Elysium
As soon as I first finished watching District 9, I began anxiously awaiting Neill Blomkamp’s next film. His debut is certainly one of the best sci-fi films of all time, and it’s probably one of the best movies of the 2000s so far. Finding out that not only does Blomkamp have another movie coming, but he has triple the budget and actors like Matt Damon and Jodie Foster signed on, well that pushed my enthusiasm toward hysteria for Elysium.
Granted, more money certainly does not equal a better film, but for a skilled director like Blomkamp who’s working with science fiction, it’s fairly safe to say that having more money for better effects and a more completely crafted world won’t hurt a movie. Plus, we really haven’t had an opportunity to see Matt Damon in quality live-action sci-fi. He’s still one of the premier actors working today, and getting to see him infiltrate a space station should be a true treat.
The movie, as was true with District 9, makes no efforts to hide its political message. It’s a story of the 99% vs the 1%, but in Blomkamp’s hands, rather than feeling grating, the message simply adds to the film, showing that sci-fi can still have substance as well. I’ve dubbed Elysium the sci-fi event of the year, and if it is as good as many are hoping, it may be the sci-fi event of every year from now until 2154.
