District 9, a film set for release this summer, looks very promising. Produced by Peter Jackson (of Lord of the Rings fame) this movie upends the classic space invader film and presents an alien race that is as fragile and capable of being victimized as we are. It also layers the film with ideas about how we treat foreigners and those who are different from us; presenting discussions of immigration and race-relations in a context that is not politically or socially loaded. Set in South Africa, this double-entendre is especially meaningful. I hope this movie is capable of pulling off what the trailers suggest it is reaching for, an entertaining and thought-provoking film.
