Saw an advance screening of District 9 last night, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Peter Jackson turned up and gave us an introduction to the story, and some of the circumstances surrounding the project. The director, Neill Blomkamp, was originally slated to direct Halo, but when the plug was pulled, PJ and others helped the young director to create this feature, using similar themes to those explored within his previous short film Alive in Joburg.
It's been suggested that the name "prawn" (used in the film as a slang apellation for the refugee aliens) derives in part from the Parktown prawn, a large specimen of cricket found in certain suburbs of Johannesburg - after reading (and ruminating upon) the historical background of this insect, I'd venture to say that it's existence within Jo'burg city limits may have provided quite a bit of inspiration and impetus to plot points within the movie.
All in all, it's great - entertaining from start to finish - lots of humour, action and exploding bodies (in the grand old tradition of early Jackson 
) - go and see it! Maybe the success of District 9 will encourage the powers that be to rethink their decision on Halo sooner, rather than later.
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But Neill Blomkamp at least seems to have made a creative decision, refusing to become involved again, even if work on Halo resumes.
@-INKling- ~ a bit of both lad, a bit of both 
And it's no big deal really - PJ lives locally.
I can't think of any superstars that live near me. My mum used to work with Peter Mayhew of Chewbacca fame though.
@Allicrombie ~ the feeling and tone of D9 is pretty well encapsulated in Alive in Joburg, but it lacks the character development and more fully-fleshed back story of the former - it struck a real chord for me, as back in 1981, we were protesting against the continuing South African regime of apartheid, during the Springbok Tour of NZ in that year - the issue divided the country at the time.
FrozenLiquid