Even if "Matt Damon, Jodie Foster) and an even bigger budget, the post-apocalyptic sci-fi film can't avoid comparison to director Neill Blomkamp's first film — "District 9." The 2009 film came out of nowhere to wow audiences with a fresh concept (aliens land on Earth and are forced to live in an internment camp in South Africa) from a first time director. Blomkamp's follow-up, "Elysium," offers similar social commentary packaged in a summer blockbuster's trappings — with a summer blockbuster's budget.

Damon plays Max DeCosta, an ex-con and factory worker who barely survives living in the slum that Earth has become. His only hope of surviving a deadly disease lies on Elysium, the orbiting space station paradise reserved for the rich and only the rich. Foster plays Elysium's Secretary of Defense, who will stop at nothing to keep the unwanted dregs of Earth from reaching Elysium. Critics still laud Blomkamp as a visionary filmmaker, one who shows remarkable talent given his short resumé, even if the metaphors in both of his films closely resemble each other.

Read on for a sample of what the critics are saying about "Elysium."

Timely Social Commentary
"This kind of haves vs. have-nots future has been a staple of cinematic science fiction from Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis' in 1927. But Blomkamp makes it a truly angry commentary on the arrogance of the 1 Percent, restrictive immigration policies, and the lack of universal health care... Still, for all its flaws, 'Elysium' is an often-absorbing and largely entertaining film from a young director with a great future." — Charlie McCollum, ...

An entire decade may have passed since the debut of Fox's sudsy teen drama "The O.C.," but we're willing to bet many a TV watcher still thinks of actor Adam Brody as loveable geek Seth Cohen. If you're among those nodding in agreement, prepare to feel ... uncomfortable.

Brody plays porn star Harry Reems (formerly known as "Dick Long") in the '70s-era Linda Lovelace biopic And you better believe he's got the chest hair and pornstache to prove it.

The film follows Linda Lovelace (Amanda Seyfried) as she enters the adult entertainment industry at the behest of her husband and self-appointed manager Chuck Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard), and chronicles the abuse she endures before renouncing the business that made her a star in films like "Deep Throat."

With the film's limited release on Friday, MTV News has gotten its hands on an exclusive clip from the drama, which finds Brody's polyester-clad Harry consoling an apprehensive Linda before their first scene together.

"I'm a little nervous. I've never had lines to talk before," Linda tells Harry.

"We got the best job in the world," Harry assures her. "We just tune everybody out. Live in the moment like we're the only two people on the planet."

Well, if that's all there is to it...

Of course, in real life, Seyfried doesn't necessarily share Harry Reems' sentiments regarding porn, especially as it relates to the treatment of women.

"Knowing now what Linda had gone through and what a lot of people have gone through — still, around the world today, much less so in the United States ...

Hollywood loves a good comeback story. Just look at Robert Downey Jr., who went from doing prison time and almost losing his promising career because of substance abuse issues to a remarkable rebound to the top of the game and a billion-dollar franchise in "Iron Man."

Following her release from a court-mandated 90-day rehab stint
 last week, many are wondering if, after years of legal and substance abuse issues, Lindsay Lohan is finally ready for her close-up again. If this time it's for real, MTV News asked some experts what steps Lohan should take to earn her way back at the box office and stay healthy doing it?

"The most important thing for Lindsay to do is focus on her sobriety," said veteran casting director Marci Liroff, who cast Lohan in "Freaky Friday" and "Mean Girls."

Take A Look At The Early Days Of Lindsay Lohan

"I don't think she should be concerned right now with what her next big movie is," she added. "It's really, really hard to stay sober and she has to want to focus on her sobriety."

Liroff, who said she has a personal investment and concern about Lohan's health and success due to her previous work with the former child star, said Hollywood and Lohan should both wait before throwing her fully back into the game. Lohan made her first tentative steps back on Monday night, when she hosted a well-received episode of the E! talk show "Chelsea Lately," where she poked fun at herself and 1D's Harry Styles
.

Looking healthy, bright-eyed and comfortable on the ...

While the road to a possible collaboration has been bumpy, to say the least, The Wanted's Nathan Sykes reveals that he wouldn't rule out working with One Direction in the future.

"You never know, you never know! I think with Backstreet Boys and New Kids [On The Block], that's really cool what they did, and there's been some great collaborations. You never know," Sykes told MTV News during a game of golf to celebrate the release of their new Word of Mouth single,

The guys are throwing their feud behind them, Sykes said.

"I think both ourselves and One Direction are, as far as I'm concerned, whatever kinds of words were said since I wasn't really part of it, think it kind of [went away now,] which is awesome," he said in between putts. "I think it's the best people really concentrate on the success that we're both having and how well [we're doing,] which is always great."

Both the Wanted and 1D rose to pop superstardom by dropping debut singles in the U.S. in 2012. From there, they quickly rose to household name status and, yes, engaged in some friendly rivalry. With both groups prepping album releases for later this year, Sykes explains why boy bands are here to stay. And it has a lot to do with "radio hits."

"I think ourselves and One Direction have done really well to make sure the music stands up on its own," he said. "And I think with boy bands it's very easy for people to say 'Oh, they ...

What subliminal shots? When Kanye West took the stage and praised Drake at his 4th annual OVO Fest in Toronto on Monday night, the G.O.O.D. Music CEO finally put to rest all those rumors of there being tension between himself and YMCMB's shining star. Turns out, it was all just friendly competition.

"That was probably the most important moment in my career to date," Drake told MTV News after the show Monday, the same day Kanye was announced as a performer at the 2013 Video Music Awards. "I think me and Kanye have wanted to express our respect for each other for a long time and sometimes rap, the business, the competitiveness and just the heart behind it forces you to not talk to the people you quietly admire."

"And Kanye West is definitely a guy that I beyond admire. I have the utmost respect for him."

After pulling out some big surprises with appearances from TLC, Diddy and Ma$e, Drake really outdid himself by summoning 'Ye to the stage — with a pretty grand entrance, might we add. He tweaked Kanye's lyrics on "Diamonds From Sierra Leone," rapping "What up with you and 'Ye man, are ya'll OK, man?" before Mr. West emerged triumphantly to perform "New Slaves."

Even more shocking was 'Ye's declaration that Drake's success had competitively fueled the birth of his collaborative album with Jay Z. "Me and Hov would've never made Watch the Throne if this n---a wasn't putting pressure on us like that, so I just wanna pay my respects," he said.

More than a few ...

Even though Sunday's MTV special "Bieber O'Clock" is over, everyone knows it's always time for Justin Bieber.

Before the TV premiere of "Never Say Never," Beliebers got juicy video tidbits every hour on the hour of their favorite superstar. And they got an inside look at what Bieber's life was like before he became one of the most famous singers in the world. Apparently, he never wanted to be a singer in the first place.

"He always wanted to play sports," mom Pattie Mallette said in the exclusive interview. "He always wanted to be a professional hockey player or soccer player."

Although we don't really peg JB as an NHL star, he certainly had enough practice at the ice rink for it. And Gram and Gramps were there to help.

"So we got him into sports," grandmother Diane Dale said. "And grandpa used to take him to hockey and soccer and everything else. He was so hyper, so hyper all the time — had to be doing something. Go go go go go... He always needed lots of attention. He used to go to church and play the drums at 2 years old."

Bieber eventually took that energy to the stage, and even though he never he never had guitar lessons or singing lessons, he started his dive into music at an early age.

"I think he was about 5 years old, 5 or 6, he started drum lessons. I never thought he's grow up and become a singer."

Justin Bieber's Mom-Inspired Eye Tat Explained!

But as soon as future manager Scooter Braun saw Justin's ...

It's been a long wait, but Miley Cyrus has finally hit 13 million Twitter followers and revealed the title of her next album, which is — drumroll please — BANGERZ!

Nearly one month ago, Cyrus — inspired by Jay-Z's epic Twitter Q&A — promised followers that when she hit 13 million followers (her lucky digits) she would reveal the title of her Can't Be Tamed followup.. After weeks and weeks of amassing followers, that day has come.

BANGERZ has yet to get a release date, but Cyrus has said she's so pumped about the record, she's considered leaking it online. "I scare my label all the time, because I just want my whole record out right now. I'm ready for people to hear it," she told 4Music.

Pharrell produced the record, which also features Wiz Khalifa and possibly even French Montana. "It's just gonna sound like her and her influences, but it's not that hip-hop heavy," Pharrell told MTV News. "That's not what she does, that's not where she comes from. It's a part of what she loves, which is a very big difference."

So far, the world has been privy to one jam from BANGERZ, "We Can't Stop," which came complete with a wacked-out music video featuring a be-grilled Miley, giant teddybears and, of course, plenty o' twerking.

"We set out to make something we would love and we did! Youth culture today is pretty hard to shock, isn't it?" director Diane Martel told MTV News. "I don't see this video as shocking, it's creative."

Miley scored three VMA ...

If it wasn't for Goodie Mob, the rap game might be drastically different. It took Khujo, T-Mo, Big Gipp and Cee Lo Green screaming "what y'all really know about the Dirty South?" to really help instill a sense of pride and unity among rappers below the Mason Dixon.

And a lot has happened since the Atlanta quartet dropped their 1995 debut, Soul Food. So before the Goodie Mob drop their reunion LP, Age Against the Machine, on August 27 they'll stop by MTV's Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT to catch us up.

Schoolboy Q will also crash the red couch — tune in RapFix.MTV.com and MTV Jams — to talk about his inclusion in MTV Jams' 2013 Fab Five class, alongside August Alsina, Gunplay, Chance the Rapper and Travis Scott.

We'll be sure to get plenty of updates from the Black Hippy spitter about his upcoming major-label debut, Oxymoron. Q's already linked with Kendrick Lamar on the LP's single "Collard Greens" and promises collaborations with Raekwon, J. Cole and Pharrell.

Pusha T will make an appearance as well to reveal some very important news about his much-anticipated solo debut, My Name Is My Name. The Clipse MC has been crafting the album for well over a year now under the guidance of G.O.O.D. Music head honcho Kanye West. Way back in 2011, Push gave MTV News a sneak peak of a track that's slated for the album.

"One of the more thoughtful records would be '40 Acres,' and it's produced by The-Dream and ...

The cover of 2 Chainz's B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time album cover may look simple, but the "I'm Different" MC and Kanye West's design company DONDA labored over the design. "It's hard. I can't lie, it's hard. We've been trying to do the cover for like two months now," Chainz told MTV News in July.

On Tuesday (August 6), the Hair Weave Killer dropped the final product on his Instagram account. The cover shows two Cuban link-styled gold chains against a white backdrop to signify 2 Chainz's rap moniker and the fact that B.O.A.T.S. II is a sequel. Then of course there is the ever-important parental advisory label in the lower right-hand corner — no sqeaky clean raps here.

Last year Chainz and DONDA, West's design firm named after his mother, collaborated on the Atlanta rapper's Based on a T.R.U. Story album cover and the results were quite striking. The LP cover simply showed two chains against a black shirt.

"Kanye and I share a similar vision and think along the same lines creatively. So, when it came time to develop the imagery for my project, I trusted him and his team at DONDA to get the job done and communicate my sentiments," Chainz told Billboard last year. "They were the first people I thought of. Their team is unprecedented. Expect next level imagery, sonics and stage performance. This is curated art. The Louvre of rap."

The new album is set to drop on September 10 and is led by the Pharrell Williams-produced single "Feds Watching." Though 2 Chainz hasn't revealed the full ...