Elysium
Matt Damon and Jodie Foster star in Neill Blomkamp's (District 9) second film about a futuristic battle raging between the people stuck on a wasteland Earth and the wealthy citizens of Elysium, a luxurious floating utopia.
In the year 2159 two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who live on the pristine man-made space station, and the rest who live on overpopulated Earth. Secretary Rhodes (Foster), a hard line government official, will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the lifestyle of the elite citizens of Elysium. That doesn’t stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max (Damon) is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that if successful will not only save his life, but could bring equality to these polarised worlds.
- Director:
- Neill Blomkamp ('District 9')
- Writer:
- Neill Blomkamp
- Cast:
- Matt DamonJodie FosterWilliam FichtnerSharlto CopleyAlice BragaTalisa Soto
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Dominic Corry
flicksElysium doesn't quite build on the dazzling potential of District 9, but it doesn't fail the previous film either. Blomkamp has crafted another superior sci-fi action thriller that demands emotional investment – I felt every moment here, and I can't wait to do so again, over and over.
Well Received
I liked Elysium, over and above the action, performances and the story-line (all important in any movie and well presentesd in this movie). Yes, there are faint D9 undertones but I think the setting was well suited . I also agree that blomkamps character was particularly well written and represented by the D9 actor. All-in-all an agreeable way to spend a...
Visually stunning
The undertones of District 9 are still very clear with the South African influence throughout which probably takes a bit to adjust to much like District 9. You tend not to get drawn in as much as the D9 and tend to ride shotgun the duration of the movie being next to the action but not in the thick of it! Damon does not have his usual appeal probably due to...
Elysium
One of the most entertaining action movies of the year. Elysium is Neill Blomkamp's follow-up to District 9, a modern science-fiction classic. While it isn't as good as District 9, I still really enjoyed this. Matt Damon plays Max, Living on a overpopulated and ruined Earth. He is exposed to a large amount of radiation and has five days to get to Elysium, a...
Predictable
A lot of action in this film, much drama as well. I can definitely see sprinkles of District 9 into this but it was still a great film that deserves to be watched on a silver screen. Just, in my opinion, it was rather predictable. I could see where the film was going and how it would end in the first ten minutes of the screening. Typical characters and...
Are there Prawns in orbit?
- Elysium - Wow, much like 'District 9' this is filmed similar, same actor, looks similar with same themes, and I loved it. If you liked Neill Blomkamps writing then you will fully enjoy this, even has some effects done with the help of WETA! Boom. I found it like 'Matrix' 'Johnny Mnemonic' 'iRobot' 'Halo (game)' and of course 'District 9'. How big is the...
District E
Yeah ok, the politics are obvious, the characters are more stereotypes than flesh n' blood, but if, like me you loved 'District 9', then Neill Blomkamp delivers another top notch dose of dystopian sci-fi. All the great stuff from 'D:9' is here - hardware that looks used. Beaten and battered weaponry, robots and an immersive, beautifully designed and...
Variety
pressEven working within a more conventional framework, Blomkamp again proves to be a superb storyteller. He has a master’s sense of pacing, slowly immersing us into his future world rather than assailing us with nonstop action, and envisioning that world with an architect’s eye for the smallest details.
Total Film
pressThis perfectly alright actioner will entertain newcomers, while leaving Blomkamp fans in a holding pattern until his next project.
Time Out
pressHollywood loves these apocalypse-soon stories, however, because they function as blank canvases for ruin porn, and if nothing else, Neill Blomkamp’s Elysium gives us the realistically trashed tomorrow we suspect we deserve.
Time Out
pressA conceptually bold, sporadically engaging but ultimately bland blockbuster.
The New York Times
pressDamon's performance helps keep the movie from sinking under the weight of its artfully constructed horrors.
The Dissolve
pressFor all its simple politics, clanging dialogue, and underwritten roles—only Damon’s natural, and deepening, ability to suggest unspoken disappointment gives his character dimension—Elysium works, though never as well as it should.
Hollywood Reporter
pressAll the interest and good will built up by the sharply conceived preliminaries is washed away in a succession of scenes that feel crushingly routine and generic, not to mentioned guided by ideological urges.
Empire Magazine
pressNot perfect, but a much more satisfying Earth-in-ruins film than Oblivion or After Earth. It is a little more conventional than District 9 (what isn’t?), but confirms Blomkamp as one of the potential science-fiction greats of this decade.
Flicks, Dominic Corry
flicksElysium doesn't quite build on the dazzling potential of District 9, but it doesn't fail the previous film either. Blomkamp has crafted another superior sci-fi action thriller that demands emotional investment – I felt every moment here, and I can't wait to do so again, over and over.
Variety
pressEven working within a more conventional framework, Blomkamp again proves to be a superb storyteller. He has a master’s sense of pacing, slowly immersing us into his future world rather than assailing us with nonstop action, and envisioning that world with an architect’s eye for the smallest details.
Total Film
pressThis perfectly alright actioner will entertain newcomers, while leaving Blomkamp fans in a holding pattern until his next project.
Time Out
pressHollywood loves these apocalypse-soon stories, however, because they function as blank canvases for ruin porn, and if nothing else, Neill Blomkamp’s Elysium gives us the realistically trashed tomorrow we suspect we deserve.
Time Out
pressA conceptually bold, sporadically engaging but ultimately bland blockbuster.
The New York Times
pressDamon's performance helps keep the movie from sinking under the weight of its artfully constructed horrors.
The Dissolve
pressFor all its simple politics, clanging dialogue, and underwritten roles—only Damon’s natural, and deepening, ability to suggest unspoken disappointment gives his character dimension—Elysium works, though never as well as it should.
Hollywood Reporter
pressAll the interest and good will built up by the sharply conceived preliminaries is washed away in a succession of scenes that feel crushingly routine and generic, not to mentioned guided by ideological urges.
Empire Magazine
pressNot perfect, but a much more satisfying Earth-in-ruins film than Oblivion or After Earth. It is a little more conventional than District 9 (what isn’t?), but confirms Blomkamp as one of the potential science-fiction greats of this decade.
Well Received
I liked Elysium, over and above the action, performances and the story-line (all important in any movie and well presentesd in this movie). Yes, there are faint D9 undertones but I think the setting was well suited . I also agree that blomkamps character was particularly well written and represented by the D9 actor. All-in-all an agreeable way to spend a...
Visually stunning
The undertones of District 9 are still very clear with the South African influence throughout which probably takes a bit to adjust to much like District 9. You tend not to get drawn in as much as the D9 and tend to ride shotgun the duration of the movie being next to the action but not in the thick of it! Damon does not have his usual appeal probably due...
Elysium
One of the most entertaining action movies of the year. Elysium is Neill Blomkamp's follow-up to District 9, a modern science-fiction classic. While it isn't as good as District 9, I still really enjoyed this. Matt Damon plays Max, Living on a overpopulated and ruined Earth. He is exposed to a large amount of radiation and has five days to get to Elysium,...
Predictable
A lot of action in this film, much drama as well. I can definitely see sprinkles of District 9 into this but it was still a great film that deserves to be watched on a silver screen. Just, in my opinion, it was rather predictable. I could see where the film was going and how it would end in the first ten minutes of the screening. Typical characters and...
Are there Prawns in orbit?
- Elysium - Wow, much like 'District 9' this is filmed similar, same actor, looks similar with same themes, and I loved it. If you liked Neill Blomkamps writing then you will fully enjoy this, even has some effects done with the help of WETA! Boom. I found it like 'Matrix' 'Johnny Mnemonic' 'iRobot' 'Halo (game)' and of course 'District 9'. How big is the...
District E
Yeah ok, the politics are obvious, the characters are more stereotypes than flesh n' blood, but if, like me you loved 'District 9', then Neill Blomkamp delivers another top notch dose of dystopian sci-fi. All the great stuff from 'D:9' is here - hardware that looks used. Beaten and battered weaponry, robots and an immersive, beautifully designed and...
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