District 9

For 20 years a spaceship has been hovering over the city of Johannesburg in South Africa unable to function, a part of it gone missing. The aliens, found clustered inside the ship, are placed in a government camp called District 9.

The camp as the years pass eventually turns into a slum and the co-habitation between humans and aliens are plagued with violent riots and racial discrimination.

For peace to settle between the two warring camps, aliens are relocated to a new camp 240 km off Johannesburg. Wikus van de Merwe (Sharlto Copley), an employee of a private military contractor (MNU), is tasked to lead the relocation.

On the first day of the transfer, van de Merwe confiscates a black canister and inadvertently sprays himself with alien fluid. All hell breaks lose shortly thereafter.

I won't spoil the rest of the plot but this is where the film gets more interesting as van de Merwe races against time to keep himself alive.

This is by far the best movie of the North American summer toppling Star Trek and Up from the top of my list. It has an engrossingly solid story, kick-ass weaponry, and an ending that does not attempt to tie all loose ends. Filming it documentary-style was nifty too.

Go watch this!