Racism, Xenophobia Drive 'District 9'

[ergin9O]

This movie kept reminding me how the white people used to treat the black people back before.

[albedoshader]

@ModifiedEvelyn: Wow, your answer was deleted really quick. Not a real loss, though—concerning it was just a collection of foul language and insults against spentarts2 and me.

[sonofthedestroyer]

@albedoshader,

Hutu/Tutsi problem was engineered by the white colonial rulers. Divide and conquer.

[panther105]

You must think you are a real bad ass. Sorry, all I read is APL (asshole, pathetic and loser) in your comment. Stuck in your parents' basement playing video games,are we?? What a tragedy. You probably look like Miley Cyrus, or wish you did. Cheers, Dickwad.

[108Dax]

being a white south african, i interpret the movie as a diffusion of the black/white history of south africa. It shows that it doesn't matter if the whites and blacks hated each other in the past, they would stand together in hating another race/intelligent species. People only really feel comfortable with people closer to their religious,race,geographical locations and mindset. The more different, the easier to dislike.

[spentarts2]

White people are the most Xenophobic, dangerous people on the planet. The movie uses race in a clever way; it takes the powder keg that is South Africa and unites its wildly diverse society around a new form of racism. I saw this as a white male in the USA(NY) who fears what the white male is capable of and I say this as someone who being slightly handicapped (legs) was beaten and robbed by a group of white males in a white suburb less than a week ago.

[albedoshader]

@spentarts2: You said "White people are the most Xenophobic, dangerous people on the planet."

Tell that to the Rwandans. As far as I remember both Hutus and Tutsis were black as black can be. Unless I missed something. Blacks calling other blacks "Cockroaches" and killing 800,000 people in three months with machetes. They were even faster than the Nazis killing Jews in WW2

Humans always find ways to separate one "sort of people" from the other. Skin color is only one of many possibilities.

[sparkle11231]

@albedoshader -- VERY well said!!

[KumarZimmerman08]

@spentarts2 That's funny. Western civilization is so Multicultural that in a few decades Europeans will be minorities in all their own countries. Meanwhile China in about 95% Chinese. Hm.. what were you saying about Xenophobia?

[tinamoul]

Racist movie, fun watch though, but racist as fuck.

[AlexPiti5]

@tinamoul ...that's what it's about, racism. It's a film criticizing human social behaviour being racist in general.

And what kind of loop are we getting into if someone is racist for saying someone of another colour is as racist as anyone else?

Come to think about it, it's less racist to think we're all racists...wait what

[xxxToomy07]

fookin prawns

[jenannvick]

God he is soooooooooo goood looking! The best film i have seen in along time.

I hope Sharlo stays true to himself and ventures on films that are not so hollywood.. he is a brillant actor cant belive this was his first time on film

[ObamaBiden20082012]

Of course it has Xenophobia, it's a movie about aliens (Xeno).

[keyboardarctica]

WTF is he doing in an interview, he's an alien??

[LightsCameraAaron]

I was emotionally attached to the main alien, Christpher. I was tearing up at the end. The best action film in my opinion.

[Alexandra947]

Holy crap people, just say ur opinon and stop making a big deal out of things... Anyways... Personally I love the movie and I can't stop watching :) 10/5 haha

[Dannyreynolds28]

it's a movie and a good movie stop making a fucking fuss

[inkey2]

....everyone hates America....yet "millions" flock here in droves, illegally and otherwise. That can only mean that they have it better here than where they came from. People keep mentioning all of our "atrocities". Does anyone think it was better in china, the Soviet Union, North Korea, Arab nations, Mexico, Cuba, South America, "Nazi Germany, Italy & Japan"? The accused have more rights here than any country on the planet

[keuteltjes]

@inkey2 millions flock to western europe as well...

"The accused have more rights here than any country on the planet "

bullshit, and you know it... at least i hope you do...

[inkey2]

......of course they do....this country "pampers" criminals. We are even afraid to confront terrorist groups because it might offend muslims. So what other country do you think has more rights...china? Russia? North Korea? Cuba? Mexico? Arab Nations? Any of the balkin countries?.......we can drive 3000 miles in this country and "never" have to show a passport, in fact it is illegal in the USA for a police officer to even ask someone if they are here illegally

[keuteltjes]

"china? Russia? North Korea? Cuba? Mexico? Arab Nations? Any of the balkin countries?"

Why do you only name the worst of the worst? Try Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, ... The law there is a lot more lenient than in the your average US state. And due to the Schengen Accords you can drive pretty much all over Europe without ever having to show a passport, there aren't even any border posts between different countries.

[inkey2]

ok......there is so much freedom here that in many states you have the right to own virtually an arsenal of weapons....if someone is breaking into your home you have the "right" to blow ther head off with a gun......not run away. Where in europe do you have that right.

[keuteltjes]

Err, we do have that right in many Euro countries, except maybe the UK & the Netherlands. We can own guns here, not full automatics or other 'weapons of war', but semi-automatic rifles, pistols & shotguns? Not a problem. The reason that relatively few Europeans feel the need to own firearms is more a cultural thing. Again, try not to generalise about an ENTIRE CONTINENT full of many different countries, each with their own laws, culture, etc.

[inkey2]

yes....but do they have the right to "use" the weapon on a burgler or attacker.....

[keuteltjes]

Yes, of course, and it's not all that uncommon, either. There's always an inquiry afterwards, but if it's in self-defense then they will be acquitted.

[Mesina2]

@inkey2

I have a new for you.

Your new president is commie!

Also he want's to destroy Constitution.

Not a paper, but idea.

[inkey2]

to Mesina2: LOL.....thats not news to me.....i already know that

[Mesina2]

@inkey2

And you do know abut those random checkpoints( like in Nazi Germany) 50 miles from US borders.

[inkey2]

to Mesina2: the ironic thing is......the government couldnt care less that up to 12000 (yes twelve thousand) illegals "per day" come through the mexican boarder....now thats "freedom".....actually too much freedom for most Americans

[Mesina2]

@inkey2

Well reason why they doing it becouse Americans are getting harder to control and manipulate so they are invating Mexicans to vote for them.

No seriously they are giving voting rights to ileagle imigrants.

[inkey2]

one of the reasons the USA is so lax about illegal mexicans is because we can get "oil" from mexico. Years ago, when Jimmy Carter was president he had to go down there begging for oil during an oil shortage. As far as these check points I have seen none or heard of none....although in certain cases during a high chance of a terrorist attack I am sure they would probably have "a few". Usually the American Consertvative press would come out about something like this and expose it

[Mesina2]

@inkey2

Visit RP4409's Channel for that.

[YewGenX]

@inkey2 lol "American Conservative Press would come out about something like this and expose it" Dumbest thing i heard all day. If you truly beleive the press would expose anything important than your a moron.

[inkey2]

@YewGenX : i should have phrased my comment in more depth.....I am not talking about the mainstream American conservative press/ media like FOX News.....I am talking about the ultra right wing anti-government, survivalist type conservative media you hear on AM radio, pod casts etc.

[inkey2]

@Mesina2 : a "new" what?

[Mesina2]

Escuse me?

[inkey2]

@Mesina2 : you're excused

[Mesina2]

Not that, I just don't get your comment.

[Mesina2]

@keuteltjes

Russia and( all) Balkan nations are bad?

[keuteltjes]

No, ofcourse not, the 'worst of the worst' was more about N. Korea and the other cesspits he mentioned. I wasn't the one doing the generalising, remember? I just posted a general reply.

[Mesina2]

@keuteltjes

My bad.

[inkey2]

to mesina2: these check points 50 miles from the USA boarders. Where would that be.....in the ocean? We have an ocean on each side of us and below us. And how can these check points be 50 miles into canada or mexico?

[Mesina2]

@inkey2

I ment inside USA, sorry for bad English.

[inkey2]

to mesina2: no I have not heard of these check points....or seen them. I wonder why they were put in place.....it would have to be terrorist related, i assume

[Mesina2]

@inkey2

Well it is about that modern mytology.

[keuteltjes]

@inkey2 and no, not everyone hates america... it's just that some americans have to demonise everyone that disagrees with them or their government, like they did in some of the place you mentioned (nazi germany, etc)... we do think that far too many americans are extremely insular and naive in their world view, that is true.

[inkey2]

to Keuteltjes: As far as Americans being too insular. That is probably correct. I believe this to be caused by geography and the large size of the country. We only have Mexico & Canada boardering us and most Americans want nothing to do with Mexico (for a variety of reasons). Most of us feel no reason to ever leave because we have it all here....deserts, mountains, tropics, huge cities, small towns, vast open land areas.....etc

[keuteltjes]

Not really an excuse as Australia borders no one, and Canada only borders the USA, yet relatively few of them are as insular as your average American. All I'm saying is that if you know so little about the rest of the world then it might be wise to not be so quick to judge the things you know so little about.

[angryeyedude]

Yeah, our country, the USA, do have certain problem (terrorist,Iraq,swine flu,wether we chose the right president,etc)But we're not all that bad, I mean we're trying to help haiti and there other to make up for that.

[YewGenX]

@angryeyedude you sound like a freemason, do a bunch of evil then offset it tiny bit with some bullsh1t goodness.

[RedNymph234]

i don't think this is based on any specific racist event, but racism in general, or every racist horror ever afflicted in the world. Every race, white, black, asian, hispanic etc can be racist and has done bad things. Even religious groups can prejudiced. This movie is all about that in general

[bloodrunsclear]

Now the real trick would be to find a movie that featured a TOLERANT religious person.

Hmm...guess that would be too controversial.

[nusua]

lol the aliens are not like mexicans, conndrst. And Most mexicans want to stay in the U.S., but prefer mexico.

[chickensaladeater]

They're talking about the Black on White crimes in South Africa.

[cooncoon100]

Love the news broadcast

[uetzel]

the movie itself was quite good...... towards the end though it started to suck and got too easy.

[Illuminated7]

The rhetoric in this movie is eery, as I spent time in South Africa and witness hatred and violence against "foreigners" unlike any thing I have ever seen or imagined. When the mobs were seeking out foreigners they used the same discriptions to characterize foreigners. I realized how accepting Americans are of other cultures--we are trully agood people.

[silver6kraid]

I hate to break it to you but the American people have a long and bloody history of killing people and enslaving them because they aren't white, lets start with what we did to the Native Americans, or slavery, concentration camps for Japaneses Americans during WWII, the list goes on, we aren't that great a people, racism is rampant the the US as well

[CptnEldritch]

@silver6kraid But the thing is, we don't make sci fi movies about our racism. Neill took a great subject (science fiction) and blended it with experiences he'd really had. Not saying America is better, just that America has en ego, and most of the time, we stay away from publicizing our faults. Kudos for Neill for having some guts and some genius!

[silver6kraid]

I agree, we don't like to point out the horrible things we've done in the past because us Americans like to think we are the greatest people in the world, some claim that the Americans are God's people, I seriously think we need to be taken off our high horse and realize that we are just as flawed as the rest of humanity. and yes, Neill is a genius, D9 was a work of art and I can't wait to see what he does next!

[dirtyperry44]

Shut up captain. America is the most loving, accepting, charitable country on earth, and we didn't throw Japs in concentrarion camps we threw them in internment camps briefly. But I guess America is still a great tyrant in the world right? I could write a whole book on the wonders of America and all the good deeds we've done.

[RedNymph234]

uh...the japanese were vast;y mistreated in concentraition camps....um...reaserch your history...I took an entire college class about Asian Americans treated in America

[muddcnt]

silver6kraid America has enslaved and bloodied on the terms of racism, but i just wanted to let you know that some of your facts are a little off. we didn't have concentration camps, we had refugee camps. the germans had concentration camps. and many other countries have done much worse things on the basis of racism than america. just letting you know.

[dud3man6969]

Really? Which country has the most black millionaires? If you want to see bad check out what the people in Sudan have to deal with TODAY.

[silver6kraid]

and yet Racism is still a legitimate problem in the US, I am not saying the US is the worst place out there, it is by no means not, but, it is ignorant to think that it's the most loving and and accepting country in the world, because it's not, there is no such place in the world sadly.

[bloodrunsclear]

Yeah, nothing like France, England, China, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Cuba, Ireland, Iran, Hawaii...

Also congratulations on saying something completely spineless that everyone will regard as controversial and mark you up! I'd say it takes talent to be so insufferably politically correct, but in this day and age its simply a knee jerk reaction.

Double standards are the best kind :)

[Suses]

@silver6kraid Yes, the US is not a racists free nation, but enslaving and killing is not a unique thing. Because all nations on Earth have engaged in some form of violence or slavery in their past, there are no innocent ancestries.

[Suses]

@trigga1uk Ya, they are a bowing down to minorities and allow them to get away with so much because if they are more scared of being called racists than of arresting criminals. That is not equality

[letwoo]

That's really not true. You really don't know what you're talking about. SA is nothing compared to America. At least in SA it was a passing occurence. In the US it's like that every day, even if it's not as violent, the racism is still there.

[Ninjikayatsu]

You're an idiot.

The aliens are like every human on this planet.

Go read a book and learn how to spell, too.

[Raymint]

I have left the country I've left several times - I enjoy it and I'll make a hobby out of it as soon as I leave studenthood - I'm British, we don't have a startling number of our population knowing nothing but their hometown.

I'm also black which I believe, if nothing else, validates my opinion. And if that's still not good enough; I have Sierra Leonean (South African) Grandmother spent most of here life in Nigeria before finally moving to Ghana.

[Raymint]

Oh and about the Nigerians wanting to chop Vikus's arm off for powers - the WHITE scientists and suits wanted to tear Vikus apart, ALIVE, for MONEY!!

[pzgdr]

so true so fucking very true..

[Eddii3]

What is racist about this? I don't get it.

[luciengrey24]

Why did decide to pick on Nigerians,Why didn't just say "the gangsters" . Why select a nation and denigrate their image, that was just wrong.

Good movie, but the insult to Nigerians was totally unnecessary.

[MatthewLeee]

Well, it wouldn't have as much "realism" if they just said "gangsters".

It made perfect sense for Nigerians to go in and exploit the Prawns. This isn't because Nigerian's are especially evil, but they are in a bad econ. situation, and they have the opportunity to get a killing.

[taganew]

better yet why not say greedy american gangsters

[universeplayground]

but the beauty of knowledge for me is that the movies are depicting exactly what white people are aliens.......and monstrous cannibals.....reality is deeper than a european cave

[Jydekris]

Well, the Nigerian thing in the movie is highly offensive to Nigerians especially.

[Raymint]

The most psychotic and sadistic man in the film is white. The guy who goes along side Vikus during the eviction process and quickly becomes very wary of his methods is black. The one guy we end up rooting for is an Alien. The army of oppressors drive bright white vehicles -

Y'know besides all of this; IT'S THE SLUMS OF JOHANNESBURG!! And do you know who live in these slums? Black people. And do you know what happens in these slums? That's right - FUCKED UP SHIT!

[nograviti]

Thats irrelevant Raymint, the fact of the matter is the Nigerian government thought it offensive, so they condemned it. Nigerians in general condemned their portrayal, doesnt that suggest the film was racist.

White trucks (F off) Note not one black person in the movie was shown in position of power, suprising considering the country is 70% black. Also the depictions of Nigerians pretty was tantamount to showing them all as criminals, no effort was made to say this was a small subset of em.

[Raymint]

What white man in this film WASN'T bullet worthy? I don't remember there being a single likeable character in this film apart from Christopher Johnson, and Vikus's right hand man. EVERYONE else is evil - even the scientist extras - all of them were evil.

[taganew]

Think about it. People in america, and other parts of the world, that have not had any contact with africa or africans get their first impressions about africa(ns) from movies like these. These images stick in peoples' minds and will ultimately affect the way they interact with the africans.

[Raymint]

Well that's America's problem (whom will soon make it Africa's problem) and many people already know that Nigerian's living in conditions like the slums of Johannesburg are, to our standards, fucked up - but besides all of this, this should never be confused with racism. Especially in District 9's case.

Your anger is misplaced. Sorry but it was startlingly realistic.

[taganew]

You know what Raymint, if u want to be taken seriously argue with facts. Nigerians live in slums?! I am sure u are never even been out of your country. So I do not take liars and ignorant fools seriously

[Raymint]

I DIDN'T SAY ALL NIGERIANS LIVE IN SLUMS I SAID THE ONES THAT ARE ARE INVOLVED IN SOME FUCKED UP THINGS!!! And the ones that aren't don't matter because they don't serve the plot. This film is an objective look at human behaviour and like I said before - no one in this film is meant to be likeable. And one other thing; not all white people behave in the same way they did in this film.

[Kivancfather]

most of them do

[Atreas40000]

What are you talking about? The president-or a high ranking gov official, in the movie, was black! He issued statements several times.

[Mashermat]

Probably because the ENTIRE AREA around the district was controlled by a LARGELY WHITE AMERICAN COMPANY.

[taganew]

But Raymint these WHITE MEN were fictionalized. No specific identity no tags. Raymint I assume u are indian. Keep in mind that India has slums too. Oh how I wish this movie was shot in India, I am sure u won't say the same thing. Indians shown as savages, immoral, helpless, inferior prob would be a repulsive sight to u. Films like these continue the dehumization of africans and blacks. The true africa and africans are not accurately portrayed in western media. u need to visit there sometime.

[inkey2]

@taganew

[crush3884]

man stop being dumb, their are slums everywhere, and their are THUGS in every single race, of course not every Nigerian acts the way this movie showed, what this movie showed are the THUGS, because it follows the plot. Also it showed how the white military is very fucked up, so don't be saying this film only targeted Africa(ns). The film did not target any one.

[Raymint]

Are you talking to me? Because I wasn't complaining about racism - I was fighting with the people complaining about racism.

[crush3884]

hahaha lol my bad, i was trying to get at 'taganew'

[nograviti]

@Crush

So why did the Nigerian Government condemn the film and Nigerians in general felt the film's depiction of them was racist?

I love how some Caucasian people can state that their opinion regarding whether depiction of black character was or wasn't racist is above that of the people actually represented.

Like me watching a film on football and saying to a professional football star, it was an accurate depiction eventhough he vehemently disagrees LMAO!!

Your an IDIOT LOL!

[crush3884]

You pretty much answered your own question, they "FELT" it was racist, when it was not, I'll say it again, they should the "THUGS" in this movie. If a person saw this movie and then thinks that's how Nigerians act, then that person is very ignorant. Oh and I take it you think I'm Caucasian? Why is that?

[nograviti]

They are the ones depicted and they felt it was racist. CASE CLOSED...

Its like if a mate of mine said that he felt a film was anti-semitic and hes jewish. I have to take it that the film was anti-semitic.

Also, if a number of jewish groups state the film was anti-semitic, in addition to my friend's opinion (theres no debate)

I couldnt care less whether your Caucasian or not. But your defence of this film means its unlikely that your nigerian, am I wrong?? Thats my point : )

[sonofthedestroyer]

@nograviti,

Check my video on Lord of the rings. White people constantly passing racist messages through that hollywood brainwashing tool

[Suses]

@sonofthedestroyer There are also lots of people in the lord of the Rings that are white and evil. Saruman is Evil and he is white, so are the hill people and the pirates. That book was also written in the 1930s by a European, and since Europe has had wars with nonwhite nations, it may be just a historical parallel. Just because a white person is "good" and a colored person is "evil," it doesn't mean the movie has racist intents. Watch the movie again, don't pick and choose.

[hackensac]

@crush3884 please send this message to Nigera so that they will shut up about the film

[OdinPwnsSatansCunt]

@hackensac REALLY! Perfectly said. Also Nigerians are seeming to not notice that in the movie there are "good" Nigerians, too, not just the gangster ones. if ANYTHING the film's TARGET was the WHOLE human race. The movie showed how bad all humans can act. MNU is made up of mostly white people and they're evil in the movie as well. The Nigerian government is being STUPID by banning this movie.

[tinamoul]

@OdinPwnsSatansCunt Where exactly are the good Nigerians in this movie, where?

[Fosterpython]

@crush3884 actually, the film targeted EVERYone. Even the aliens. That's why it's good.

[VelaToNorma7]

@crush3884 learn to spell

[albedoshader]

@crush3884: Exactly. E.g. they alluded to the Nigerian scams that every honest human on earth with an e-mail account knows. Man, I got my first Nigerian spam mail in 1996 or so. And drawing a connection between cat food and (e-mail) spam isn't such a great mental effort, is it?

[albedoshader]

@crush3884: Besides, even the white persons in this movie are Africans. Now imagine Wikus emigrating to the US. That would be confusing to US citizens, him being a first-generation African American. ;)

[Jydekris]

Great SFX!!

This film would've been better without the mis-representation of Nigeria, i'm sure we all know that.

Peter Jackson, Are you a racist?

[2Drink]

whats racist about this?

unless you mean he is racist against the us military

[MurdocLC]

XD So the US Military is a race now?

But i get ya, Jydekris is a smuck.

[2Drink]

my point was the military is painted in a bad light, not nigeria

[lloydyyyyyy]

Thank fucking god South Africas getting some recognition.Reprisentin!!!!!

[mtfr]

I've seen this movie last night with a mate. The girls didn't stand it, but you know... this movie is perfect. A+. Very tough first half to take, but damn perfect movie+actors.

[jammsbro]

Best film in the last ten years.

[BananaBean03]

true story

[mistersod]

Fantastic film - Peter Jackson is a genius, Shame that Nigerians were hammered in this film!! Calling it racist would be simplistic - it's just another film about human intolerence!!

[Splinterfan]

Neill Blomkamp is the genius...

[skarfreak]

damn good.. I've just seen this last nyt.. awesome..

[ICanHasNewShaoKahn]

Best movie I've seen in a long time. It shows man the animal. I hope District 10 is about how that guy comes back, with a fleet, and puts man in camps.

[Fathomist]

4:04 = <3 This was such a brilliant movie. Sharlto was incredible.

[ASlANproductions]

the story was great. BUT DID U FORGET THE FRIGGIN BODIES BLWIN UP!

THAT GUN THING WAS SO SIIIIIIKKKKK!!!

[VersaMonk]

Nigerian Gangster thugs eating and scamming Aliens.... WTF, These Fucking Boers want to start an Apartheid propaganda war with the Nigerians. The WAR IS ON!

[DLMFILMS]

I also found the Nigerians badly represented. Nobody seems to care. It's disgusting.

[2Drink]

what u mean those 5 "shrimp-eating" gangsters?

jesus u know.. cant have a couple black people in a movie doing horrible shit without somebody calling it "racist" .. this movie clearly says the state is handling the whole situation horribly wrong, they are the ones really painted in a bad light ( rightfully so )

its like 50 horrible people in this movie, and 10 of them are black ..

[copoop]

DISTRICT 10 FTW

[paintdataint]

Idk i was thinking that but really to make a sequal they would have to go away from what made district 9 such an awesome movie and into a high budget generic action sci-fi with little meaningful plot. Theyd have to pull off something really cleaver.

[Moggeth]

they did a pretty damn good job of making the first original, lets hope they do okay in future :]

[ManderFrogizmo]

I love this movie. I think the social separation in this film is an example of subjugation more than segregation, though. Great, great film. :D

[wolffenhaus]

awesome  message with the best delivery possible. D-9 is a sleeper that defines the decade.

[lycurgusthelawgiver]

Yeah, I get it, it's a metaphor for racism. Just like 80% of all science fiction since 1949. Now show me explosions.

[leglessnotlegolas]

This movie was great! Go see it if you can!!!!!

[BinkieMcFartnuggets]

This is horse crap! Aliens should have the same rights as any human on Earth! You can't just confine aliens to a district and think that's going to be okay. They will find a leader and break out.

[jimmypagek26]

it happens everyday with genocide in africa and so forth

[wrenthereaper]

that idea is kind of the entire point of this movie.

[1doi3]

cool, same as my video

[melikeyyeah]

Oh...and I also love the director's throw pillows.

[melikeyyeah]

I love the viral campaign for this (debuted a few months ago as billboards and benches). I mean, I love viral campaigns, period, but...eh?

[xraycat7055]

Looks really badass. Blomkamp is a great director.

[zakkmiester]

REAAALY wanna see

But I'm sick :(

[miritkenny]

Cool