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Sony Unveils 10 Mins of Awesome Footage for Blomkamp's 'Elysium'
by Alex Billington
April 8, 2013
The moment we've all been waiting for. With the 2013 summer movie season less than a month away from kicking off, it's about time the studios start marketing their big movies. One of them we've been watching for years is the second feature from Neill Blomkamp (of District 9) called Elysium. At Comic-Con in 2012, Sony unveiled a few vehicles and 12 minutes of footage inside of Hall H that kicked our ass (video blog here), but now they repackaged and debuted the trailer and 10 minutes of finished footage today. The promo event was simultaneously hosted for fans as well as press in four cities across the world, kick starting the kind of exciting buzz this movie deserves. Blomkamp is single-handedly pushing the sci-fi genre each movie.
Elysium is set a hundred years in the future, in a world where Earth has become overcrowded and dirty, all the inhabitants are unkempt. The wealthy reside in beautiful utopia inside an enormous circular 2001-like space station called Elysium orbiting around Earth. Matt Damon stars as a blue collar worker in a robot manufacturing plant for Armadyne, the devious corporation behind all of the corruption. The plot involves figuring out how to somehow get to Elysium. William Fichtner plays an Elysium exec who has valuable data he's after, while Sharlto Copley plays Elysium's sole security man - and damn does he look badass.
What defines this movie and makes the footage so awesome is the world Blomkamp has built. Instead of aliens (like in District 9), we get a world where robots are the superior species. There are robot police, robot escorts, mechs of all kinds, but they don't feel like CGI. They seem as real and seamlessly a part of this world just like the aliens in D9. He also establishes a fantastic dichotomy between the sleek, refined world of Elysium, and the gritty, brown, disgusting world of Earth, showing just how bad things would get if division of wealth in society continued to expand. Things gets really badass when Damon outfits himself with mech implants on his arms and legs to make him more powerful. That is the exact moment when shit gets real.
As we confirmed with the new poster today, the trailer will be out tomorrow night (giving you an idea of all that we're talking about). Besides that, the 10 minutes of footage we did see, which was different than the Comic-Con footage and included endless amounts of stunning (finished) visual effects, looks so badass. It's one of my most anticipated because I really think Blomkamp is pushing the sci-fi genre with his worlds and his stories more than most other filmmakers. But enough of my own words, I'll let the buzz speak for itself:
Omfg! Have to pick up my jaw off the floor. Elysium footage was SO badass, SO awesome. Blomkamp is single-handedly pushing the sci-fi genre.
— Alex Billington (@firstshowing) April 8, 2013
I know I get easily hyped, but based on the 10 minutes I just saw from Elysium, I'm more excited for this than I was Prometheus last year.
— Alex Billington (@firstshowing) April 8, 2013
Ten minutes of #Elysium footage screened today. Looks Fucking Awesome. Can't wait #fanboytweet
— Peter Sciretta (@slashfilm) April 8, 2013
Just saw the new trailer and 10 min from #ELYSIUM. All I can say is WOW. Footage was incredible. Cannot wait to see this.
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) April 8, 2013
Oh, so Elysium looks stunning. If the footage is any indication, Neil Blomkamp fans are going to be happy as hell
— Alex Suskind (@AlexJSuskind) April 8, 2013
After seeing 10 minutes of #Elysium footage, I'd like Neill Blomkamp to make all the movies.
— Kate Aurthur (@KateAurthur) April 8, 2013
#elysium just watched 10 mins of the film. Fast & gritty as all hell with an elegant mix of groundbreaking VFX & impressive score. Wow.
— John Darko (@JohnDarko) April 8, 2013
10min preview & mind is blown. Visually stunning, beyond action packed, Matt Damon like you've never seen him before #Elysium @firstshowing
— Anthony Cincotta (@AnthonyCincotta) April 8, 2013
Just saw #Elysium footage and trailer. Totally badass, Matt Damon tears it up, Blomkamp keeps the grit and then just amps it up.
— Susie Arons (@sarons) April 8, 2013
Holy Crap! If you liked District 9 you're going to love #Elysium! Just saw 10 minutes and can't wait for the rest of the movie.
— Steve Holzer (@TheSteveHolzer) April 8, 2013
Just got to see 10 mins of Matt Damon/Sharlto Copley/Neil Blomkamp's #Elysium. Very very cool. No-blinking action-packed kinda stuff. #SeeIt
— Eric Anderson (@Eric42Anderson) April 8, 2013
The new footage Sony just previewed from #Elysium maintains Neill Blomkamp's rep for original, visceral, visually inventive sci-fi.
— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) April 8, 2013
Best surprise from the #Elysium preview footage: How loose and funny and everyguy-y Matt Damon is. Also, everybody, he's RIPPED. #iknow
— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) April 8, 2013
The #Elysium footage blew my mind! Brilliant director leading fantastic actors, August 9 can't come any faster
— Noah Crawford (@_noahcrawford_) April 8, 2013
Just saw #Elysium footage and trailer. Totally badass, Matt Damon tears it up, Blomkamp keeps the grit and then just amps it up.
— Susie Arons (@sarons) April 8, 2013
It's exhilarating to hear that everyone else is as excited for Elysium as I am, based on all of that footage. It just goes to show how Neill Blomkamp can create some of the most visceral, badass, genre-pushing sci-fi out there yet still make audiences of all ages giddy with excitement. There's no point in us trying to explain or recap any of the footage, because it's best experienced in theaters for yourself. This is the kind of movie that reminds me why I love the science fiction genre so much; how it makes us believe in different worlds yet challenges our contemporary thoughts on society and wealth. This is the kind of science fiction that is going to drive the new era upon us to new heights. Bring on the 'bots and brilliance, Blomkamp, can't fokkin wait.
Elysium, directed by South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp (of District 9), focuses on Secretary Rhodes (Foster), a hardened government official, who will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium. However, that doesn’t stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max (Damon) is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that if successful will not only save his life, but could bring equality to these polarized worlds. Sony/Columbia has Elysium set to hit theaters on August 9th. See the first trailer here.
Reader Feedback - 14 Comments
1
Aaaaaaaaggghhhh! Great visuals, great score, ripped Matt Damon, hard action, new worlds that are utterly real, social relevance, and I am supposed to WAITuntil August? Too harsh!
DandyFred on Apr 8, 2013
2
all we need to hear now is that it's getting an imax release
me on Apr 8, 2013
3
from your lips to God's ears
DandyFred on Apr 8, 2013
4
Boneriffic.
Xerxexx on Apr 8, 2013
5
Looks tough...can't wait.
JJPasadena on Apr 8, 2013
6
I usually get hyped from your critics after you have watched the movie, but with this you and many of your contacts have made an early statement of hype. So if with only 10 min of footage this is the result, and since I am a huge fan of Prometheus, I am embarking on the hype train for this!
Mathieu Godin on Apr 8, 2013
7
Sounds like it's gonna be an epic summer! I loved his work in District 9 so I'll definitely have to see this! Seems the whole summer is based off sci fi movies = righteous! I'm curious though Alex, as you stated you get hyped for movies easily and I'm sure I've read in other articles you stating how each movie is very anticipating, what are your top 3 MOST anticipated movies of the summer so all know on your behalf?
JBrotsis on Apr 8, 2013
8
9
Hahahaha, takin' advantage of the triple tie. Nice dude!
JBrotsis on Apr 9, 2013
10
I feel like you've insulted Man of Steel. Iron Man 3 has meh written all over it and The Great Gatsby doesn't quite fit the list genre-wise
Geoffrey Shauger on Apr 9, 2013
11
12
Don't count out Iron Man 3. Robert Downey reuniting with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang director Shane Black.
Horror_movieguyerman on Apr 9, 2013
13
Guess I'm the only one that thought we were going to get to see the footage too....?
zey on Apr 9, 2013
14
Yes, a bit of a cock-tease.
$126191 on Apr 9, 2013
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