Good, could have been great

Rating: 7/10 (9 August 2013)

This movie is very successful on one level, a flop on another. As a high octane, action based sci-fi thriller, it is great. The visuals and special effects are some of the best I have ever seen, it is well acted, and has tons of heart-stopping action sequences. Its downfall is that it takes itself too seriously, and tries make a social statement. The parallels between the inhabitants of a future destitute LA (mostly Chicano) trying to gain citizenship in the prosperous (mostly white) world of Elysium, are so obvious they are laughable. Its like something you would expect a high school student to come up with if they were given an assignment to write a story outlining the evils of our society. Very superficial and shallow. I wont give spoilers, but I don't really have to - you know how it is going to end after about the first 30 minutes.
On the other hand, even though I knew what the eventual outcome would be, I didn't know how we would get there, and the ride along the way is a lot of fun. I was thoroughly entertained for 2 hours, was never once bored, and was often on the edge of my seat. And who says every movie has to have a "message"? If you are looking for something deep that makes you think about social issues in another way, save your money. If you are looking for two hours of solid escapist fun and entertainment, I highly recommend it.