Battle of Two Societies!

Rating: 8/10 (17 November 2014)

People seem to dismiss Elysium due to the obvious political overtones in the movie, but really the film pushes across the issue that has been plaguing the world from day one: the struggles between the rich and the poor. If we look at the histories of every country and even compare to modern times, this film takes a look at a very relevant issue. Now as a film itself, it's pretty entertaining. The story may be lacking, but there is plenty of action to be had. It is a plus that the visuals are excellent. I loved the looks of the futuristic Los Angeles, as well as the space station outside Earth. The film had a very District 9 look to it at times.
Neill Blomkamp's follow-up to his successful debut, District 9 takes place in the future. Earth is an over-populated wasteland where people live in poverty while the luxurious reside in a man-made space station. The people of Earth dream about traveling to the space station, but it's nearly impossible due to tough anti-immigration laws. Now an ordinary man named Max is pushed into the battle so that equality can persevere.
The acting is really good. The film makes good use of Matt Damon's talent and it shows why Damon is one of Hollywood's best. Jodie Foster doesn't have much screen-time as one could hope, but she is an effective presence. Sharlto Copley as one of the bounty hunters plays evil so well, a complete opposite of his role in District 9. In Elysium, his character showed no mercy, not even to little girls suffering from leukemia.
Overall, Elysium is a interesting film to watch due to its political themes on such topics such as illegal immigration, measures of equality, an unfair justice system, and so on. For a summer film, it's really smart and we need more films like this. A better screenplay and the film would have been near perfect. But this sci-fi film is action-packed and fun to watch. While it does not reach the heights of District 9, Elysium is not a bad second feature for Blomkamp. I rate this film 8/10.