Equilibrium

*I checked the index and didn't see a thread for this. To my knowledge, this is the poper place for such a thread*

This movie, released in 2002, starring Dominic Purcell, Christian Bale, Sean Bean, and Emily Watson was mostly seen as a "Matrix rip-off" when it was released. Many have not seen, or even heard of this movie as the film was not given a wide release. This is because it had already run into profit as a result of overseas sales, and the production company didn't want to risk turning a money maker into a loss. As a result, the release was limited.

This movie, to me, surpassed The Matrix because I found the story to be much better. The acting was also well done with Christian Bale as the lead. The supporting actors and actresses were great, as well. The fights in this movie, and the philosophical question asked are both brilliant.

Has anyone else seen this movie? If so, what're some thoughts on it?

~Vassago

 

It's not a Matrix ripoff, it's a Logan's Run rip off.

Some nice action sequences though.

 

I got this on DVD a few months ago and was saying "Holy ****!" 5 minutes in

 

This movie was better than the Matrix, great action scenes, and Batman was in it. I loved the ending.

 

I really liked the opening scene as well. It was a fun one to watch and took an interesting standpoint on basic story themes like the ones malkie mentioned.

 

Yes, the Gun Kata was spectacular. I don't know if this is true or not since I stumbled upon it on IMDb. But apparently this movie has the highest body count of any "non-War" movie. Bateman is fantastic in this film. A friend of mine got it off Netflix about a year ago and introduced it to me. I've been hooked ever since and have shown it to several people. Every person has loved it.

 

It's really more a very, very loose (and uncredited) adaptation of 1984, with "Father" instead of "Big Brother," and "sense offense" instead of "thoughtcrime."

I thought it was alright, though I was really disappointed in the gun kata stuff. There was so much more that could have been done with it, but apparently the director made it up himself in his backyard.

I think the guy tried really hard to direct it like "The Matrix", hence the comparisons, but storywise they're really very different.

M. Scott

 

it looked like 1984 ripoff to me. just not very visually inventive.
nd the other thing about watching people who have to deliberately show no emotion... it can be boring.

 

Oh there is definetly emotion there. It is very subtle. I think Bale did an excellent job of showing what his character is feeling, without showing it. I especially love the final shot of the movie when he finally smiles the tiniest of smiles and gives his little smirk. Very cool.

 

I personally think there was too much emotion from the people supposed to be portraying non-feeling people. Particularly Taye Diggs. Way too much smug glee in that guy.

M. Scott

 

I was under the impression that "Father" and the Taye Diggs character were actually feeling throughout the movie. We never actually see the Taye Diggs character dose throughout the movie, I believe. At the end, we realize that "Father" has actually been feeling all along, and it is actually obvious mid-way through the movie, when he gets angry at Preston (Bale), slamming his fist on the desk. This, however, is just my understanding. I could be off.

~Vassago

 

Well, "Father" tells Preston as much right before Preston kills him, thinking that perhaps he'll be unable to hurt someone else who feels. Diggs' character I don't recall seeing dosing, but if it was that he was supposed to be feeling, that wasn't clear.

M. Scott

 

That's true, it wasn't. It's mostly speculation on my part, but I did get the feeling that he hadn't been dosing due to the fact that he wasn't always calm, cool, and collected like everyone else who was dosing. When he arrested Preston, he grinned and looked quite smug. Also, when he was announcing that he had found the traitor, he was shouting, and again, seemed very prideful.

~Vassago

 

I liked it. It had an interesting story and the fight scenes were great.

 

In the commentary the Clerics are every reffered to as "Jedi Knights" in the opening. I believe the director says it, though he does speak raterh quickly when saying it. I had to listen for it a couple of times.

~Vassago

 

I enjoyed it enough to buy it. It gets a little... well, bad at times, but the action sequences are amazing. Puts anything in The Matrix to shame.

 

I hated that movie. By far one of the most over rated "cult" films of all time IMO.

Everything about it was unoriginal and just plain ridiculous. It was one of those movies that I had heard good stuff about (it was a blurb on Ebert and Roper that actually got me interested) but in the end it left me unimpressed.

Edit: Off topic but the trailer for the director's anticipated follow up, Ultraviolet, was released with U:E. I've been looking forward to seeing something of it in action but I found that to be disapointing as well. Though still interesting enough to see in theaters.

 

I loved it the first time I saw it. The human brain is a really amazing thing. It will fill in details for you, even if they were never there. Details like, amazing action scenes, breathtaking gun battles, and amazing visuals.

However the second time I watched it, what's this? Where are all those shots I remember? All of the sweet kendo scenes were all shot with an out of phase shutter angle, and were spliced together from ten million separate takes. The breathtaking gunbattles? Blinding strobelights make these these scenes impossible to partake of. The only highlight of the movie is the scene at the end, with the knife/gun fight. I liked that, and I like it still.

This movie had, and still does have, huge potential. As long as you see it only once, and let your imagination take over the rest, you'll love it too.

 

That may be true. I had to watch it three times to make it all the way through so that may be why I didn't fall in love with it like so many others.

 

Also, he mentions that might need to have his dose adjusted.

 

I know it's stupid to think someone could erase emotion all together. I know the sets and the cynematography was dreadful. I know the dialogues were horrid some times. I know the romantic plot was totally pointless.

And yet, I love this movie to bits!
I love every little idiosincratic thing about it. But by far, the thing I love most is the puppy! I'm not a girly girl. I'm not into puppies, and kittens and stuff like that. But the puppy and bale with the puppy just.killed.me!

 

I loved this movie. To me, it signifies the next step in philosophical-action movies, which were begun by The Matrix. I hope to see more movies like it, fusing philosophy and thought with violence and action.