Neil Blomkamp does it again, after District 9 he delivers us Elysium.

Rating: 9/10 (29 August 2013)

We went to see this movie last night, I have to admit one thing when leaving the theater, that Blomkamp surely knows how to make an entertaining movie, that sticks in your head and that makes you discuss and debate social and moral issues. And that is what makes a movie strong for me, the mere fact that when the movie is over, the discussion is still on.
Yes I can agree with comments that this movie isn't up to par with D-9, but it is also a different kind of movie, it is a new story. The only similarity I could find, is that Blomkamp has a love for depicting a black/white society, just as he did in D-9. He takes on the moral high ground when it comes to poor vs rich, adequate health care for the rich and the more improvised inadequate system for all others. That is quite clear from the get go, but I don't mind that, cuz if you want the bring something into the public eye you need to go to the extremes, and that is what he is doing in this movie, there's no gray area. You either belong to the elite, or you don't and you will do anything to be part off it.
And it is exactly this premise that is the building foundation of this movie. The characterization is building on a slow pace in the beginning, and yes it could have been done slightly different to give it a more easy pace for watching, but in the end you do realize why Neil has chosen this approach. In the whole of things, the build up of characters, the slow pacing in the plot, the flashback back and forth all nicely come together and give this movie quite a high credibility and an understanding in why Damon's character does what he does and the decisions he makes in the end. We witness how Max (Matt Damon) transitions from being an irresponsible joker and gangster into the anti-hero he becomes at the end. I hear people complaining about the fact that Damon wasn't Bourne enough (for the fighting scenes) but that would be completely laughable as Max isn't a military man, he comes from the streets, he is a survivalist, someone who will only fight to survive. If Blomkamp would have given him unmatched fighting skills that only well trained military would have, it just would have destroyed the whole character. No this guy, lives and thrives on emotions and on his wits on solving a problem, and that is just exactly how he fights, which is a very good thing and it works perfectly.
Scharlto Copley on the other hand, makes a perfect villain, my god is this guy good. He was great in the A-team, sublime in D-9 and does he nail the bad guy in Elysium, this guy one to watch for the future. As Agent Kruger he sets down a very great villain, a psychopathic killer on a leach by a corrupt government Secretary (A very good and convincing Jodie Foster). But Kruger (Copley) undergoes a transition just as Max, only it is in the opposite way, he sees a chance to get rid off the government leach and gain the ultimate power through Max, and it is that where the whole movie is building up to. These 2 guys, both with a destiny to fulfill, only it's inevitable that they wouldn't duel as they cross paths right before they reach their goal.
Without giving to much away from the plot, the ending and final sequence and scene is quite fitting and it ties the whole story together, and leaves you (the audience) with some serious moral issues to think over and to discuss with your friends.
I know I have enjoyed this movie very much, and I am looking forward to see more work of Neil Blomkamp and Sharlto Copley. And in final a big cheer for the magnificent work from the WETA workshop for the special effects and the decors, they're truly breathtaking.