District 9
Céline Smith Task D - 4th genre Essay 1 February 2015
District 9 is more evolved as a science fiction film than Avatar if one analyses the following themes portrayed in the films: The Alien as the “other”, Genetic transformation and Dystopia through the use of camera angles and shots, colours and music.
District 9’s prawns are seen as disgusting creatures that have no recognizable hierarchy, no drive and no understanding of their situation. They are just animals that have the misfortune of landing in Johannesburg. The main prawn in District 9 is Christopher Johnson who is a unique prawn able to formulate a long-term plan, care for his son, and create some friendships such a Wikus. As Wikus Van Der Merwe – the protagonist of the film- transforms and loses his humanity throughout the film; we discover Johnson’s humanity when he says he will help Wikus when he comes back for him in 3 years’ time even though Wikus treated him badly earlier in the film. The humans experimenting on the prawns and treating them like animals show District 9’s horrific treatment of the prawns throughout the film. This can give us an insight into what it means to be human, so that we look at ourselves and the people around us differently.
Avatar’s Na’vi are all seen as perfect specimens; perfectly in tune with nature. The Avatars live in a …show more content…
large tree within the forest of Pandora but none of them have a smudge of dirt on them, making them seem unrealistic. All of the Avatars are noble, magical natives as they are viewed in low angles making them seem superior and more important than the humans. The Avatars are so blatantly “better” than people through their culture, physiques and relationships so there is no question when Jake wants to become one.
District 9 creates a believable story revolving around this bizarre alien settlement. It involves an ineffective international organization (MNU) and an evolving situation between South Africans and an invading alien species. All of this is developed around the horrific transformation of Wikus into a prawn. This transformation itself is a plot that involves deep psychological torture, the loss of all he loves and the desperate hope he can go back to normal. The Nigerians leader Obesandjo and his gang have curiosity towards this transformation and are interested in transforming themselves into the alien species such as Wikus.
Avatar has the opposite effect as District 9 where instead of becoming better was to be a human, in this film it is shown that is it better to be an Avatar.
In Avatar the protagonist, Jake Sully is an ex-marine, who is paralysed from the war. He is able to transform his disabled functions into the body of an Avatar and function in the Na’vi body. The first time we see Jake and his colleagues as Avatars in Pandora, they are viewed in high angles, which present them as dwarfed by the jungle of Pandora that both Jake and the viewer can be amazed at rather than control due to how large the jungle is and how vivid and extraordinary the forest
is.
District 9 is a dystopian film as the country is dirty and very uncivilised. It is a government run community, yet they do not take good care of it. This film exposes that the human condition is that we find something new and we try to do good by keeping anyone who are seen as different such as race and culture, separate from us – such a locating the prawns into the slums. Although it ends in violence and corruption and our own fears prevent us from making friends with the ones who are different from us. We see this in District 9 when the prawns are not seen as friends but are shunned away into the slums and experimented on. The prawns are not treated fairly to the humans due to the fear of their difference and they are experimented on and taken advantage of.
Avatar is not considered an overall dystopian film although it still displays some indications. The corporate group represents the dystopian world and have intentions to destroy the planet only for their advantages such as mankind’s thirst for power, when Colonel Miles and Parker order the utter destruction of what is known as paradise for its minerals shown at the climax of the film. The earth/ corporate group are viewed as terroristic, egotistic, aggressive and irresponsible for their actions on Pandora, they bring the dirty, discoloured machinery and technology to Pandora.
The dystopian film 1984 exposes the government that lies to everyone, rewriting the records to make it seem as if they were right all along. Free will is either non-existent or useless, and the general quality of life is low. The “Thought Police” constantly monitor the thoughts of the citizens of Oceania ensuring that they do not disobey the Party. This ensures that the currently established government will stay in control. Everyone is dressed in an ill-fitting jumpsuit of peking blue to show that all are seen as the same and no one can be seen as different or higher than others.
District 9 is therefore more evolved than Avatar as it better illustrates the message of the need of co-existence between locals and new comers with a country and better portrays the themes of Dystopia, the Aliens as the “other” and Genetic transformation.
District 9 is more evolved as a science fiction film than Avatar if one analyses the following themes portrayed in the films: The Alien as the “other”, Genetic transformation and Dystopia through the use of camera angles and shots, colours and music.
District 9’s prawns are seen as disgusting creatures that have no recognizable hierarchy, no drive and no understanding of their situation. They are just animals that have the misfortune of landing in Johannesburg. The main prawn in District 9 is Christopher Johnson who is a unique prawn able to formulate a long-term plan, care for his son, and create some friendships such a Wikus. As Wikus Van Der Merwe – the protagonist of the film- transforms and loses his humanity throughout the film; we discover Johnson’s humanity when he says he will help Wikus when he comes back for him in 3 years’ time even though Wikus treated him badly earlier in the film. The humans experimenting on the prawns and treating them like animals show District 9’s horrific treatment of the prawns throughout the film. This can give us an insight into what it means to be human, so that we look at ourselves and the people around us differently.
Avatar’s Na’vi are all seen as perfect specimens; perfectly in tune with nature. The Avatars live in a …show more content…
large tree within the forest of Pandora but none of them have a smudge of dirt on them, making them seem unrealistic. All of the Avatars are noble, magical natives as they are viewed in low angles making them seem superior and more important than the humans. The Avatars are so blatantly “better” than people through their culture, physiques and relationships so there is no question when Jake wants to become one.
District 9 creates a believable story revolving around this bizarre alien settlement. It involves an ineffective international organization (MNU) and an evolving situation between South Africans and an invading alien species. All of this is developed around the horrific transformation of Wikus into a prawn. This transformation itself is a plot that involves deep psychological torture, the loss of all he loves and the desperate hope he can go back to normal. The Nigerians leader Obesandjo and his gang have curiosity towards this transformation and are interested in transforming themselves into the alien species such as Wikus.
Avatar has the opposite effect as District 9 where instead of becoming better was to be a human, in this film it is shown that is it better to be an Avatar.
In Avatar the protagonist, Jake Sully is an ex-marine, who is paralysed from the war. He is able to transform his disabled functions into the body of an Avatar and function in the Na’vi body. The first time we see Jake and his colleagues as Avatars in Pandora, they are viewed in high angles, which present them as dwarfed by the jungle of Pandora that both Jake and the viewer can be amazed at rather than control due to how large the jungle is and how vivid and extraordinary the forest
is.
District 9 is a dystopian film as the country is dirty and very uncivilised. It is a government run community, yet they do not take good care of it. This film exposes that the human condition is that we find something new and we try to do good by keeping anyone who are seen as different such as race and culture, separate from us – such a locating the prawns into the slums. Although it ends in violence and corruption and our own fears prevent us from making friends with the ones who are different from us. We see this in District 9 when the prawns are not seen as friends but are shunned away into the slums and experimented on. The prawns are not treated fairly to the humans due to the fear of their difference and they are experimented on and taken advantage of.
Avatar is not considered an overall dystopian film although it still displays some indications. The corporate group represents the dystopian world and have intentions to destroy the planet only for their advantages such as mankind’s thirst for power, when Colonel Miles and Parker order the utter destruction of what is known as paradise for its minerals shown at the climax of the film. The earth/ corporate group are viewed as terroristic, egotistic, aggressive and irresponsible for their actions on Pandora, they bring the dirty, discoloured machinery and technology to Pandora.
The dystopian film 1984 exposes the government that lies to everyone, rewriting the records to make it seem as if they were right all along. Free will is either non-existent or useless, and the general quality of life is low. The “Thought Police” constantly monitor the thoughts of the citizens of Oceania ensuring that they do not disobey the Party. This ensures that the currently established government will stay in control. Everyone is dressed in an ill-fitting jumpsuit of peking blue to show that all are seen as the same and no one can be seen as different or higher than others.
District 9 is therefore more evolved than Avatar as it better illustrates the message of the need of co-existence between locals and new comers with a country and better portrays the themes of Dystopia, the Aliens as the “other” and Genetic transformation.