Elysium
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 8:00 am
Had a birthday party Saturday night and saw Elysium with some friends. Here are my thoughts.
Roughly 150 years from now the Earth is shit. Rich people got tired of living with poor people and so they built Elysium, a big ass space station that orbits the Earth. I am sure the director was not making a political statement by casting Hispanics as the people on Earth (and actually filming the Earth scenes in Mexico) and by having all the people of Elysium be French-speaking white people. Not only are the "have nots" forced to live in poverty, but we soon learn that every house on Elysium has a healing pod that cures all citizens of Elysium of all physical ailments and diseases and gives them eternal life. Because of this, there is a thriving business to try and smuggle people across Elysium's border so that the poor Mexicans of Earth can get healthcare. When this happens they are stopped by droids that work for Homeland Security. Again, I am sure none of this has any political overtones.
(@Happiness Engine: this is sarcasm; I do understand they were making a political statement.)
The story revolves around Max (Matt Damon), an ex-con turned legit who works in a droid factory making the droids that protect Elysium and occasionally walk around beating up people on Earth. After being exposed to a lethal dose of radiation, Max agrees to work a mission for a local criminal in exchange for a ticket to Elysium -- but will Max be able to survive the mission in order to make it there???
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It didn't surprise me in the least to learn that Neill Blomkamp (District 9) was behind this film. It has the same tone and look, and similarly address the different between aliens (both figuratively and literally) and class. The special effects are outstanding and perfectly blended with real environments.
There are plot holes you could fly and Earth shuttle though if you think about it too hard. That being said, it does make its point in regards to race and class and the right to healthcare and throws in some good action scenes while doing so.
Part District 9, part Johnny Mnemonic, Elysium is a action film that makes a point and doesn't linger too long doing it.
Roughly 150 years from now the Earth is shit. Rich people got tired of living with poor people and so they built Elysium, a big ass space station that orbits the Earth. I am sure the director was not making a political statement by casting Hispanics as the people on Earth (and actually filming the Earth scenes in Mexico) and by having all the people of Elysium be French-speaking white people. Not only are the "have nots" forced to live in poverty, but we soon learn that every house on Elysium has a healing pod that cures all citizens of Elysium of all physical ailments and diseases and gives them eternal life. Because of this, there is a thriving business to try and smuggle people across Elysium's border so that the poor Mexicans of Earth can get healthcare. When this happens they are stopped by droids that work for Homeland Security. Again, I am sure none of this has any political overtones.
(@Happiness Engine: this is sarcasm; I do understand they were making a political statement.)
The story revolves around Max (Matt Damon), an ex-con turned legit who works in a droid factory making the droids that protect Elysium and occasionally walk around beating up people on Earth. After being exposed to a lethal dose of radiation, Max agrees to work a mission for a local criminal in exchange for a ticket to Elysium -- but will Max be able to survive the mission in order to make it there???
---
It didn't surprise me in the least to learn that Neill Blomkamp (District 9) was behind this film. It has the same tone and look, and similarly address the different between aliens (both figuratively and literally) and class. The special effects are outstanding and perfectly blended with real environments.
There are plot holes you could fly and Earth shuttle though if you think about it too hard. That being said, it does make its point in regards to race and class and the right to healthcare and throws in some good action scenes while doing so.
Part District 9, part Johnny Mnemonic, Elysium is a action film that makes a point and doesn't linger too long doing it.