Neill Blomkamp's Elysium (Post-release)

If Neil Blomkamp keeps up what he's doing, I could see him being the next big name in Science Fiction films. Who knows, maybe he'll be the next James Cameron and Sharlto Copley will be his Michael Beihn.
 
Saw it last night. Very disappointing.

The problem wasn't design, effects or acting but story, pacing and it was very predictable. For me it wasn't anywhere close to D9 (that I loved!)

It's been said that D9 stayed under the studio's radar with its low budget giving the filmaker(s) the ability to make the film they wanted. Elysium felt like it was made by committee with a bunch of cool ideas that didn't come together in the end.

Even if you take away the obvious heavy handed political statement it fails to make (pro-socialism and anti rich people) its still fails as a sci-fi movie.

I can see how the standard sci-fi fanboy will like it's design, effects and violence but it's nowhere near the brilliance of D9.

This review made me laugh, but it's spot on IMHO...

Review: After Watching Matt Damon?s ?Elysium,? You?ll Want to Register as a Republican
 
Sharlto Copley is giving away his hero sword used during the filming of Elysium. This contest is open to American residents only. More giveaways for fans in other countries is in the pipeline.

From Sharlto Copley's Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...set=a.457028117368.250681.108950282368&type=1

"WANT TO WIN KRUGER'S SWORD? Hi guys - i've decided to give away my beloved sword to one lucky facebook fan. Yup, it's the one and only actual "hero sword" I used in the film. We had other stunt ones, but this was the only "hero" one that I had to be careful not to damage during filming. It's made of aircraft grade aluminum. I'm sorry but due to legal issues, we are only able to offer this contest to American residents. Will have to find some more stuff to give away for other countries later. "

http://www.facebook.com/pages/SHARLTO-COPLEY/108950282368?id=108950282368&sk=app_473038836144434
 
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darthwhitey said:
Saw it last night. Very disappointing.

The problem wasn't design, effects or acting but story, pacing and it was very predictable. For me it wasn't anywhere close to D9 (that I loved!)

It's been said that D9 stayed under the studio's radar with its low budget giving the filmaker(s) the ability to make the film they wanted. Elysium felt like it was made by committee with a bunch of cool ideas that didn't come together in the end.

Even if you take away the obvious heavy handed political statement it fails to make (pro-socialism and anti rich people) its still fails as a sci-fi movie.

I can see how the standard sci-fi fanboy will like it's design, effects and violence but it's nowhere near the brilliance of D9.

]
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Agree 100%. Some nice gadgets and effects and good action but the politics are as subtle as a nuke (if Blomkamp really believes there is no political message here, he needs to see a shrink because he does not know whats going on inside his own brain) and the plot holes are just too big to forgive. I am an independent and the last person to inject partisan politics into everything but you can't see this movie and not see it. Jodie Foster plays a cartoonish, douchey, female version of how progressives view Dick Cheney--happily killing people in the name of security. Her lines are just awful.

For me it's like a left-wing answer to the anti-Socialist/Occupy Movement TDKR. It's still worth seeing for the visuals but pretty disappointing follow up to the great District 9.

Vivek said:
... “Elysium doesn’t have a message either,” Blomkamp says with a laugh.. The director finds it unfortunate that observers are already drawing parallels between Elysium and the Occupy movement, a phenomenon that he says wasn’t even a consideration. Blomkamp identifies as neither liberal nor conservative, which doesn’t stop people from ascribing all sorts of agendas to him and his films. The focus group comments for an Elysium test screening bear this out: “Some people said, ‘This guy’s a racist!’ and other people, ‘He’s a liberal!’ It’s like, well, which is it?”[/i]
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I also don't understand Blomkamp's line in the interview above. You certainly can be racist and liberal.

Between his being a Michael Bay fan and reportedly preferring Ninja and Eminem as leads for Elysium, I am beginning to think D9 was a fluke.
 
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We saw Elysium on 8/10/2013.

Overall I was pleasantly surprised. The story was a little predictable - a few twists of fate - and there was some clear social statements in the presentation - But I got want I wanted from the film.

I liked the action, loved the sets, the visuals were stunning, the story was intelligent if predictable. I can excuse some plot holes - because the movie kept me interested until the end. But I am easy to please. Elysium was a good offering next to the other releases this summer and should be commended for the effort.

I thought it was better than District 9. And i loved District 9.

Loved the props - the art - set design - the whole feel to the film.

I give the film 8.5/10 - vs Avengers 10/10. AND it should be seen on the big screen!
 
I'm leery of going to this director's movies as they seem pretty preachy with his social statements, at least District 9 seemed pretty blatant as a social commentary showing where he stands on things. I love the designs of things though, i really love the robot police. I also question his casting ideas for wanting a bunch of nobody rappers with no acting skills for the lead roll. And liking michael bay is a red flag too.
 
Wes R said:
I'm leery of going to this director's movies as they seem pretty preachy with his social statements, at least District 9 seemed pretty blatant as a social commentary showing where he stands on things. I love the designs of things though, i really love the robot police. I also question his casting ideas for wanting a bunch of nobody rappers with no acting skills for the lead roll. And liking michael bay is a red flag too.
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He's young with more talent then sense.
 
MFP 2020 said:
So Elysium isn't political? :facepalm

As far as wanting to cast


Remember when Will Smith was a nobody rapper?
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Yeah but he had the luxury of starting on tv, this guy would have thrown them into a big budget movie. Thought to be fair it could have been worse and he could cast Smith's son lol. I agree there is no way you can't call Elysium not political or at least a social commentary but at least you know going in that he has an agenda on top of entertaining. I'd love to have a 1:1 of the robots though.
 
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I went to see this yesterday and would put it solidly in the "Wait for redbox or netflix" category. Visually it was pretty good but it just seemed overly preachy and the plot really isn't anything you haven't seen done before. It bothers me that this basically boiled down to "We ruined the earth and rich people made a nice place for them to go. Poor people don't like that so it's ok to take it from them by any means necessary."

They should do an Elysium 2 set a few hundred years after the first where the first space sanctuary was ruined by having everyone who wanted to go there and they had to build a bigger better version for the rich people to go to. Rinse wash repeat.
 
crabra comander said:
Yes, understood, but nobody needs to get on their pulpit for a "Movie" review
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So it's OK for a director to get on his pulpit to make a "Movie," but not OK for a writer at a faith-based website to (pardon the pun) get on her pulpit to review the movie for her readers? Many reviewers (and viewers) see/review movies through the filter of their own political or religious beliefs. Look at The Conjuring, for example. Slate bashed it for being "right wing" and misogynistic. And here I thought it was just a scary movie about something that (might have) happened.

As far as "needs to," well, since when is it a question of need?
 
MFP 2020 said:
As far as "needs to," well, since when is it a question of need?
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When I want a review about a movie and not my day to day politics. If the movie has political undertones, so be it. Don't keep waving it in my face like I need to know it. BTW, do you like this movie? Then you must be XYZ...

Edit: Completely unaware of the website she does reviews for. Guess I know not to get reviews from certain sites.
 
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After watching the movie, I suddenly remembered the first viral video that came out about it before anyone knew what the movie was.
Now that I've seen it, I have NO IDEA what this viral video was about. It had absolutely nothing to do with the film.
Anyone know?

 
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Flagg said:
"We ruined the earth and rich people made a nice place for them to go. Poor people don't like that so it's ok to take it from them by any means necessary."
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Isn't that what the poor do? Entitlement,welfare,food stamps, hand-outs,bail-outs, spread the wealth mentality, leaching off of tax payers....
 
I have no issue with the "message" that the movie had. I was disappointed that the film felt very by-the-books generic. It was pretty straightforward, and it was easy to predict what would happen at the end. However, it was very well shot (considering the entire thing seemed to be shaky-cam), Kruger was awesome, and I want a replica of the chemrail gun and possibly the rifle (Blomkamp sure knows how to make his sci-fi guns awesome).
 
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