So here's the deal. I'm going to post two reviews here. One that is spoiler free and one that is full of spoilers. Here is the spoiler free version.
Elysium isn't an amazing film. Visually, it's very impressive. The casting was good, but the acting couldn't save the film from its main problems; over done plot, bland and one dimensional, mostly hard to sympathize with characters. You hate the bad guys, but I find it hard to root for the good guys, especially when they're just as greedy and selfish as the bad guys. It doesn't help that it feels like you're watching two different movies half way through. It's long. if ypu want to watch a gpod version of Elysium, watch Star Trek Voyager Season 7 Episode 5 entitled Critical Care. With the bidget and star power they had, it should have been much better, but I'm placing the blame solidly on the writer for this one. The film over all is somewhere between a B- and an A-. It's really only worth a rental at best, unless you really love Matt Damon and Jodi Foster.