We have heard about the film called "Elysium" which is being directed by the creator of "District 9", Neill Blomkamp, but details were so sparse that there was nothing to really write about it before. Some leaks  about the movie and photos were leaked on the web a few weeks ago, and we like what we saw. But before I write on further, more details about the movie will be known during Comic-Con 2012 which will start tomorrow in San Diego, California.

Elysium is a futuristic movie, with the story set in 2159 where there Earth is almost overpopulated and unlivable whilst wealthy humans live in a space station called Elysium. The wealthy who can afford bio-genetical engineering are called "Coordinators" and Elysium was built and maintained by Armadyne Corporation. However, Elysium is under pressure by immigrants from Earth and harsh anti-immigration laws are being implemented by Secretary Rhodes (Jodie Foster). Still people want to get in Elysium, going to great lengths to get inside the space station.

Ex-convict Max, played by Matt Damon undertakes a mission that he cannot refuse, since he had no other options. His actions may not only save his life, but may just bring the two worlds together where their inhabitants will live equally.

Still, even with that synopsis coming from Wikipedia and Filmstage.com, the details are nothing to really write about until the Comic-Con 2012 preview. So for now, let's leave the story aside and get into the weapon and gear that showed up in photos which piqued our interest.

The photo above shows Matt Damon wielding a Chem Rail Gun as a weapon. The first time we encounter a rail gun used in a movie was in "Transformers 2: Revenge of The Fallen" which is a cannon-like weapon mounted of Navy destroyers. It is already common knowledge that the U.S. Navy have been investing heavily in rail gun technologies and have successfully test fired a prototype at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC). Rail Guns can fire projectiles that achieve a velocity of at least 2,000 m/s or 6,600 fps and for now are still large canon-like designs in prototype stages.

Anyway, since Elysium is set in 2159, we can assume that rail gun technology has already been made smaller to fit in sizes that humans can bear and rail gun with their bare hands. The Chem Rail Gun design that Matt Damon carries does not veer far from conventional assault rifles that we use these days and are not to be considered "out of this world". It would be interesting if an airsoft company takes this design as more details of the movie comes out and turns out an airsoft replica. As for reception among airsoft players, there will always be a market for these given that the Alien Pulse Rifle and the Seburo found buyers in the airsoft community.

Now, on to the gear. Matt Damon seemed to be wearing a lightweight exoskeleton system that may provide more strength to carry loads and move over longer distances. No armour system can be seen on him, but given the existence of an assault rifle-type rail gun, armour may just be useless. One of the actors in the photo also is wearing an exoskeleton that seemed to be a contraption of ventilation fans, power supplies, and samurai sword.

Again, until details are fully revealed airsoft players who are after sci-fi/fantasy weapons and gear will have to wait further. Elysium is a big budget film at around US$120 million and expected to be released in March 2013. With some of A-list actors in the movie and a director who knows his sci-fi, we might be in a treat.