Movie Review: Elysium

Why, do you think people watch science fiction movies and read science fiction books, even when we know it's not real? There might be many answers to this question. Perhaps, it is because the worlds we create in science fiction, represent our dreams, fears, and our deepest longings, made possible by mankind's creative imagination. Furthermore, I believe good science fiction explores the hard questions about our existence in this world, and reflecting the lessons we learn from our human conditions, allowing us a glimpse into the future.

Directed by Neil Blomkamp (director of District 9), and starring Matt Damon. Elysium is an ambitious science fiction movie attempting to be a social commentary, by combining with dazzling special effects and heart pumping actions. Sounds like a promising film, but is Elysium a good movie? Or is it an over hyped disappointment? Let's find out



Synopsis:

In 2154, the earth is badly polluted and over populated. The disparity between the rich and the poor is great. The wealthy people left earth, and live on a giant space station called Elysium. Together with advanced technology, people living on Elysium experience no sickness, no war, breath clean air, and eat good food. Life is great on Elysium, but only accessible to the wealthy. The poor people remain on earth and are denied access and benefits on Elysium, such as medical treatments, while the governing body on Elysium employed strict rules against illegal immigrants from the earth.

Max (Matt Damon) is an ex-convict living in the ruined city of Los Angeles. He works for a factory which is owned by the corporattion that build Elysium, Armadyne Corporation. One day, Max had an accident at work, where he was exposed to lethal levels of radiation. After the accident, Max was told he will die from radiation poisoning in 5 days. Max's only hope of cure, is the medical equipment on Elysium. In order to go to Elysium, Max agreed to help a smuggler to infiltrate Elysium. However, a twist of fate will turn Max's mission into a series of events which will forever alter the course of human history..

What I think about this movie:

First of all, Elysium is a technical success. The dazzling special effects and breath stopping action sequences present this movie as a visual marvel on the silver screen. The visual style bears resemblance to District 9. My only minor dislike about the visuals, is the occasional shaky camera scenes. While some might appreciate this style of camera filming, but I found at times, the shaky camera sequences made my eyes uncomfortable.

Alongside the brilliant visuals, is a thought provoking story. Elysium, like District 9, can both be regarded as social commentaries set in the realm of science fiction. In Elysium, the story explores several growing problems in our world such as; asylum seekers, the increasing disparity between the rich and the poor, and the problem pollution and over population.

I found the story of Elysium to be thought provoking, this story implores the audience to think about real problems in the world. For example, the gap between the wealthy continues to increase year after year. Driven further by phenomenons such as rising house prices, high unemployment rate, globalization and the off-shoring of jobs to countries with cheap labor, the rising income gap, and a gradually slowing global economy. This movie also raises questions about issues such as asylum seekers and illegal immigrants, in Australia it is the issue with boat people, in the US is the illegal immigration from Mexico. Across the world, people from poor countries have been exploited as cheap labors by large, international corporations. These are real problems, and they are growing right now, impacting you and I as we speak.

I wonder if Elysium, is an attempt to extrapolate the current trend, and projecting into the future to build the worst case scenario, enacted in a science fiction movie? If so, then Hollywood's vision of our future looks pretty dim and depressing. I guess the question is, what can we do about these problems facing our world today?

If you don't mind a bit of spoiler, at the end of Elysium, the protagonist sacrificed himself to bring freedom and equality to both the rich and the poor, making everyone citizens of Elysium. The ending of this story reminds me of another man from 2000 years ago, a man named Jesus, whose self sacrifice ensured all of his followers will all be citizens in the kingdom of heaven, regardless of differences such as economic and social status, race, cultural background, and gender. Perhaps it is no mere coincidence that a popular sci-fi movie upholds values similar to the ones in Christianity. If science fiction is an imaginative expression of our dreams, human conditions, fears and deepest longings, then does this mean somehow, deep down inside, we all sensed that we are better off following Jesus and his teachings about life?

My personal reflection:

In today's church culture, where churches have developed unhealthy obsessions with homosexuality, sex and gender roles, I wonder if Christians have overlooked issues relating to social justice, freedom, human trafficking, growing gap between the rich and the poor, asylum seekers, unemployment and pollution?

I wonder, if people are less likely to find Jesus from Christian sermons on what you believe about homosexuality and gender roles. Instead, perhaps people are more likely find Jesus from witnessing the contributions to the society you made, the people whose life you touched, and the help you gave to the people who are in need?