Contention brews between the aliens and the human race, when greedy bureaucrats try to exploit the "Prawns" - as racist humans call them - and use them for their advanced weaponry. The situation worsens when field operative Wikus Van Der Merwe (Sharlto Copley) is exposed to what might be an alien virus. Ultimately, Der Merwe must team with an alien to find a cure for this most peculiar virus.

Perhaps one of the most astonishing things about District 9 is that this entire project was born out of the death of what probably would have been a much more expensive movie; Halo. Producer Peter Jackson had tapped newcomer Neill Blomkamp to direct a film adaptation of Halo, but for whatever reason, the project stalled. Disheartened but not defeated, Jackson and Blomkamp decided they'd move on and do something else, and ultimately, District 9 was born.

At the surface, District 9 looks like a fusion of Cloverfield and Alien Nation with its documentary style and "alien and human working together" scenario. At its heart though, it owes quite a bit more to the works of Paul Verhoeven. With it satirical edge, lively energy, and in your face violence, District 9 often reminded me of Robocop and Starship Troopers. With it's alien design and surprisingly poignant love story, it also tips the hat to David Cronenberg's adaptation of The Fly. Again, this isn't to say that District 9 blatantly rips those pictures off, but you'll certainly get a sense that Blomkamp loves those films.

The bottom line is, District 9 is a hell of a lot of fun and the final act is one, big, elaborate action sequence, complete with gun fire, robotic suits of armor, and exploding bodies. The film is a bit obvious to start (the metaphor for racial prejudice isn't exactly subtle - can you say "illegal alien?"), but then I really found myself starting to care for this dynamic duo and their respective plights. What's more, I started looking at the lead alien as a character, and not a special effect. And Sharlto Copley is outstanding in the lead. As the somewhat selfish Wikus Van Der Merwe, Copley makes a subtle transformation, and when you see what becomes of him by the end of the film, you might be surprised. I certainly was.