District 9 is currently sitting pretty with a nearly unprecedented 97 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It doesn’t come out until tomorrow, and as far as we can tell, the New York Times hasn’t reviewed it yet, so all of this attention is resulting in some major hype. The sci-fi film from first-time director and Peter Jackson protege Neill Blomkamp takes place in South Africa, where aliens complicate an already-tense societal racial divide. District 9 is bringing out exclamation points and hyperbole in critics, who, judging by their tone, haven’t seen a movie this good in…a long time. Check out our favorite lines from the reviews after the jump.
“District 9 proves that there’s intelligent alien life in the movie universe this summer.” –Entertainment Weekly
“OMG IT IS SO SUPER-GOOD I CANNOT WAIT TO GO AGAIN. YES PLEASE.” –The Awl
“This is one intense, intelligent, well-crafted action movie — one that dazzles the eye with seamless special effects but also makes you think without preaching.” –AP
“The entire project seems carried along by the scrappy energy of a bright, young filmmaker working far away from Hollywood’s prying, homogenizing eyes.” –The Village Voice
“District 9 is the most exciting science fiction movie to come along in ages; definitely the most thrilling film of the summer; and quite possibly the best film I’ve seen all year.” –The New York Observer
That’s a lot to live up to. Do you want to see the movie, or are you already having a hype backlash?