Equilibrium
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.83 You Save: $9.16 (61%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.38 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Equilibrium
Movie Review: You Better Buy This One NOW!!
Summary: 5 Stars
...All I have to say is this ... This movie was allowed to die in the Top 20 test marking cities after only two weeks, with absolutely NO advertising. Why? This film is politically-incorrect and centers on many issues (hate-crime laws, war-on-terror, government censorship, absolute government ... etc) that those in `the establishment' would rather you not consider for yourself. This film was `shelved' for almost a year, then finally released late in 2002 for only a few weeks. It is very likely that Dimension Films is going to only sell only one run of DVDs and tapes to recoup their losses in production costs. As this movie was not marketed in any meaningful way, it seems likely that it will vanish as soon as the copies are all sold out... If you waited to see it in the theaters, you missed it (like I did), if you wait again to add this to your collection you could be in for a long wait before you see it again... It has within it the elements of several other movies:All the government of Orwell's "1984"
All the censorship of Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451'
All the cinematography of Lang's "Metropolis"
Along with themes of many other movies including "Gattaca" and "Logan's Run"
This film `seems' like so many other near-future totalitarian masterpieces in many ways. Yet, it remains it's own movie and retains its own plot and twists, without having to ride on anyone's coattails, least of all the "Matrix". It is graphic, violent, often shocking, and filled with religious connotations. The actions sequences are fewer and shorter than those in "The Matrix". However, the action in "Equilibrium" is still superior, partly because it is more controlled, less flashy, and more realistic. The incredible stunt scenes, done with very little CGI, complement the story in "Equilibrium" without dominating the entire film. The fight scenes in "The Matrix" seem way overdone and excessively gratuitous by comparison. The quality of Christian Bale's performance is exceptionally above that of Keanu Reeves (who is still as vacuous as he was in his `Bill and Ted' days).
There are a few scenes that may upset some highly sensitive people, such as; the incineration of a living woman named Mary, some soldiers shooting some penned up dogs, and the arrest of John Preston's wife at home in front of her children. After all this is a serious film about brutal government and by no means a `family classic' nor a `chic flick'. Taye Diggs was the only shortcoming of whole movie as he was `too emotional' for his part in it.
Here is what "Equilibrium" lacks thankfully) ...
Cheap, easy, pointless and gratuitous sex
Unnecessarily foul and obscene language
A positive view of drugs
Empty humor and meaningless comic relief
A hopelessly depressing ending typical of this kind of movie
Movie Review: A Very Cool Ride!
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie -- set in the future -- starts off by recapping recent history. The planet has just undergone its Third World War, and it resolves to avoid a Fourth. This is accomplished by abolishing all human emotions - and thus all individuality - to eliminate the passions which lead to unavoidable conflict. The world is angular and masculine and devoid of most color - where even the women dress like men. The buildings look like Nazi temples. And the rules are enforced by the Grammaton Clerics, who wear only tunics of black. So if the movie looks a little like the Matrix. And if Christen Bale (as John Preston), the lead cleric, bears an uncanny resemblance to Keanu Reeves (which he does), then the similarity, I'm sure -- is purely intentional!The population takes a drug to entirely suppress their emotions. Adults - and children - are free to report anyone for extermination who shows any amount of feeling. Preston's partner succumbs to emotion early and Preston does the honors. The tables are soon turned, however, when Preston himself foregoes his daily dose, and he becomes overwhelmed by the beauty of the world that he now "senses" once the effects of the drugs begin to diminish. He discovers the emotional richness of the world's past; the books, the paintings, the passages of music - and a woman, Emily Watson, who captures his heart -- to make his anguish complete.
The story is taut and well told. And it builds to a climactic finish.. Preston joins the underground to help overthrow the world that the clerics are assigned to enforce. Along the way, we are treated to some of the most beautifully choreographed hand-to-hand pistol combat I've ever seen. The clerics also have this cool way of jumping into a group of six men - arranged around them like pockets in a billiard table - and then taking each one of the out, without ever changing their stance, by shooting and wrapping their arms around their heads as if they were doing yoga.
It isn't until the end that we finally see the special up-their-sleeve speed loaders or the bulbous high capacity magazines that the cleric use with their automatic pistols -- that allows them to lay down a more blistering rate of fire than the multiple machine guns arrayed against them.
Even Preston's young son, a miniature Nazi himself, provides one of the nicest twists towards the story's conclusion as Preston proceeds towards his irrevocable goal - to set in motion events that will eventually destroy the current world order and restore the sanctity of human existence.
The movie starts off like a Matrix wannabe, but finishes by delivering some of the most exciting exhibitions of action, artistry - and emotion - I've ever seen displayed together in a pseudo sci-fi flick! This is a film I highly recommend. Don't miss it!
Movie Review: Riveting. Christian Bale is magnificent.
Summary: 5 Stars
Like so many who have reviewed this movie here, I found this movie quite by accident, having heard virtually nothing about it. After the first viewing I have watched it at least 10 times. I know that may sound excessive, and obsessive, but I feel this is perhaps one of the best science fiction movies ever made. I believe Christian Bale's performance is perhaps one of the all time best cinematic portrayals I have ever encountered. Wimmer (despite his whining directorial commentary which focused on his budget and what didn't get done rather than what did, and which can be chosen on the DVD) has transcended the typical dystopian epic by focusing on the evolution of Cleric John Preston's emergence from the sleep of his drugged existence into the life of a fully realized human being. The premise is unique. No one pushed Preston into giving up the drug - serendipity (or was it a Freudian accident?) resulted in the destruction of his "morning interval" followed by his first transgression - failure to reveal to his new partner that he has not replaced his dose. He compounds that transgression be disposing of the next day's dose while walking up a crowded staircase. We watch as four days go by and we see him emerge from the fog of Prozium. We feel with him as he experiences a cascade of new sensations. True to his former partner's prediction, he does indeed dream, and his dreams haunt him. He's dumbstruck when he watches the beauty of a sun rise. He weeps the first time he hears music. He holds back a volume of Mother Goose from a Nether raid. He cringes as he holds a dying man, watches the light go out in his eyes and feels his blood on his hands. He rescues an orphaned pup, then kills "sweepers" to protect it and himself. He opens his heart to a woman doomed to die, and remembers how he stood by in drugged numbness when his wife, Viviana, was executed as a sense offender. He vainly attempts to rescue a group of rebels. He steals into his sleeping children's bedroom at night to sit by them. He smiles with love and pride when he learns his children, Robbie and Lisa, have been off the dose since their mother was incinerated. He locates the Underground and becomes their "champion". This is a truly masterful performance by a superb actor, with a great supporting cast. The gun kata scenes are as well choreographed as a ballet. Casting was superb, location, sets and lighting were outstanding, music was fabulous. I feel it important to emphasize that I am not a kid who is simply thrilled by the violent gun kata scenes. I am a 61 year old woman who was deeply moved by Bale's riveting performance. This is far more than a simple action flick. This exceptional movie speaks to the heart.Movie Review: Post-1984 dystopian SciFi tale of our time - a must see!
Summary: 5 Stars
(WARNING!, this movie is very violent, lots of shooting andfighting and killing, but stylized, and not too realistic)
I saw equilibrium when it came out, not quite knowing what to
expect. I was more than pleasantly surprised to find a movie
while totally fantastical and filled with special effects that
was so relevant to the this age of terrorism and corporate
mass media and individual helplessness that we live in today.
I was amazed that this movie was so resonant with myself and
with the audience. This is the quintesciential target that
science fiction aims for and so often misses in favor or
horror, or fantasy. "Equilibrium" got it dead on and was
very entertaining and suspenseful at the same time!
"Equilibrium" is about a world where people are totally
controlled. Controlled to the point where the people in
this world police themselves and do not allow themselves
or each other to experience any emotion at all, in fact it
is a crime punishable by execution. They enforce this by
extreme regimentation, powerful emotion numbing drugs, and
a police force and law enforcement machine that I imagine
John Ashcroft would dream about.
Our hero, John Preston, a so-called, Grammaton Cleric,
the elite of the elite secret police and expert practioner
of a deadly, pistol wielding, form of kung-fu, is so good
at his job he is able to read the mind of his faltering
partner which leads him into the rebel underground of this
distropian society to bring the last of these terrorists to
their just reward. He also seems to be able to use the force
to dodge bullets.
At the same time, some of his experiences lead him to
question the things he has been taught all this life,
about the basic realities of his world, other people,
and the universe.
The betrayal of himself by his society, and the path
that leads to his awakening as a person and a veangeful
response is strictly fantasy, but really seemed to reach
something in the theater in which I saw this movie, as
well as it seems about 100% the people here who took the
time to review this movie.
I do not want to be too specific, but suffice it to say that
if you at all enjoy movies like "The Matrix", or "1984",
"Logan's Run", "THX-1138", that sort of thing, or extreme
action movies, and movies about the human spririt, albeit
in this case pretty far out and fantastical, you will
undoubtedly enjoy "Equilibrium".
If you do see this movie, and you enjoy it, I am afraid you
will have to be watched for the rest of your life though, it
may be too subversive! ;-)
Movie Review: Equilibrium Theatrical Review
Summary: 5 Stars
Today I had an epiphany. I invite all followers of cinema to join me.The way is simple. There is a movie out this weekend. You've probably never heard of it. You've probably not seen the trailer.
The movie is called "Equilibrium" and it will knock you on your [rear]....
I invite you to think of a fairly common scenario: You see ... [an awson} trailer and it convinces you to go see that particular movie. What disappoints you is that after the film, you realize that all the really good parts of the film were already in the trailer and you saw them coming a mile away. Here is a new one: The trailer for "Equilibrium" kicked your [rear]... You sit down in the theater. You watch the movie. It is something new. It is smart. It is shot in a way that resembles but surpasses "The Matrix" and the action sequences are of a kind you've never seen before. Before it even has ended you already want to see it again. You want to watch the opening sequence and almost fall out of your chair just like the first time. But then the end comes. The last sequence. The final showdown. You can't bear to have it end. This is amazing. This is surreal. This is everything you've ever wanted an action movie to be; Extremely well written, smart, kinetic without resorting to wires or bullet time: pure, physical movement that surpasses even the most scripted Jet Li movie. You're riveted. Enthralled. This is new, exciting and so far beyond even what you expected that it can't end, you don't want it. You have to see the rest, but yearn to watch it again already. This was my afternoon.
This film is something special. Unique. It's science fiction, with the intelligence and character of "Gattaca," but the stylings of the most hyperkinetic Hong Kong action film. It's low budget, shot in 20 days, and yet will make you think, react, and emote to the characters, plot, editing, and generally the whole film as a whole.
What am I saying? I'm saying this: Most of you in the next couple weeks were planning on seeing a movie. You go often, but not all the time, and usually exit the theater apathetic, sometimes smiling, but normally underwhelmed maybe even asking yourself why you wasted the money. Here is a film that has little to no studio support and will blow your [rear]... back into your seat. It's what you've wished you could have seen on screen each time you plopped down those eight to ten bucks and walked inside. This film is different. Go see this film. "Equilibrium" is worth it, and since you're going anyway, go this weekend. Support this film, let it kick your [rear].... You WILL thank me later. It IS worth your money.
Watch the trailer. See the movie. This is what you've been waiting and yearning for.