Shades of Metropolis

Rating: 8/10 (12 November 2013)

After having seen the film I found that Mr. Blomkamp has re-found certain themes from Metropolis (1927) (not so much in the details) but in the spirit of his film. The feel of his Earth scenes had that sense of reality where an overpopulated and depleted earth "below" serves a workshop for the "prodigously rich" who live in a "ideal" environment "above". Humanity has certainly had such societies in the past (the Third Reich or more recently white South Africa) and we well may have them in the future.
Both films try to describe a world where revolt is constantly simmering and violence and repression are both open and extreme.
The themes of "overworld" (rich) and "underworld" (poor) are linked with the use of one man's life story but the resolution of both films lacks the reality of what the "real" resolution of such conflict would be like within the context of both this film and Metropolis (that is not peaceful sharing but violent destruction as for the Third Reich).
There are no doubt also echos of the origins of Mr. Blomkamp (South Africa) in the choice of "everyone becomes a citizen" as a resolution to such a conflict.
I find his telling of this version of societies based on one group's exploitation of another very well made and I vote 8 out of 10.