Coming to Cinemas: August 2013, Week 4

Took another unexpectedly long break from the cinema and been spending my time watching movies at home instead. There wasn't any interesting release last week except for Unbeatable and I was going to give it a pass, but some of the kudos that I've been hearing about it is changing my mind about it for this weekend.

While the release roster for this week isn't getting any better than last week, I guess I still have to talk about something

So let's see what's interesting that is coming out this week.

Elysium

Director: Neill Blomkamp
Cast: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Wagner Moura
Running Time: 1 Hour 49 Minutes
Language:: English
Classification: 18
Synopsis: In the year 2154 two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Rhodes (Jodie Foster), a hard the government official, will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium. That doesn't stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max (Matt 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.

Trailer Impressions: Unmistakably the biggest release of note this week. While I did watch Blomkamp's District 9, I can't say that I am overly excited for this. I can get behind the vision of Blomkamp as a director, but not his societal message as most of his fans would likely get the interpretation from. To me, I would probably go into this expecting a higher budget rehash of District 9, with better effects and a better cast.

The Purge

Director: James DeMonaco
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Adelaide Kane, Max Burkholder
Running Time: 1 Hour 25 Minutes
Language:: English
Classification: 18
Synopsis: The year is 2022. The United States is a nation reborn; unemployment rates are at 1% and crime is at an all-time low. This was accomplished by the U.S. government sanctioning an annual 12-hour period from the evening of 21 March to 7 AM on the morning of 22 March in which all criminal activity becomes legal. The police cannot be called. Hospitals suspend help. This event, known as The Purge, serves as a catharsis for the American people, giving them a chance to vent the negative emotions they keep inside of them with the ultimate goal of keeping unemployment and crime at extremely low levels for the rest of the year. On this night plagued by violence and an epidemic of crime, one family wrestles with the decision of who they will become when a stranger comes knocking. When a stranger screaming for help is let into James Sandin's protected house during the yearly lock down, a sequence of events begin that puts the family's chances of survival in danger. Now, it is up to James, his wife, Mary, and their kids, Zoey and Charlie, to make it through the night without turning into the monsters from whom they hide.

Trailer Impressions: A fascinating premise no doubt to anyone who has seen the trailer. It is the sort of premise that a whole original franchise can be built upon. However, reviews for this when it came out on VOD in the States has turned the whole idea into a stillborn. My piece of advise before going to see this is; expect this to be a thrilling slasher that is not as clever as it sounds.

FilmBah's Pick of the Week

Undoubtedly it is Elysium and I would probably be watching District 9 again so I can make a better comparison. I'm not sure if I will end up seeing The Purge, but I would probably go and see Unbeatable first before any of these.

Releases according to CinemaOnline and check your nearest screenings at Showtimes.