Comments on: Elysium and That One Plot Hole

By: Westin Lee

Westin Lee — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 13:16:38 +0000

In reply to George Carlos Williams. No, it's not hard to imagine, that's why everyone bought the world of the movie even though it's got a huge, glaring plot hole that undermines any attempts at a serious message. If this is a critique of evil rich people, at least have the rich people do what rich people have always done at every point in post-industrialized society: make money by selling things to the masses.

By: George Carlos Williams

George Carlos Williams — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 06:52:00 +0000

Is it that hard to imagine? It’s an obvious analogy to modern society- explaining why sick kids starve and die in the USA and other first-world countries explains why the same happens to 3rd world earth in elysium.

By: Westin Lee

Westin Lee — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 16:24:15 +0000

In reply to Brendan.

That’s one of the most interesting assumed explanations I’ve heard…and it also wasn’t acknowledged in the movie.

I think the thing that bums me out most about this oversight in the film is that it plays on cynical bourgeois stereotypes rather than doing the work itself to create something more nuanced.

By: Brendan

Brendan — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 07:37:21 +0000

You didn’t list the option that I just casually assumed while watching the movie. I never even considered that it might be a plot hole, since the reason seemed to go without saying. Elysium may be rich, but Earth is where the industry seems to be and that means that Elysium needs an income if they want to continue paying their Earth-bound workers. Drugs, hospitals, the whole medical system is a great way to separate Earthlings from their money; you can’t sell medical treatment to people if you cure them. Spreading around instant-cure pods may sound like a great way to make money, but selling treatments which only relieve symptoms will give you more customer loyalty. I bet someone on Elysium owns the company that makes those pills that Max was taking.

By: Westin Lee

Westin Lee — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 15:04:02 +0000

In reply to Ricardo.

Sure, that’s a thought. There’s too many poors! Build a wall. My book, Wicked City, has a similar idea in it, though the treasured resource is knowledge.

Ah, but your comment doesn’t address the plot hole I was talking about! I found it odd that the riches have access to a apparently amazing and limitless technology they could easily use to make money, and no one explains why they aren’t doing that.

By: Ricardo

Ricardo — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 14:27:53 +0000

Well, I don’t see as a plot hole. That’s what I assumed: The riches had problems with the poor, as in society today, the rich people think the poor are savages that lack thinking and social skills, the problem is, while a rich couple have in average 1 kid, a poor couple have in average 3 or 4 kids, thats when you dont count other marriages and everything, so if you plot the line, the future is: less rich people very, very rich, and more poor people, with really no future, but numbers do account for riots, stealing, raping, etc.; so the solution, as today, separate the two classes with a lot os distance, today buildings do the trick, in the future, I don’t think so, so… no if you were a rich people, that didn’t want poor people to multiply you wouldn’t give them the means, and, to add, I don’t think they all liked to be kicked out of the planet…so war to keep them in mexic.. arrr I mean earth, great movie, great actors, hard truth

By: Westin Lee

Westin Lee — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 10:11:27 +0000

In reply to me. Yep, that would work, except self-explanatory didn't cut it for me this time! The issue isn't that there *couldn't* be an explanation in the world, it's that there *wasn't* one in the writing.

By: me

me — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 08:05:00 +0000

Maybe it was self-explanatory? Overpopulation + medicine = more overpopulation! The issue is actually very real to our own world and will be escalating till we’ll reach that proverbial bottleneck. It’s in every conspiracy game and movie actually.
However my gripe with the film is on the other side of spectrum, the execution, yes. I mean what a nice idea, WASTED on the flashy scenes and trademark computer graphics. Maybe it wasn’t but it sure felt like the two and a half thirds of the film were just bloody and sweaty action. Neil is of value to us as a visionary (sort-of), but where he really shines is his tech special effects. Maybe he ought to take more film-making lessons, and not turn into a self-parody?

By: Westin Lee

Westin Lee — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:07:35 +0000

In reply to Lenny D. Yep that would have been good explanation, but no one ever said that in the movie!

By: Lenny D

Lenny D — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:03:02 +0000

I didn’t actually see this as a plot hole I just assumed / inferred that the citizens of earth would not have access to the pods because of over population (You don’t age) and the high up rich people on elysium argue that it is for the good of the planet to not let them have it. If a drug came out today that stopped us ageing it would have to be controlled / hidden even.