Elysium

In his directorial debut, Neill Blomkamp made the allegorical Sci-Fi film District 9. His newest work, Elysium, is also an allegorical Sci-Fi movie. It's certainly one of the best blockbusters without a bloated budget around.

In the far future, Earth is a mess. Meanwhile, the filthy rich get to live on the space station Elysium. Its technology can cure anything from cancer to broken bones. Their idle way of life is violently protected by the evil Secretary Delacourt (Jodie Foster) and her hired gun, Kruger (Sharlto Copley).

On Earth, ex-con turned factory worker Max Da Costa (Matt Damon) has an accident on the job. As a result, he'll die of radiation poisoning in five days. The only way to save him is to go to Elysium. With an old buddy, Spider (Wagner Moura), Max gets equipped with a robotic exoskeleton. In exchange, Max has to get sensitive information from Delacourt's cohort, Carlyle (William Fichtner). Their plan gets complicated once they discover that Delacourt's planning to take over Elysium.

It's not in 3D, though if you're lucky, you can see it in IMAX. Either way, you'll still see some visual splendor. It's especially so with the eponymous space station. Its Earth scenes, filmed in Mexico City, portray a sprawling Los Angeles. The shear size of both environments are wonderful collaborations of production design and cinematography.

Blomkamp's script mixes in social commentary that sometimes goes to dark comedy. It's a thrilling Sc-Fi movie that gives its audience a lot to think about. It also provides a formidable villain in Kruger, played wonderfully by Copley. Elysium works on so many levels, although its graphic violence may repulse some viewers.

Elysium is sure to provide some great late summer fun. In fact, it's sure to provide some great summer fun period. It was just that good.