Elysium

[mojorizen7]

Film geek friend saw it and reported back: "Somewhere, Blomkampt is still trying to direct more camera motion for this movie. Wish I had taken some Dramamine."

Lol. I know exactly what he's talking about. There were a few sequences where i felt like the camera speed was far to over-the-top. That seems par for the course in modern day film fight sequences.

Pretty much the polar opposite of what we saw in "They Live." back in the day

 

[Chaplin]

I liked D9 alot,it was a refreshing sci-fi/socially thematic story that also had tremendous special effects IMO.

Having said that,my expectations were quite high for Elysium.
I saw it on IMax last night. I liked it but i didn't love it. About halfway through i thought it got away from some of the more interesting themes and social commentary that the premise was based on...and cleverly turned into an action film. A very good action film,but i wanted more depth.

Damon and Foster were solid,and there were other supporting roles that were top notch...except for Alice Braga(who i remember from I Am Legend). She was the same character here...i mean exactly. Sharlto Copley,who annoyed so many in D9(as an annoying character....go figure), was virtually unrecognizable in this role(it took me awhile to work it out) ...but wow was he good.

Incredible visually and sonically. I'm sure the IMax experience helped,but very well done nonetheless. A couple plot holes i wont go into now but i'm not one who lets plot holes ruin a solid film for me anyway. Its splitting hairs most of the time.



3.5/5

My feelings on the movie are very close to this. Some questionable script decisions and a vague final breath for one character when they died--did they die as redemption or did they just simply not want to be saved by someone "beneath" them? Those that have seen the film will undoubtedly know to what I am referring.

The jumpy camera didn't bother me too much--I come to expect that kind of filmmaking in a Matt Damon film. He seems to be good at stage combat, but I wonder if there is something about his physicality that directors don't like and the shaky camera hides it.

Sharlto Copely stole the show, IMO. And it was definitely a rated R action movie--nice to see one of those every once in a while.

 

[PDXChris]

My feelings on the movie are very close to this. Some questionable script decisions and a vague final breath for one character when they died--did they die as redemption or did they just simply not want to be saved by someone "beneath" them? Those that have seen the film will undoubtedly know to what I am referring.

The jumpy camera didn't bother me too much--I come to expect that kind of filmmaking in a Matt Damon film. He seems to be good at stage combat, but I wonder if there is something about his physicality that directors don't like and the shaky camera hides it.

Sharlto Copely stole the show, IMO. And it was definitely a rated R action movie--nice to see one of those every once in a while.

Spoiler

I think the choice of death was because she was caught and wanted to take the easy way out instaed of banishment. She knew she cold not fix it at that point.

The bolded is why I enjoyed it so much.

As for anyone falling asleep during this, maybe they should not spend so much time at the Howler.

 

[Chaplin]

Spoiler

I think the choice of death was because she was caught and wanted to take the easy way out instaed of banishment. She knew she cold not fix it at that point.

Spoiler

That is certainly a possibility. I took it differently, however. She never once showed any fear of reprisals or anything--even at her end she stood toe-to-toe with a complete psychopath. She had no problem killing anyone beneath her, including children. And she was never developed as a coward, which is essentially what you're theory postulates. The problem is that it was too vague. And then, of course, she died pretty quickly. Get the bandage, shake your head, die. Very abrupt.

 

[Mulli]

More like Elame-ium!

 

[MadCardDisease]

Meh. Felt like a futuristic "District-9" Advertisement for Obama care.

 

[BigRedRage]

Meh. Felt like a futuristic "District-9" Advertisement for Obama care.

lol wtf

 

[Covert Rain]

Meh. Felt like a futuristic "District-9" Advertisement for Obama care.

Glad to see it's still around in the future.

 

[Shane]

Glad to see it's still around in the future.

We can only hope NOT!

 

[Superbone]

I liked D9 alot,it was a refreshing sci-fi/socially thematic story that also had tremendous special effects IMO.

Having said that,my expectations were quite high for Elysium.
I saw it on IMax last night. I liked it but i didn't love it. About halfway through i thought it got away from some of the more interesting themes and social commentary that the premise was based on...and cleverly turned into an action film. A very good action film,but i wanted more depth.

Exactly my thoughts (on both films).

 

[crisper57]

Bad guy:

Spoiler

Okay, Jodie Foster, I will work for you. What? I've disavowed like I'm Ethan Hunt? Bummer. Wait, you need me again? Sweet! Wait, let me kill you and try to take over the space station for no apparent reason.

Also, I have random soldiers who call me "boss", even though I have no official rank or standing with the government. And they commit any atrocity I order them to do. Awesome.

Wait, Matt Damon, what are you doing with that grenade that I tried to kill you with?

Matt Damon:

Spoiler

I've spent the whole movie trying to live, including undergoing some really interesting surgical choices. But when I have the chance to live or stick it to the man, I decide I can die in peace.

 

[Bert]

Glad to see others didn't like it. I was afraid I'm just getting grumpy because I didn't like this one either. The whole thing was meh....

 

[Stout]

Wow, did a lot of you miss the point. This was an incredibly deep, well-made movie with many layers of subtext. It didn't turn into a 'sneaky action' movie in the second half--it transformed. I wouldn't expect a lot of people to understand it, but Chap, I figured you'd be able to get what was happening. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

As for the person saying he could have 'stuck it to the man' in the end? Boy, did you REALLY miss what was going on there!

 

[Shane]

Wow, did a lot of you miss the point. This was an incredibly deep, well-made movie with many layers of subtext. It didn't turn into a 'sneaky action' movie in the second half--it transformed. I wouldn't expect a lot of people to understand it, but Chap, I figured you'd be able to get what was happening. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

As for the person saying he could have 'stuck it to the man' in the end? Boy, did you REALLY miss what was going on there!

 

[Stout]

Wow, what an intelligent observation Go back to your Michael Bay explosions and let the big boys talk.

 

[Mulli]

 

[PDXChris]

Wow, did a lot of you miss the point. This was an incredibly deep, well-made movie with many layers of subtext. It didn't turn into a 'sneaky action' movie in the second half--it transformed. I wouldn't expect a lot of people to understand it, but Chap, I figured you'd be able to get what was happening. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

As for the person saying he could have 'stuck it to the man' in the end? Boy, did you REALLY miss what was going on there!

We don't agree much on movies, but this is spot on IMHO.

 

[AzStevenCal]

If I get around to watching this you can bet I'll keep my mouth shut about it. I don't want to be one of those poor souls that were too stupid to understand how brilliant this movie was.

Steve

 

[Mulli]

If I get around to watching this you can bet I'll keep my mouth shut about it. I don't want to be one of those poor souls that were too stupid to understand how brilliant this movie was.

Steve

Me too.

 

[crisper57]

Wow, did a lot of you miss the point. This was an incredibly deep, well-made movie with many layers of subtext. It didn't turn into a 'sneaky action' movie in the second half--it transformed. I wouldn't expect a lot of people to understand it, but Chap, I figured you'd be able to get what was happening. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

As for the person saying he could have 'stuck it to the man' in the end? Boy, did you REALLY miss what was going on there!

All I missed was the fact that the citizens of Elysium could have provided medical attention to their fellow man all along. They could have send robot doctors down to help. They had no limitations to delivering care, as the ending showed us, they simply chose not to help. It wasn't about a strain on resources. It wasn't about a conscious effort to address the overpopulation issue. It was just spiteful. There were no layers, just sloppy storytelling.

So yeah, he stuck it to the man in the end. Sure, he got to redeem himself and ascend to Christ-like status, but based on how he responded to authority throughout the whole movie, I see that he was motivated more by giving the middle finger than redeeming himself.

It wasn't a nuanced tale about universal health care, overpopulation, human rights, or immigration. It was the movie equivalent of slapping a bunch of bumper stickers on the back of a car and believing that was the same as sophisticated political discourse.

 

[Superbone]

Stout has insight for the ages. Wow! What a brilliant mind. We all bow down to you.

 

[Mulli]

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[Shane]

Wow, what an intelligent observation Go back to your Michael Bay explosions and let the big boys talk.

Ok screw it.

You are such an arrogant pompous ass when it comes to movies it's not even funny. You think you are so much better than everyone else including guys like chap and that's hard to do! You act as though because you've had some 50 dollar bit parts In a few commercials that you are the end all be all when it comes to movies and knowing what's going on, what was intended, knowing the exact message some writer you've never met or even talked to was trying to portray etc.. going on etc....

I'm surprised with how far that stick is shoved that you can enjoy any movie when you watch one. It really baffles me actually. Gauging the other responses I'm quite clearly sure I'm not the only one that feels this way. Sorry mods but it had to be said!

 

[Mulli]

Ok screw it.

You must be registered for see images

!

 

[Chaplin]

Wow, did a lot of you miss the point. This was an incredibly deep, well-made movie with many layers of subtext. It didn't turn into a 'sneaky action' movie in the second half--it transformed. I wouldn't expect a lot of people to understand it, but Chap, I figured you'd be able to get what was happening. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

As for the person saying he could have 'stuck it to the man' in the end? Boy, did you REALLY miss what was going on there!

Like District 9, this movie was dripping with social criticism--whether people want to complain that it glorifies socialism as the ideal vs. a very strict class separation is another debate. What District 9 did with racism is what Elysium did with the Upper/Lower class debate.

The thing that I think could have made it even more powerful is if you gave the upper class people more humanity--made them more sympathetic. I think it would be interesting to know that, yes, they were rich beyond imagination, but they at least worked for it, and while they are a bit selfish, I think it would have been far more interesting if they had even a passing sympathy for the lower classes on the planet. As it stood, though, the rich were portrayed as almost Nazi-like in their prejudices towards the poor.