Flawed spectacle

Rating: 7/10 (23 August 2013)

In the 22nd century, the affluent few have taken themselves off to live in a luxury space station called Elysium, while everyone else lives in polluted poverty back on Earth. Then Max (Matt Damon) has an industrial accident and, with 5 days to live, his only hope is access to one of the magic heal-all machines on Elysium.
This science fiction action suspense movie is, for the most part, very well realised, and bashes along entertainingly (if, often, somewhat gorily). Put your brain in neutral, get your popcorn, and enjoy the eye candy, which is extremely impressive.
But, whatever you do, don't take your brain out of neutral, because you will find yourself asking all sorts of questions. Like why on earth can't Earth have the magic healing machines: heaven knows there are plenty on Elysium, we discover. And why do Elysium's defence systems comprise a bloke with a bazooka on Earth? I fear that many more such questions may occur to you: they did to me.
The ear-assaulting bombastic Dark Knight music is more unwelcome.