Horst in Translation ([email protected])
"The Alien Agenda: A Filmmaker's Log" is a 35-minute documentary from 2009, so this one will have its 10th anniversary next year and even if it may not be too obvious from the title, this is a little add-on to the Oscar-nominated film "District 9" and I really loved this film back then because it is a really creative movie that manages to be funny and relevant to our times and honestly, which other SciFi film can maintain that? Very well done. You probably need to love it as much as I do, but if you got the DVD or consider buying it, then you probably do. And then it is also a good watch packed with informative stuff from interviews and filmmaking footage. Yoi see cast members being interviewed too, not just Copley, but the main focus is obviously on director Neill Blomkamp and yep he is the one who is best suited to elaborate on the subject while still including entertaining anecdotes. Overall, I do give this one a thumbs-up, but of course don't watch it without having seen D9. The movie is great, the documentary is good.
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This is the only documentary on the DVD of District 9(in fact, other than the commentary track, there's no other special features), and the three parts put together are 33 minutes without credits(34 and a half with) in total. It consists of interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, clips of the movie and artwork from production. This is about creating the picture, and the challenges of the various first-timers(Blomkamp, moving on from shorts, and even getting the chance to work on his own idea, and one he was passionate about, on this first big break, and Copley, who is now getting big roles, such as his memorable turn in The A-Team), their approach to the FX(not letting them take over), the hand-held cinematography and why it is important, the editing, and the many on-set physical performances of people who are then replaced with "CGI bugs". Everyone has something to say, and this is almost entirely informational(as opposed to promotional, the boring lovefest that is supposed to get you to watch, whether or not what is said is true or not). They keep it moving nicely throughout. I recommend this to any fan of the film itself. 7/10
