The setting is very confusing at first; a giant spaceship shows up out of nowhere and just sits above an African city doing nothing. When the government breaks into it, they find a starving mass of delinquent human/insectoids, not to mention of a cache of gun-like objects that cannot be operated. How is it that this large group of seemingly low-intelligent life forms got to be stuck on this floating castle? Are the aliens merely cattle or slaves? The reaction by the general public are interesting in that they are curious, scared, cautious, and deteriorating into downright inhumane disregard for another lifeform. The "racial" tension is extremely poignant and explicit.
The lead (Wikus, played by Sharlto Copley) was an almost disturbingly naieve, compassionate EMU employee. What I found most interesting was that Wikus had a monumental brain fart when encountering an alien that was not only able to cogently read the hastily and wrongfully enforced eviction notice, but an alien that comprehended exactly what it meant and what his rights were. Also, the sublime metamorphises of his pysche that shadowed his physical transformation was outstanding.
Great cinematography, good use of lighting and special affects. The CGI was integrated quite well, although sometimes the aliens moved a bit too... computer-generated-ish. Not easy to spot except once or twice, overall not a big deal. While I thought the aliens manipulation of the shuttle's 3d interface to be cool, it came across as a little over-the-top. It helps that the scene was during a highly dramatic climax. The alien vocalization was done well.
The alien technology was appropriately alien - I did not understand much of it at all. =) What exactly did the weapons do? Yes, obviously they were very good at exploding humans into a bloody mess, but how? The alien mech-warrior was awesome, but I did not buy the easiness with which Wikus was able to pilot it.
Good stuff.
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