HG Wells would have called it silly

Rating: 4/10 (7 September 2013)

Yesterday, I saw Elysium at the movies and then saw Fritz Lang's 1926 scifi epic Metropolis on television. They are basically the same story: future world divided between wealthy living in isolated splendor and poor folk living in squalor, until a crisis forces an ultimately successful rebellion. H.G. Wells called Metropolis "silly" and its story is certainly laughable. Elysium was equally silly, without the excuse of being a silent movie. In science fiction, we want to know something about the future world. Elysium explains nothing. Why would the wealthy place themselves in the vulnerable position of depending on a hostile, overcrowded Earth for supplies for their isolated space station? Why would they defend their space station from invasion from Earth by having a raggedy guy in Los Angeles fire hand-held missiles? If medical technology has advanced to the point that a single machine can cure broken bones and leukemia in less than 30 seconds, why would this technology be withheld from most people? And, by the way, Elysium can't possibly be for the wealthy only because we see working stiffs—cops, technicians, etc.—who are clearly NOT multimillionaires on the space station. So Elysium ends up being nothing more than an excuse for two lengthy chase scenes and a clumsy attempt to encourage us to cheer for scuzzy barrio dwellers and boo the arrogant Anglos (and their French and Boer lackeys). It could have taken place in a high-rise luxury apartment house. I'll take Metropolisat least its original and the scenes with robot Maria are scary!