Freeview (UK) films of the day : sunday 16th of June

District 9 (2009 107 min.) [C4 10.05pm &+1]

Sci-fi action drama starring Sharlto Copley. Nearly thirty years after aliens landed near Johannesburg, the extraterrestrial visitors are living in a squalid refugee camp called District 9. With the initial welcoming attitude of the human population long since faded, the order is given for the space visitors to be forcibly evicted. For one man, the operation will be a life-changing experience.

Neill Blomkamp's film is part sci-fi adventure, part social satire and part drama ; put together with a great degree of skill and not a little charm it's a throughly rewarding and entertaining film that has across-the-board appeal. Even people who would normally steer clear of films about giant creatures from space will find District 9 engaging, exciting and fun.

A superb, heartbreaking central performance from Sharlto Copley and Blomkamp's skilled direction ensures that the message doesn't get in the way of the action while allowing all of the themes of the film to be developed.



Frozen (2010 93min.) [Film4 9.00pm &+1]

Three skiers are left stranded on a mountain chairlift when the resort staff turn off the power in the middle of their ascent. Faced with the prospect of remaining in the freezing cold until the following weekend, the trio are forced to make a difficult decision that could cost them their lives. Thriller, starring Emma Bell, Shawn Ashmore, Kevin Zegers, Ed Ackerman and Rileah Vanderbilt.


Rather well done, low budget lost-in-the-wild thriller which explains why you should never muck about on a chair lift.
There's a stand-out performance by Emma Bell and a moment (and a sound effect) that will make you wince and grimace with pain.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.