ELYSIUM - archive from 22nd August 2013

Saw 'ELYSIUM' expecting great things from 'DISTRICT 9' helmer Neil Blumenkamp following his original inventive debut, but came away feeling a little shortchanged!

This is a good story, backed up by solid visuals of a mid-22nd century dystopian planet Earth and a utopian man made planet Elysium hovering just 19 minutes away above Earths atmosphere. Matt Damon is our reluctant hero needing to get from dystopia to utopia to save himself and his loved ones (and our planet below) with the help of some rebel forces. Only the badass commander of Elysium (Jodie Foster) who doesn't do camped up evil very well and her Earth based henchman (Sharlito Copley - brilliant and the show stealer . . . look out for the facial reconstruction) stand in Damon's way. 

I wanted more from this film - there are some creative moments, and it is grounded in a sense of reality, but it lacked depth and substance for me . . . 'OBLIVION' was better!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-