Elysium

RELEASE DATE: December 2013
RATING: LV 16
GENRE: Sci-fi Action
RUNNING TIME: 109 min
STARRING: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley
DIRECTOR: Neill Blomkamp
WRITER: Neill Blomkamp
PRODUCER: Bill Block, Neill Blomkamp, Simon Kinberg

WHAT GOES DOWN…
In the distant future (2154) earth has become a disease infested, overpopulated land resembling Alexandra (informal settlements). So the wealthy population of earth has done what rich people do, build themselves their own paradise, Elysium; which is pretty much Beverly Hills/ Clifton Beach in space where there is superior health care and a better way of life.

Matt Damon enters with muscles rippling as Max, a former bad boy thug now walking the straight and narrow working in a factory owned by a powerful Elysium business man. After suffering a accident that exposes him to a lethal dose of radiation Max is given 5 days to live. His only option, break into Elysium and cure himself.

THE PLAYERS…
The small cast mixes the star power of Matt Damon doing what we’ve come to love him for in recent times, kicking ass and shooting bad guys. Veteran powerhouse Jodie Foster steps in as the Elysium secretary (Delacourt) managing the likes of Kruger played by the goof ball we all loved from district 9, Sharlto Copley.

Elysium is a fun sci-fi blockbuster, beautifuly shot and beautifully directed by South Africa’s young export Neill Blomkamp. The sets are amazing, the special effects are immaculate, and the performances are okay. Where the movie does fall flat is the story and character depth, Matt Damon does a good job portraying a factory worker who gets bad ass, but his character is unlikeable throughout the movie. I generally like an action man who has charm and coolness factor, a bit of cheese and obviously the bad ass butt kicking, Matt only has the butt kicking.

Neil Blomkamp has done a phenomenal job creating this floating paradise and worn down earth but he unfortunately doesn’t show us enough of it, after watching the movie I wish I could have seen more of how Elysium functions as a society. I guess this should not come as a surprise because the director started out as a CGI artist so he’s inclined to be visually dominant.

WHY OWN IT…
Own it because it’s awesome owning a DVD movie where there is a South African Afrikaans character in a Hollywood blockbuster killing people and saying words like “Kak”.

A great watch for any mood that can be viewed repeatedly.

SPECIAL FEATURES…
Two great special features “Engineering Utopia: Creating a Society in the Sky” and “Collaborating: Crafting The Performances in Elysium”. One shows the genius creative forces it took to create the world of Elysium from concept, to sketch, to construction. The other shows a behind the scenes look of the movie offering cast commentary and Neill’s approach to working with the cast.

RATING:
6/10

REVIEWED BY:
Kgosana Monchusi @KreativeGangsta