we take an in-depth look at the lifestyle given to the alien shrimp. They were promised an adequate lifestyle, but in exchange they received a slum community. In one scene, we see how shrimp is excluded from public places, such as restaurants. You could say it sounded familiar to him from the days of segregation. Their homes can be compared to concentration camps housing innocent people. The social and cultural discriminations presented in the film seem relevant today. The shrimp were mistreated and considered vermin by the African residents who settled nearby. During the eviction scene, many shrimp were killed because they refused to leave their homes or because they appeared threatening. Blomkamp used these two distinct groups to highlight the discrimination that occurs when one of them feels superior. During the expedition to find the cure, Wikus and Christopher discover a shrimp laboratory. Shrimp are tested and examined like animals by scientists. I really loved the acting in the film, Sharlto Copley was brilliant playing a bureaucrat who loved his job and his wife. I loved seeing Copley take the character on a journey of self-discovery and redemption. At the beginning of the film, Copley shows prejudice against shrimp. However, as he begins to become one of them, he experiences firsthand the hatred and humiliation they face on a daily basis. His transformation into them led him through obstacles that he had to overcome. For example, when the government discovered his anomaly, they wanted to test him. It was considered a medical artifact and they wanted to use it for research purposes. Copley's acting comes through loud and clear on screen. He makes the audience feel sympathy and concern for him. When he is persecuted, we see fear and anguish in Copley's eyes and attitude. By the end of the film, Copley matures and has compassion for the shrimp. It demonstrates character development from a loving family bureaucrat to a compassionate hero. THE..