Being the #1 film  of the year has some perks: namely, everybody naturally compares you to everything else that comes out afterwards.  First there were the G.I. Joe vs. Transformers comparisons; now we’re getting a slew of Transformers vs. District 9 comparisons.

What do the two have in common?  Well, it’s more what they don’t: while they’re both sci-fi movies, Transformers is being considered as an example of trash sci-fi, while District 9 — like the Sam Rockwell indie Moon from earlier this summer — is being heralded as an example of intelligent sci-fi.

Like in FilmJunk’s “5 Reasons District 9 Will Be Better Than Transformers” article.  Their five reasons are:

-It’s subversive yet accessible.

-The FX is lower-budget but more inspired.

-It has low-key social commentary.

-It’s original.

-It was made by fresh, young talent.

The article is certainly correct on all counts, but it really doesn’t matter.  Because c’mon: Transformers 2 was actively trying to be as trashy as possible: Mudflap & Skids, the shots of Megan Fox, the Pretender, Jon Turturro…it was two and a half hours of Michael Bay stealing ten dollar bills from every member of the audience and throwing them into a massive, arguably entertaining bonfire of burning giant metal parts, laughing maniacally all the way.