Scifi thriller District 9 out on DVD and Blu-ray in December

"The Boldest, Most Thrilling Jolt of Pure Adrenalin you'll Experience"
* * * * *   THE TIMES  
 
From Academy Award®-Winning Producer Peter Jackson
And Rising Star Director Neill Blomkamp, Comes the $199+ Million Global Box-Office Smash

DISTRICT 9
 
The Action-Packed, Critically-Acclaimed Sci-Fi Thriller
Debuts on Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD on December 28, 2009
 
Blu-ray Features include movieIQ and "Joburg from Above" Interactive Map
 
 
From producer Peter Jackson (King Kong, The Lord of the Rings trilogy) comes the critically-acclaimed sci-fi thriller District 9, debuting on Blu-ray and DVD on the 28th December, 2009 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Director Neill Blomkamp (Crossing the Line, Tempbot) enlists a cast of relative newcomers, including Sharlto Copley and Jason Cope (Doomsday), and a host of groundbreaking special effects for the enthralling allegorical story of aliens stranded in South Africa.
 
Bonus materials on the Blu-ray™ and DVD include commentary with Director/Co-Writer Neill Blomkamp, deleted scenes and the three-part documentary "The Alien Agenda: A Filmmaker's Log." The first part of the documentary explores the pre-production process and creation of the world of District 9, Peter Jackson's role in producing the film, and the unorthodox approach to using South Africa as the setting for this film. The second part delves into the shooting style of the film utilizing small handheld cameras to tell the tale, the difficulties of shooting in Johannesburg, the challenges of shooting scenes that would include visual effects later in the process, and the overall challenges encountered during the production process. The third chapter of the documentary investigates the task of designing and editing the film's sound effects, and the general challenges encountered during the editing process.
 
The Blu-ray versions also exclusively features four featurettes: "Metamorphosis: The Transformation of Wikus" looks at the practical effects employed by filmmaker Blomkamp and the artists at WETA to create Wikus' metamorphosis into an alien; "Innovation: The Acting and Improvisation of District 9" shows Blomkamp's direction of the actors, his encouragement of improvisation, and the actors' process for working together under these guidelines; "Conception and Design: Creating the World of District 9" depicts the amazing design and theory behind the world of District 9, including Alien Design, Alien Technology, Space Travel, MNU and The First Reaction Force Battalion; and "Alien Generation: The Visual Effects of District 9" offers an in-depth look at the process of shooting visual effects scenes and incorporating CGI aliens realistically into the scenes in post-production. 
 
Bonus features exclusive to the Blu-ray Disc™ include the Interactive Map feature "Joburg from Above: Satellite and Schematics of the World of District 9," that allows users to explore alien technology and weaponry, MNU mercenary armory, and more from the film through a series of satellite maps, schematics and photo-real files.
 
The Blu-ray Disc also exclusively features movieIQ—which allows viewers to immediately access continuously updated information on the cast & crew and explore relevant trivia such as production facts, music and soundtrack information all tied to scenes within the movie via BD-Live™—and cinechat, where viewers can send on-screen instant messages to their friends while watching the movie.  District 9 will be available on Blu-ray for £24.99 and DVD for £19.99.  
 
SYNOPSIS:
From producer Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) and director Neill Blomkamp comes a startlingly original science fiction thriller that "soars on the imagination of its creators" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone). With stunning special effects and gritty realism, the film plunges us into a world where the aliens have landed... only to be exiled to a slum on the fringes of Johannesburg. Now, one lone human discovers the mysterious secret of the extraterrestrial weapon technology. Hunted and hounded through the bizarre back alleys of an alien shantytown, he will discover what it means to be the ultimate outsider on your own planet.
 
District 9 was directed by Neill Blomkamp from an original screenplay by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell. Paul Hanson and Elliot Ferwerda co-executive produced.  Bill Block and Ken Kamins executive produced.  Philippa Boyens co-produced with Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham as producers.

DVD Special Features Include:

• Filmmaker's Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• The Alien Agenda: A Filmmaker's Log - Three-Part Documentary

 
Blu-ray Special Features Include:

• Includes all the added value on the DVD:
• Featurette: "Metamorphosis: The Transformation of Wikus"                                             
• Featurette: "Innovation: The Acting and Improvisation of District 9"                                
• Featurette: "Conception and Design: Creating the World of District 9"                                            
• Featurette: "Alien Generation: The Visual Effects of District 9"          
• Joburg from Above: Satellite and Schematics of the World of District 9" - Interactive Map
• Cinechat
• movieIQ
• 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

 
District 9 has a running time of approximately 112 minutes and is rated 15 Artwork and digital clips are available for download at www.sphepublicity.com Visit Sony Home Entertainment on the Web at www.SonyPictures.com.
 
"Academy Award®" and "Oscar®" are the registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
 
The Blu-ray Disc version of District 9 is BD-Live™ enabled, allowing users to get connected and go beyond the disc via an Internet-connected Blu-ray player. Download exclusive content, register for rewards, give feedback through our survey and more!