Despite the fact that writer/director Neill Blomkamp's latest movie, CHAPPIE, hits theaters next Friday, folks can't stop talking about his upcoming take on the ALIEN franchise. Not that I blame them, but recently Blomkamp spoke out about his previous films, and in particular, ELYSIUM. ELYSIUM didn't get terrible reviews across the board, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't want to make me take a grenade to the face. I feel better knowing that Blomkamp also feels there could have been some improvements.
Regarding any frustrations with Hollywood when ELYSIUM underperformed:
No, any frustration I feel with Elysium is with myself. I think I’m lucky, at least for this phase of my career, I’m lucky in the sense that I don’t feel a lot of pressures I think other directors feel. I don’t have District 9 be successful and then have Elysium be not successful and then beat myself up over it because of how the audience perceives them. I don’t have that. It definitely doesn’t bother me. The thing that bothers me is if I feel like I f*cked it up. I feel like, ultimately, the story is not the right story. I still think the satirical idea of a ring, filled with rich people, hovering above the impoverished Earth, is an awesome idea. I love it so much, I almost want to go back and do it correctly. But I just think the script wasn’t… I just didn’t make a good enough film is ultimately what it is.
For whatever reason, I always respect filmmakers who openly acknowledge their shortcomings. The first step is admittance, right? I'm not sure how well CHAPPIE will fare, but ALIEN(S) fans everywhere seem pretty ecstatic that Blomkamp is taking a shot at the franchise, and I have no qualms in joining them. After all, it couldn't be any worse than ALIEN 3/RESURRECTION, right?
Neill Blomkamp's next film, CHAPPIE, hits theaters on March 6.
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