More Action, Less Social Commentary

Everybody knows Neill Blomkamp's movies are loaded with social commentary. That may have worked for 'District 9' but with 'Elysium' the idea hasn't added much. I'd say it's drained some of the energy from the campaign.

Here, though, we finally get a trailer for the masses. Looking for pure action? This sells 'Elysium' as just that.

Thing is, buzz is flat and I'm thinking it's a bit too late. This should have been the first trailer. They should have sold the movie up front as a popcorn action flick then let on just how much of a 99%-us-vs.-them vibe it has later on, once prospective audiences were locked in.

But, better late than never. This is the best 'Elysium' trailer so far.

Again, Not Quite What You Expect

I like Neill Blomkamp's approach. He finds a fresh way of shooting and editing stuff. Like the shootout clip we got a couple days ago. Just when you're sure you know what's going to happen next, Blomkamp finds a way to get it done just a little different, and it comes as a refreshing surprise.

Same here. We've seen this sequence in trailers but not all the footage. What we didn't see is where the missiles come from. Fresh. Unexpected.




















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Just A Cut Above

I see that it's a clip from 'Elysium' and I'm not exactly enthused. Footage from the flick has played just a tad flat and I wasn't looking forward to a stock combat clip. So, wearily, I click play and watch. Sure enough, the music is just this side of overbearing, the editing almost what you'd call action-mode-jammed, and dialogue and action are fairly normal.

But then, we get an interesting twist. Camera becomes just fresh enough to grab attention and what happens next is cool enough to raise eyebrows.

All in all, nicely turned. If Neill Blomkamp shot the whole thing this well it should be a lot of fun.



















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New Trailer for 'Elysium' aka 'District 10'

The Neill Blomkamp stamp is apparent. In fact, 'Elysium' is almost a sequel to 'District 9'. You could just as easily call it 'District 10'.

A few parallels:

1) 'District 9' had poor and oppressed people (well, aliens) and is about class separation -- 'Elysium' has poor and oppressed people and is about class separation.

2) 'District 9' had a large spaceship that hovers above a city that nobody can get into -- 'Elysium' has a large spaceship that hovers above the Earth that very few can get into.

3) In 'District 9' the good guy is a smart mouth and kind of dumb, but likeable -- In 'Elysium' the good guy is a smarty pants and sort of stupid, but charming.

4) 'District 9' had a protagonist who was accidentally infected with an alien technology (in other words, he got a medical condition) and given a short time before he turned into a monster -- 'Elysium' has a protagonist who is accidentally irradiated (in other words, he gets a medical condition) and has a short time before he dies.

5) In 'District 9' the protag sets out on a quest to save the aliens as he slowly changes into a strange creature -- In 'Elysium' the protag sets out to save a couple people and/or everyone else after being changed into a strange creature.

6) 'District 9' had robots -- 'Elysium' has robots.

7) 'District 9' had dusty (yet sunny) slums -- 'Elysium' has dusty (yet sunny) slums.

8) 'District 9' had kind of a twisty ending. 'Elysium' has kind of a twisty ending. (Okay, I don't know that, but you can bet it will. I mean, this trailer sets up a twisty ending. Anybody can see that coming).

Here's the new trailer for 'District 10'...I mean 'Elysium'. It's the trailer for 'Elysium'. Really.

























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Are You Good Enough For 'Elysium'?

Hokey but gets the point across. I took the test, answering unfair questions best I could...

However, the result wasn't kind. I'll have to break into the place if I want the sweet life, then they can make a movie about me. That rocks.

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Trailer for 'Elysium'

Might seem like a dumb thing to say but, yes, parts of this look very much like 'District 9'.  Neill Blomkamp's no-nonsense style -- with very natural and smooth VFX shot in broad daylight -- and the trashy slum setting give this a 'District 10' vibe.

Otherwise, there's a confidence -- both in the visuals and handling of actors -- that (for reasons hard to pin down in an objective way) is missing in other director's work but obvious, even in a short trailer, in Blomkamp's.

Matt Damon, as one could well expect, carries himself with ease but this, really, looks like Jodie Foster's movie. What presence she has.

This should have story. As for 'popcorn sizzle', maybe not so much. Should skew to older audiences very nicely. It may not top out at the box office but the Blu-ray should make a valuable addition to your collection.























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'Elysium' Poster

Via chzkes

Just got to know what that rig is and how/why it's plugged into Matt Damon's head.

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Soldiers in Mech-Suits

First it was Tom Cruise in some kind of mech-suit in a still from 'All You Need Is Kill'. Cruise plays a character named Lt. Col. Bill Cage, so he's a guy named Cage in a cage. (I know, I'm funny).

He just looks ridiculous here. Maybe it's a bad shot.

The trend continues with this shot of Matt Damon in 'Elysium' wearing a similar suit, though this one seems to be hardwired to the back of his skull and would appear to be manufactured by Kawasaki. Interesting.

Gotta say, Matt pulls this look off much better. That looks real. Wouldn't want to use one, but looks more organic than Tom's get-up, like it might work, might be usable for something.

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Mech-Matt Damon from Neill Blomkamp's 'Elysium'

Usually, early stills don't say much and don't sell the movie well but here's an exception. Looks great.

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Armadyne -- The Viral Video Division of 'Elysium'

Rollout begins for Neill Blomkamp's sci-fi movie 'Elysium' starring Jodie Foster and Matt Damon.

Apply Now!

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