Entertaining sci-fi with a message

Rating: 7/10 (14 November 2014)

While it doesn't quite live up to the high bar set by DISTRICT 9, ELYSIUM is a very entertaining sci-fi film with a message. Something that Neill Blomkamp does very well is create a believable world with interesting characters, and he does that here as well. The world in the film feels very realized and believable. Also, the special effects used to enhance it are very effective as well. The story is rather simple. Matt Damon's character, Max, gets a lethal dose of radiation and has to find a way to Elysium to get treatment. In this movie, the poor remain on Earth while the richest in society have migrated to a torus satellite called Elysium. However, some needless complications to the plot bring down the movie a little bit, most notably a coup d'etat subplot that feels shoehorned in to give Jodie Foster's character more to do. The movie also isn't very subtle in its messaging, practically hitting the viewer over the head with its plea for universal healthcare. Still, it's an admirable message, but one that could have been handled more deftly. Another thing that could have been improved was the central relationship between Max and his childhood friend, now a nurse whose daughter is dying from leukemia. Even though this has to be one of the biggest coincidences ever, it still works in the context of the story. Still, despite the over-complication in the plot, Elysium delivers an exciting story, with great action (although edited a little too chaotically) and a timely message.