BBC Focus Magazine

[Flakkarin]

Well, the Oscar nominations are out, and I'm really pleased to see District 9 nominated for best film. I liked Avatar alright, but for me, District 9 was by far the best: a much more honest and real view than any typical Hollywood film. I loved the lead guy; at last a real guy acting honestly under extraordinary circumstances instead of being an automatic hero.

What was the best Sci-Fi movie of 2009 for you?

[Croatguy]

Avatar is overrated. District 9 was pretty good (but The Hurt Locker will win Best Picture as it was the best movie of the year!), but for me Moon was the best sci-fi. Nothing beats a good psych sci-fi. Terminator Salvation deserves an honorable mention. Daybreakers will be a contender for 2010.

[M Paul Lloyd]

The storyline in Avatar was disappointingly 2 dimensional in my opinion, a case of the Lucas formula applied to the n'th degree with facets of Native American, African and even Australian Aboriginal culture used as a basis for the 'blue monkey' lifestyle with the usual colonial overthrow thwarted Ewok style at least on this first round.

Star Trek was a disappointment as it rewrote the entire future history of an old favourite without actually doing anything new.

I enjoyed the low budget 'Moon', a nice simple story but really well done I thought.

District 9 was a clever way of illustrating apartheid without offending anyone too much and I thoroughly enjoyed it and it would be nice to see it do well.

[Shadowwolf]

I ain't seen Avatar yet so I cannot really say though the bits I have picked up does suggest a rather simple retelling of colonial expansion, but the story is really just a vehicle for the eye candy so it might score well on that front.

Moon was a very good story and one I liked a lot so it would feature highly for me. As would Stargate Universe which adopted the grittier style of sci-fi that Battlestar Galactica brought to the genre; though I do realise that Universe is just Stargate's version of Voyager, all they have left to do is a series based on the very early days in the fifties or something and the Trek copy shall be complete.

District 9 was by far the best: a much more honest and real view than any typical Hollywood film.

I'd not be so sure myself as it just seemed rather unbelievable that SA would attempt, be capable or allowed to go it alone as one would have expected a heavy UN involvement. Nor could I see criminal gangs being allowed to freely set up shop or that mercs would be the providers of security, and at many points I was wondering if humanity as a whole would actually mistreat a completely alien race so badly. There were a good many holes and a redundant commentary on a past system that just lowered it in my view, mind you it does have a dreadnought so who am I to complain.

[Liam Sheppard]

I saw avatar the other day to see what all the fuss was about ... in 3d it was amazing, a great experience.

I understand that the plot was formulaic and predictable, with predictable stereotypes in there.
as well as MAGUA from last of the mohicans voicing the chief of the tribe.

However I love native american and aboriginal and any native cultures, and so enjoyed it..

I'm still waiting for district 9 from love film..

[M Paul Lloyd]

I wasn't actually criticising the plot of Avatar it was merely an observation really.

[The Beige Avenger]

based on simply being the best cinematic experience I've ever had, Avatar, hands down...

District 9 was very good, I enjoyed it but the acting was not good enough for me to take it seriously; if it weren't for the special effects, which were fantastic, it would be in with the B-movies (and there's nowt wrong with that!).

Star Trek was fantastic, the best sci fi of the year for me... based on big screen + rewatches at home which Avatar has not been subject to.

I like the Avatar story, it's a classic tale... for most of the dung that is churned out of Hollywood I'm surprised that the story of Avatar has been subject to so much criticism... yeah it's been told before in Last of the Mohicans, Pocahontas, Dances with Wolves, The Last Samurai etc. etc. but you know what? Those are all pretty sweet movies.

[...]

avatar's 3d was a good experience but i think it still has a very long way to go yet.

[theblazeuk]

Battlestar Galactica finished in 2009. Does that count?

Filmwise it had to Moon though. I enjoyed Avatar but it was spectacle over substance. I would rate Star Trek over Avatar, just because it had a slightly more interesting plotline (for all of its faults...I just knew every step of Avatar's plot).

Moon was poignant, incredibly well acted and pretty trippy. Great in other words.

[Shadowwolf]

But that Trek had a giant red beachball!

avatar's 3d was a good experience but i think it still has a very long way to go yet.

Well the next un is Clash 'o' the Titans.