Elysium Reviews

I went into this one thinking "man, i'm going to get disappointed", i mean the movie have 6.7 on IMDb and that's not good, and then i spent the first hour of the movie not believing my eyes, the movie was spectacular, the cinematography, the soundtrack, cars, the fact that major cities have been destroyed by pollution and life on earth now is matter of time, the fact that most people now on earth have a criminal record, tattoos, Spanish speaking people people in Los angeles shows that those people drifted from south america because the living might be impossible where they came from, the whole cities where torn down and it looked amazing.

What bugged me was the terrible flat performance of William Fichtner, i mean he's not even trying to act, it's like "hey, is that my line? so i just look at the camera and say it?", also a terrible fucking performance by the incredible actress Jodie Foster, she was so fucking misplaced in this movie and had a terrible accent that come and goes depending on the scene, but that didn't bother me that much because they both get killed and they don't have much screen time.

It's really an entertaining movie, i loved Elysium, it's quite, filled with rich people and big houses and i really loved earth, every scene on earth was a blast for me, we've all seen movies about future and it's all about technology, only Elysium and 'children of men' decided to focus on realistic things like pollution.

Some plot mistake here and there, Spider which is a criminal decided to steal information from John Carlyle mind in order to hack into Elysium and controls it, but end up allowing all earth people to go to Elysium and get treatment, but isn't that gonna get him out of job and destroy everything he did? i mean he's a bad guy suddenly turn into a good guy which kinda cliche.

Also the fact that Elysium have no automatic missile launchers that will strike any unlicensed vehicle that decide to land, also where was the soldier robots when spider decided to land on Elysium to hack it, suddenly because Delacourt (Jodie Foster) wasn't sitting in-front of the screen, there wasn't anybody to do her job and warn people about an upcoming vehicle?

Matt Damon performance was spectacular ,also Sharlto Copley performance which was surprisingly good, that's why this movie deserve more recognition and a sold 7 from me, Neill Blomkamp did it again, first with District 8 and now with Elysium, and i liked Elysium more because of Matt Damon.

The movie is from the director of 'District 9' which sets in the year 2154 about the people of severely damaged earth and luxurious artificial habitat in the space. I could say this movie was not much distinct from Tom Cruise' recent science fiction. Both the movie deals about ruined earth and wealthier space station colony. More like it is a prequel to 'Oblivion' where robots are taking over from the human race. I enjoyed both, they were the finest science fiction of the year. 'Oblivion' was unique but 'Elysium' gives the same feeling to the movie 'District 9' where protagonist from both the movies get infected and suffers severely.

Max (Matt Damon) is an orphan young man who is dreaming to escape the polluted earth and settle down in the luxurious place in the space called Elysium. He works in a factory where security robots are manufactured. One day something goes wrong with him while working, he begins to get sick. In order to get cured he must immediately visit the Elysium where poors from the earth are not allowed. He knows he can't enter legally so he must find an alternate way where he could reach his target.

2013 was one of the best year in last the ten years for science fiction movie fans. I thoroughly enjoyed many movies along with my favourite of the year 'Gravity'. 'Elysium' is better than the average, I don't know why it was rated such low. But I could not get a few things like why should one install electronic chips and devices into his body to steal the classified data. I thought the pen drive or external HDD are more than enough. Whatever, this movie looked good to me and expecting you to enjoy it as well.

Elysium is the sophomore effort of director Neill Blomkamp. Much like District 9, it has fantastic visuals, political / social commentary and it experiments with the concept of trans-humanism. It's a better film, in my opinion, and an increasingly rare example of good science fiction on the silver screen.

The movie had some nice thematic touches throughout, demonstrating that Blomkamp has grown as a director. For example, the main "Elysium" characters talk in a stilted, almost robotic manner to emphasize their fundamental disconnect with humanity. Less savvy movie goers (and critics) will chalk this up to bad acting, even though it can't be an accident that Jodie Foster and William Fichtner are doing this while the other main actors aren't.

The main villain of the film, a combination of the mad monk Rasputin and Solid Snake, is not only disconnected from humanity, but driven to insanity by a life of mercenary warfare and serving the ungrateful elites that are his masters. He is the ultimate typification of the soldier, bitterly enraged once he realizes that he is to be used and thrown away.

The ending felt a bit rushed and needed some more time to earn its emotional conclusion, but that was my only serious gripe with the film. Overall, it was a great thrill ride from start to finish and never compromised its vision.

Pros

Great pacing, action rarely lets up after the introduction
Gritty realism mixed with badass technology (The Blade Runner effect)
Strong themes (social and economic inequality, survival, trans-humanism)
High production values
Exciting fight scenes

Cons

Shaky cam
First and second act are stronger than the third
The South African actors were difficult to understand at times

Blomkamp showed promise in District 9 and he shows promise here, but they both falls short when it comes to the political story and the message. Its just too simple, its too cliché and it's almost disgusting. Doesn't help that one of the main villains are incredibly stereotypical (Foster). Foster played like shit and Copley is such a great actor but the script just makes him a too shallow, there is no depth in his character, other than that he is a rapist just because we viewers should hate him.

Damon's acting is flawless and some bi characters are also great. The CGI, effects and details of every scene is amazing, it's just too bad that's the only thing the movie has going for it. Next time Blomkamp, only direct, do not write the film, make an sci-fi horror movie, slasher or some shit, maybe even remake "Event Horizon" you would be perfect for it. Just stop with this ridiculous message bullshit.

5.5/10

"You'll be hunted to the edge of the earth for this..."

Four years ago, writer-director Neill Blomkamp's District 9 made a surprisingly enormous splash, generating impressive box office numbers from its tiny budget and earning critical praise, leading to a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars. Overnight, it turned Blomkamp into a talent to watch, heightening expectations for his inevitable follow-up endeavour. Luckily, 2013's Elysium is another winner for the South African filmmaker, further showcasing his fertile creative vision, supported by a more generous budget this time. Luckily, Blomkamp also effortlessly recaptures the gritty visual aesthetic of District 9, retaining his penchant for summer blockbusters permeated with intelligence and social commentary. It's not quite as good as Blomkamp's feature debut, but nothing much is. What matters is that Elysium is a solid motion picture in its own right and a promising sophomore effort for the gifted director.

In the future, Earth has become a barren wasteland, desecrated by environmental catastrophe and gross overpopulation. The planet's wealthy denizens - about 1% of the population - evacuate the Earth, travelling to the space station Elysium to continue their lives in luxury. Elysium is an artificial paradise, and its borders are ruthlessly controlled by Defence Secretary Delacourt (Jodie Foster). Meanwhile, the other 99% of the Earth's populace live in horrible conditions, policed by robotic enforcers and compelled to take dangerous jobs to sustain themselves. In Los Angeles, ex-con Max Da Costa (Matt Damon) is trying to keep it together, working a 9-5 factory job while hoping he will one day afford a trip to Elysium. In a workplace accident, Max is exposed to a deadly dose of radiation, leaving him with five days to live. His only chance for survival is on Elysium, as the space station's advanced medical technology can heal him. Low on options, he agrees to do a dangerous job for crime lord Spider (Wagner Moura) in exchange for a trip to the off-world paradise. Outfitted with a mechanised exoskeleton, Max becomes involved in a bold plan to infiltrate Elysium and bring power back to the people, all the while being hunted by Delacourt's ruthless Earth-based operative, Kruger (Sharlto Copley).

Like District 9, 2013's Elysium is an allegorical action movie, using its futuristic setting to deliver an astute thesis on a contemporary issue. In this case, Blomkamp is concerned with immigration. Even though the lowly humans left on Earth are likely to be caught or killed if they attempt to reach Elysium, it doesn't stop them from trying, climbing onto spaceships and hoping that said ships won't be destroyed during the border-crossing. None of this is exactly subtle, but it gives the movie a degree of class. On top of this, Elysium comments on universal healthcare and the widening chasm between the wealthy and the poor. It's nice to see such thoughtful material woven into the fabric of a blockbuster, and it's even better that this is an entirely original sci-fi, not based on any pre-existing material. What is also remarkable about Blomkamp's screenplay is that the filmmaker refuses to make Elysium a surface-level experience. None of the characters exist as plot pawns; they all have personalities and their own motivations, and everyone has an important role to play in the narrative. There are still a few things to nitpick about the script, however. Most glaring is that Max needs to consume pills to keep him functioning properly, but he is rarely seen taking them.

Despite the $120 million budget, Blomkamp ostensibly received tremendous creative freedom for Elysium, as his vision remains bleak and vehemently R-rated. Blomkamp continues to display an interest in observing the effects of powerful sci-fi weaponry on the human body, with characters being blown apart in visceral ways. It's great stuff. Elysium is a breathtaking picture to behold, as well, with imaginative production design across the board. It's easy to find yourself immersed in Blomkamp's elaborate sci-fi fantasy due to the sheer detail present in the technology and the quality of the special effects that breathe convincing life into Blomkamp's vision. The digital effects are seamless here - in fact, it's hard to tell what's CGI and what's practical. District 9's CGI was similarly stunning, and Elysium retains this high quality despite the bigger scale, once again showing that a director doesn't need $250 million to create an effective FX-driven extravaganza. Furthermore, Blomkamp and cinematographer Trent Opaloch give the picture a majestic feel, with sweeping shots that convey the grandeur of Elysium and the desolation of Earth. The photography is often shaky during the action scenes, but more often than not, it helps to amplify excitement and intensity.

As Max, Damon further demonstrates his ability to portray both an action hero and a regular guy, giving us a charismatic and engaging anchor to latch onto. It's a strong performance from the star, and it's great to see Blomkamp coaxing such terrific work from A-list actors. Foster and Alice Braga are also in fine form here, while Fichtner also makes a good impression. But the standout is easily Sharlto Copley, who's borderline unrecognisable as Kruger. It's hard to believe just how far removed Kruger is from his Copley role in District 9, showing that the performer has incredible range. And considering that Copley was not much of an actor before District 9, this is all the more impressive. He goes for broke here; it's a menacing, enthralling performance, and Blomkamp supports him by giving the character a degree of smarts.

The only thing that holds Elysium back from brilliance is that it feels too underdone. Sure, the whole thing is conceptually sound, but it would be nice to see more of the impressive tech (the exoskeleton feels like a missed opportunity), and to see and learn more about Elysium. The picture clocks in at 100 minutes, which is surprisingly scant - further expository scenes and character-building moments would have been valuable. It's doubtful that a sequel will ever materialise due to the limp box office returns and the way the film ends, which is somewhat disappointing because a trilogy of motion pictures set in this universe would be absolutely killer. In final analysis, Elysium is not the masterpiece that it had the potential to be, but it is a refreshing late-summer gem that treats its audience with more respect than the usual blockbuster endeavour.

7.7/10

Oh dear... I really wanted to like this flick... And, indeed, most of it was pretty good but, still, so far, it remains the most disappointing movie I have seen in 2013. I mean, I really liked how it started. Indeed, Blomkamp kept the same visceral visual style he used for 'District 9' and it simply looked pretty terrific. Then, I also enjoyed how they mixed all these languages and different accents, that was a nice touch which was unfortunately undone by the fact that most of the action was taking place only in Los Angeles. The actors were all pretty good, even though Alice Braga basically played the same characters she always plays in all US productions and Jodie Foster seemed to have some fun with her villainous character but she was surprisingly thrown away in the middle of the 3rd act. Eventually once again, Shartlo Copley was the one really stealing the show and I really wonder how his career will further develop. So, what went wrong then? In my opinion, the story was not really strong. I mean, this whole concept has already done before and there was this déjà vu with too many elements coming from 'District 9'. Also, some details just didn't add up. Take the exo-skeleton for example. It was supposed to be bad-ass, to explain that, even though the guy is dying, he still has some super powers to complete his mission. Honestly, it didn't add much to the story and looked pretty ridiculous. Personally, I would have simply replace it by a chip to the back of his head and some super lethal drug giving Damon the same powers. Finally, the whole focus on those med-pods was terribly limiting. Indeed, it is as if the people on Earth only cared for those when there are many other reasons than better medical care explaining why so many people risk their life to illegally cross borders. So, the whole thing did look really good, they created an interesting futuristic world and it was rather entertaining but the story was just too weak for my taste. To conclude, I still think it remains a decent SF feature and it is worth a look but don't expect anything really amazing.