It has been a while since a real sci-fi lover has had their appetite satiated. Oh sure, we've seen a Terminator blast its way through the summer... And toys that are movie characters have graced our big screens. But those splashy cinematic events were merely action flicks wrapped in a sci-fi veneer. This summer, blockbusters are about as nutritious to a sci-fi fan as popcorn. However, District 9 is what sci-fi buffs can really sink their teeth into. District 9 is a well-balanced film that feeds the brain, the adrenaline and while very satisfying, leaves you in anticipation for more.

The premise: alien ship stalls out over South Africa; in it are almost a million creatures called 'prawns' that look somewhere between a human-sized shrimp, an upright lobster and those spiders from Starship Troopers. 20 years later, no one wants them around within their refugee slum. An attempt to relocate the prawns stirs up all kinds of trouble as many things are uncovered, including nefarious activities on the part of humans.

The story is a metaphor for how we treat those peoples who we've deemed undesirable. District 9 is very intelligently written and though quite thought provoking, never fails to jolt you with action sequences. The digital effects are fantastically seamless.

Peter Jackson (director/producer of the Lord of the Rings trilogy) shows his twisted side once again as he presents these unfortunate creatures. District 9 boasted a great box office showing in the first weekend. Compared to G.I. Joe's bloated budget of $175m, District 9 beat out Joe earning $37m on its opening weekend (on 1000 less screens), profitting beyond its lean, efficient budge of $30m... on the first weekend. Good on Peter.

District 9 is rated 14A for foul language and considerable violence. This flick is not for children. Coming to Deluxe Cinemas and is highly recommended for the discerning sci-fi fan who likes a good splatter. And there are plenty.

4 popcorns out of 5