Movie Review: Elysium

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08 August 2020
Film Review 1: Elysium
Elysium, an action science-fiction movie released in 2013, is the second feature from writer, director, and producer Neill Blomkamp. It stars Max Da Costa (Matt Damon), who is the protagonist and Jessica Delacourt (Jodie Foster), who is the main antagonist. This motion picture is set in 2154, a period dominated by social class divisions where technological inventions profit the few elite members of the society while masses suffer. The wealthy of this future society create a deluxe human-made space station called Elysium, where they live. Conversely, the poor remain on neo-liberal dystopian Earth, which is overpopulated and characterized by diseases, poverty, and crime. These inequalities cause class conflicts. A few wealthy individuals at Elysium push for the enforcement of anti-immigration laws to ensure the citizens of Elysium maintain their affluent lifestyles. However, Max, an inhabitant of Earth, is exposed to radiation when working at Armadyne. He grows desperate to get to Elysium to heal radiation poisoning. In this process, the film portrays Max as an individual determined to bring equality in these two worlds.
Blomkamp's writing and production of Elysium are impeccable. Elysium's writing, like most science fiction films, predicts a utopia/dystopia socio-political future. It focuses on various themes common in a utopian or dystopian future society, including social inequalities, class divisions, neglect, end of capitalism, and the potentials of technology. In his feature, Neill Blomkamp demonstrates that technology is neither evil nor neutral. While it has the potential to improve lives, some (like those in Elysium) can use it to harm others. The movie opens the viewer's eyes to today's social issues. Blomkamp reminds one that problems such as poverty and access to healthcare are political and need essential solutions. Its production is impeccable. Peter Lando, the set designer of Elysium, uses several techniques to regulate the illumination of the movie. The viewer can tell how the use of both natural and stage lighting helped set dystopian and utopian future. The action sequences throughout the movie are also spectacular and keep the viewer hooked to the screen. Overall, the film is both educative and enjoyable.
Film Review 2: Mao's Last Dancer
Mao's Last Dancer is an inspiring biographical movie released in 2009 and an adaptation of Li Cunxin's biography with the same name. It stars Lin Cunxin (Chi Cao), Niang (Joan Chen), Ben Steven (Bruce Greenwood), among oth...