In “Elysium 2013”, society is divided between the privileged few living on a luxurious space station and the impoverished masses struggling on a ruined Earth.
Matt Damon stars as a former criminal who must overcome a fatal illness and battle the oppressive government in order to reach the elite world of Elysium.
With action-packed fight scenes, futuristic technology, and commentary on social inequality, “Elysium 2013” is a riveting sci-fi thriller that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
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Review
“Elysium”: A Journey to Both Heaven and Hell
There are few things in the film industry more exciting than a movie that redefines what we know about sci-fi and action films. One such movie is the 2013 release “Elysium.” Directed by Neill Blomkamp, the movie tells the story of an overpopulated, ruined Earth that can only look up to a luxurious space station where the wealthy live called Elysium.
However, this isn’t just your average sci-fi film with battleship fights and alien invasions. It is much deeper than that. The storyline is based on class warfare, social inequality, and amidst it all, hope for change. The movie stars Matt Damon as Max Da Costa and Jodie Foster as Secretary Delacourt.
The Plot
In the year 2154, Earth has become a wasteland. The air is toxic, water is scarce, and there’s no hope for any improvement. Meanwhile, Elysium is a perfect world for those who can afford it. It has fresh air, clean water, advanced medical care machines that can cure cancer in seconds – everything you could ever imagine.
Max Da Costa (Matt Damon), who works in one of the factories creating robots for Elysium’s citizens, dreams of going to Elysium to get cancer treatment so he can survive. But unfortunately, he couldn’t afford it.
However his fate takes a turn when he gets exposed to a lethal dose of radiation from an accident at work with only five days left to live.
Knowing that he can’t survive on Earth and not earn enough money to go to Elysium legally; Max teams up with Spider (Wagner Moura), an underground revolutionary who promises Max passage to Elysium if he agrees to carry out a dangerous mission that ends up changing everything.
The Casts
The casting of “Elysium” was spot-on. Matt Damon plays Max Da Costa, a man who wants a better life for himself and his community. He’s been in a lot of action movies before, but this one is different. Damon shows another part of himself – his compassion for the people around him and his willingness to fight against injustice.
Jodie Foster plays Secretary Delacourt, who is tasked with protecting Elysium. She is stern, ruthless, and willing to do whatever it takes to maintain the status quo; even if that means killing those on Earth who are trying to reach Elysium.
Wagner Moura portrays Spider, the leader of an underground revolutionary group. He’s intelligent, crafty, and knows how to play the game. Moura gives a strong performance that makes you believe in his character and what he stands for.
The Acting
The acting in “Elysium” is spotless from start to finish. Matt Damon shines as Max Da Costa, delivering a genuine performance that captures both the physicality required for the role and emotional depth beneath it all. From start to finish, it’s clear that Damon understands Max’s struggles intimately.
Jodie Foster playing Secretary Delacourt was also undoubtedly great casting; she brings an intensity and strength to her role that demands respect while still leaves us with questions about her true intentions.
Wagner Moura as Spider is also top-notch casting. He brings intelligence and cunningness to his character making every scene he has engaging.
The Filming
Blomkamp’s choice of filming methods is one of the things that set “Elysium” apart from other science fiction films. His use of shaky cams in intense moments brings an extra level of realism – putting us right in Max’s shoes as he fights against impossible odds.
Additionally, there are scenes where Blomkamp uses long takes which are excellent at setting up tense scenes such as when Max tries to infiltrate Elysium. It makes you feel like you’re a part of the action.
The Soundtrack
The soundtrack for “Elysium” brilliantly underscores all of the film’s intense moments. It is composed by Ryan Amon and features electronic-inspired sounds with hints of orchestral music. The score fits the movie’s futuristic tone perfectly.
As mentioned earlier, there are scenes in “Elysium” that are breathtaking, and the soundtrack only enhances them further. The combination of excellent camerawork, acting, and music is all working together to create a truly immersive experience.
Opinion and Evaluation
When “Elysium” was released back in 2013, it received mixed reviews from critics who divided over the political themes presented in the movie. Some saw it as overly preachy about social inequality issues while others praised Blomkamp’s efforts to bring more depth to an action sci-fi genre.
However, when we talk about pure entertainment value, “Elysium” is a solid package that offers engaging storytelling, wonderful performances, stunning visuals, and an outstanding score – all coming together for two hours of pure adrenaline-pumping action.
In Summary
In conclusion, “Elysium” is a must-see movie for science fiction fans or anyone just looking for an entertaining ride! It has an excellent cast and crew that delivered great performances across the board. The storyline delivers important messages about social inequality wrapped up in explosive actions that will keep you on your toes.
Blomkamp’s ability to balance story themes with breath-taking action-packed sequences makes this one unique amongst its peers. Additionally with an outstanding score from Ryan Amon, it ticks all the boxes of what one would expect from a great sci-fi movie.
“Elysium” might be set more than 100 years into our future but remains relevant today with its underlying messages about socio-economic class divide still persisting in society – making it a movie that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 109
- Release : 2013-08-07
- Genre : Science Fiction, Action, Drama, Thriller
- Cast : Matt Damon as Max, Jodie Foster as Delacourt, Sharlto Copley as Kruger, Diego Luna as Julio, Wagner Moura as Spider
- Crew : Francine Maisler as Casting, Philip Ivey as Production Design, Lee Smith as Editor, April Ferry as Costume Design, Craig Berkey as Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Popularity 27.942
- Budget : $115,000,000
- Revenue : $286,140,700
- Company : Genre Films, TriStar Pictures, MRC
- Summary : In the year 2159, two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Rhodes, a hard line government official, will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium. That doesn’t stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max 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 polarized worlds.
- Tagline : He can save us all.
