DISTRICT 9

RYAN: “District 9” is the new science fiction thriller produced by Peter Jackson, who, as we all know, directed the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

CAROLINE: I was unable to attend this screening with you, and I can’t say I was sad about it. You know this genre isn’t really my bag.

RYAN: I know it isn’t, but I wholeheartedly believe that you would have enjoyed this movie because the story is so good. It’s about aliens who come to earth and get put in refugee camps. And then lots of other really cool stuff happens.

CAROLINE: I know the premise, but you’re still not selling me on it. I will never care about aliens, except for E.T., who had a profound impact on my childhood.

RYAN: Basically it’s this year’s “Cloverfield.” It’s a big spectacle and it should definitely be seen on the big screen because of the special effects and surround sound. It’s also kind of like “Blair Witch” in the way that it’s shot; very shaky, gritty and cool.

CAROLINE: Yes, but that made a lot of people sick in “Cloverfield.”

RYAN: Well, what made me sick is the conditions these aliens are forced to live in in this movie. It’s very disturbing and made me want to puke. I had to put my popcorn down.

CAROLINE: How dramatic. So who’s in this movie?

RYAN: No one really famous, which actually works well. It almost feels like a documentary in some ways, which makes the story seem more plausible. Not that aliens are coming to Earth any time soon; but if they did, I could totally see humans reacting this way and trying to lock them up in camps.

CAROLINE: They’d do the same to us, I’m sure.

RYAN: The aliens are pretty gross to look at, but there are a couple featured ones whose stories you become invested in. I found myself sympathizing with them even though they’re the “enemy.” By the end of the movie, I was totally hooked.

CAROLINE: I’m so glad you enjoyed it and that I didn’t have to. It’s getting a lot of great buzz though and it’s from a relatively new director. Sci-fi geeks, unite!

— BOTTOM LINE —

RYAN: This is a must see for sci-fi fans. It’s a great movie experience, and you’ll definitely get swept up in the story. It’s escapism at its best, and you’ll marvel at the thought of this happening someday.

CAROLINE: Let’s call it what it is – a boy movie.

— RATING —