Elysium (Movie Review)

The day after the movie screening of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, I went to another movie screening courtesy of Nuffnang. It was an American science fiction action-thriller film written, co-produced and directed by Neill Blomkamp and starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster called Elysium.

Director: Neill Blomkamp

Writer: Neill Blomkamp

Stars: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley

Storyline:

In the year 2154 two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Rhodes, a government official, will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium. That doesn't stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that if successful will not only save his life, but could bring equality to these polarized worlds.

At the beginning, there was an explanation about Elysium - a new habitat for rich human out of the overpopulated planet Earth. It seems that Elysium is mostly populated by Americans and the people who tried to get into Elysium unauthorized is mainly from South America. There's no telling why Max (Matt Damon), who grew up in a majority Mexican population can have an American English accent. Also, being exposed to high radioactive doses did not kill him instantly and a single pill daily intake can enable him to do things like normal. The high tech exoskeleton suit wore by Max was suppose to only give him strength and speed but at the same time he gets to have better aiming accuracy and able to take a lot of hits from enemies.

The Elysium has droids to protect the citizen and also machines to cure any diseases or injuries but they didn't think it through about the how easy a space ship could have just invaded Elysium. It was great to finally see a movie with Jodie Foster in it but she dies a little too early. There's also one thing I noticed is that they were driving a Nissan GTR which was produced in the year 2007, isn't that car supposed to be an expensive antique by year 2154?

Conclusion: I can't say that I like or hate this movie. A little waste of the VFX team and the story could have been better though. All I can say here is this is a movie with potentially interesting idea but taken aback with their imperfect security system of the man-made space station.

Cut scene: Knife/sword stabbing and some intimacy scene.

After credits scene: Nil

Rating: 2.5 / 5

Classification: 18

Release Date in Malaysia: 22nd Aug 2013

.: Peace Out :.