Elysium (2013) (Movie Review)

Dir: Neill Blomkamp
Starring: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Alice Braga
Dur: 1 hr 49 mins
Genre: Sci-fi Action
Rating: 6/10

Apocalyptic sci-fi films interest me in as much as they portray fascinating futuristic concepts, vehicles and lifestyle. Elysium is set in the next century and is named after an alter earth that has been designed and created by mankind. The earth is over populated and sick.  All around the Los Angeles in which the story is based we see debris and waste, and hear Spanish spoken more than English. Elysium on the other hand, is spick and span and caters to the needs of the elite. Sadly, we are shown Americans in Elysium and that does hurt a catholic sensibility. The President of Elysium is an American of Indian origin but that doesn’t quite satisfy as he is still ‘American’. I shouldn’t be complaining too much, atleast the Russians and the Muslims get a break.

Max (Matt Damon) is an orphan working in a factory that produces robots for Elysium. He is driven from a young age by the desire to make it to Elysium. His childhood best friend, Frey (Alice Braga) however, is introduced for dramatic effect and is a nice face among the other contorted and not-so-nice faces.


The story builds well. The pathos enveloping the story does inspire frightful thoughts about the future and the ending though poignant fits in well with the narrative. In the classic sense, Elysium is the story of a man who visioned a goal and died trying to achieve it.  

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