bleeding heart Posted November 16, 2013 Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 (edited) (Slight spoiler alerts) A sort of "Occupy meets 70s-era Science Fiction." It's about the 99%, and it's about immigration...with a dollop of health care concerns and labour oppression to drive the plot. In case the lefty credentials weren't clear enough, the use of Mercenaries is also a huge problem...ultimately even for the one-percenters. But really it's just a very accomplished action film, with Matt Damon playing his patented Reluctant Hero. Some kick-ass weapons, some very cool, somewhat oldschool robots, and lots of violence. And like most action films, it plays to notions of justice. Max is an ex-con living on Earth, which has been devastated by environmental catastrophe and disease. The entire planet is essentially Haiti. But the very rich live on an orbital space station called Elysium, a beautiful place in which basically all health problems can be cured by ubiquitous machines. Max gets very hurt at work--directly as a result of unreasonable working conditions. So what's a poor shmoe to do? Well, find a way to Elysium to get illegally cured. Revolution is not really on his mind... initially. Meanwhile, there is also a plotted coup on Elysium by Jodie Foster's Delacourt, the Security Chief who is less disturbed by murdering poor people than is the beleaguered President of Elysium. A leader must do what a leader must do, as we all know too well. The writer-director Neil Blomkamp already made a splash with another dsytopian science-fiction film, the excellent District 9. And while I liked the former movie better, this one still rocks pretty good. Oh, and the weapons and the robots! Awesome. Definitely worth a watch. Edited November 16, 2013 by bleeding heart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybercoma Posted November 16, 2013 Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 bleeding heart, I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but this is a message board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 16, 2013 Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 And I got the message. As a science fiction fan, I'll take a look. Bleeding heart, have you ever read The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman? It's slated to be turned into a movie by Ridley Scott anytime soon. I for one can't wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimmy Posted November 16, 2013 Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 When this came out that the American Right was up in arms because they thought it was an unfair portrayal of the wealthy. I will probably have a look. I believe the American Right also saw socialist overtones in "Wreck-It Ralph". -k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleeding heart Posted November 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 bleeding heart, I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but this is a message board. I forgot. Movie reviews don't belong here...except when they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleeding heart Posted November 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 And I got the message. As a science fiction fan, I'll take a look. Bleeding heart, have you ever read The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman? It's slated to be turned into a movie by Ridley Scott anytime soon. I for one can't wait. I've not read it, but Ridley Scott has a good track record, so I'd check it out for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleeding heart Posted November 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 (edited) When this came out that the American Right was up in arms because they thought it was an unfair portrayal of the wealthy. I will probably have a look. I believe the American Right also saw socialist overtones in "Wreck-It Ralph". -k "The wealthy" barely exist in the movie, except as glimpses of beautiful, educated people sipping wine and speaking French. (Perhaps THAT was the insult??? ) We really only get to know the leadership of Elysium, not its wealthy inhabitants generally. They are barely characters, aside from the President, and Jodie Foster's scene-chewing, elitist bitch. Now, if right-wing folks imagine that the portrayal of the leadership, whose violent policies intentionally ensure the horrific disparities, is a pointed political attack....I think it certainly is. But why they'd take it personally, when almost all of them too would be eking out a bare existence on shattered Earth, is beyond me. Edited November 16, 2013 by bleeding heart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-1=e^ipi Posted November 16, 2013 Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 What is this thread discussing exactly? Are we discussing the morals of the movie? I enjoyed the movie. I also enjoyed district 9. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 16, 2013 Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 (edited) We're discussing science fiction films. I'll see the one in the OP based on the OP. I also particularly enjoyed the following, and any recommendations for others would be appreciated. Blade Runner Alien(s) Terminator 1 and 2 Minority Report Also, while we're at it, which books would you like to see filmed. I've already mentioned The Forever War. Edited November 17, 2013 by bcsapper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-1=e^ipi Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 Well I did enjoy the fact that the actions of all/most the characters in elysium were justified from there perspectives, which is unusual in a movie. Often movies have characters that perform actions that are irrational and make no sense. Such as in horror movies where the protagonists will always split up rather than stick together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleeding heart Posted November 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 What is this thread discussing exactly? Are we discussing the morals of the movie? I'm afraid I don't quite understand the question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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