Avatar vs District 9

Last night I realized something interesting... that two of the biggest sci-fi films of last year were actually very similar. Although all of the attention has been on Avatar with its grossly ridiculous budget and splashy 3D effects, District 9 came first with an edgier approach to the same basic theme, so I thought I might spend a moment to compare the two.

THE HERO

District 9 features Wikus Van De Merwe, a bureaucrat in charge of facilitating the relocation program so that the local government can steal the technology from the aliens (referred to as "prawns"). The turning point in the story comes when Wikus is exposed to a biological contaminant that slowly transforms him into one of the aliens at which point he is treated as one of them thereby teaching him empathy.

Avatar features Jake Sully, a soldier assigned to infiltrate the native Navi so that the invading military can steal unobtanium from the aliens. The turning point in the story comes when Jake gets his own avatar Navi body and joins a tribe of aliens thereby adopting their culture, upon which point he is treated as the enemy by his military brethren.

While Jake Sully is a soldier trained not to consider the morality of his actions, Wikus is a pencil pusher which I found made him much more identifiable. He isn't motivated by a military command structure. He is just doing a job that someone else would do if he refused. He thinks that because he doesn't make policy or hold a gun, he isn't responsible, but he is complicit.

THE LOCATION

Perhaps the biggest difference between the two films, District 9 is set in Johannesburg in the modern day. The titular location is somewhat of a refugee camp that calls into mind the conditions of a third-world country with an occupied military presence. No doubt that by having the film take place in South Africa, it calls up feelings regarding apartheid and colonialism.

On the other hand, Avatar takes place in an exotic, lush jungle on an alien world where humans are actually the aliens. This is probably the greatest difference between the two with Avatar offering an atmosphere of escapist fantasy while District 9 offers a dark, oppressive, and hostile environment.

Avatar's fantasy environment is meant to be immersive and appealing. It is a mythic return to nature, joy, and childishness. On the other hand, District 9 is meant to evoke sympathy by showing harsh conditions that are more or less comparable to many places in the world today. While Avatar is an escapist adventure, District 9 is the exact opposite. It doesn't want to relieve you; it wants you to feel bad.

THEME

Both movies have a very similar theme about exploiting people who are different because they have something you want. Unfortunately, I think Avatar's approach is so shallow that I doubt even a child could walk away taking this message to heart. The message seems forced and tacked on as if to imply that this is somehow deeper and more meaningful than just a 3D spectacular when it really isn't... at least, no more than Star Wars can be seen as a statement on imperialism and colonialism.

District 9 is a far more adult film that creates a problematic situation and offers no simple resolution. The protagonist isn't so much a hero as a victim of circumstance. Although the audience is encouraged not to like him in the beginning, we grow to like him not because he makes a cathartic lifestyle change (like Jake Sully did), but because his situation is so godawful that you have to feel sorry for him. At the end of the movie, he is only barely more likable than at the beginning... yet as a spectator, I found him a much more enjoyable protagonist.

VISUAL EFFECTS

District 9 uses a handicam-style to create a documentary sense of realism. This is reinforced by cut scenes showing direct interviews with the characters. Although their actions are abhorant, their behavior is normalized as routine which this approach emphasizes.

Avatar is what I would call a gimmick film. That may sound harsh, but to be fair, I consider The Wizard of Oz and The Matrix to be gimmick films as well. This is a film that demonstrates the capabilities of new technology and showcases it to a mass audience. Because it is pioneering a new style, it is often heavy handed in its approach and lacking development in other critical areas.

That said, the effect is stunning. The use of 3D in Avatar bordered on over the top without really crossing the line. The jungle offered some great opportunities to make the effect truly immersive and I can't say that I had any issues technically or aesthetically, but while District 9's visual style reinforced the central theme, Avatar's theme was really secondary to the visual style and certain elements (like the floating islands) were clearly included to showcase the technology rather than to strengthen the story.

MONEY

Budget
District 9 - $30 million
Avatar - $237 million

Revenue to date
District 9 - $200 million
Avatar - $2.6 billion

THE WALKAWAY EFFECT

I tend to judge movies by something I call "the walkaway effect." This is the amount of time the film stays with me after watching it. I remember when I saw American Beauty with a friend... we had left the theater and were driving away before we said a word. That is the walkaway effect. The film affected us both so much that we weren't inclined to speak until we could get our thoughts together.

I had a similar effect when I walked out of District 9. Honestly, I didn't know whether I liked it or not (in retrospect, I did) but it stuck with me for days. I kept thinking about the story, the effects, and how much I both hated and enjoyed Wikus at the same time. When I walked out of Avatar, we made a couple jokes and I didn't think about it for the rest of the night... when I did, it was only to consider how 3D effects might be used in other films.

CONCLUSION

I guess my point is that although both these movies opened to great acclaim and feature almost the EXACT same theme, Avatar made over ten times as much money (to date). Although both were nominated for Best Picture and neither won, Avatar was considered a major contender while District 9 wasn't.

Was it the effects? Was it the Disney-like approach to animism and environmentalism? Or was it just that people prefer escapism to realism?

I don't know, but I do know which one I liked more.