I really enjoy this movie, it's not perfect, but its enjoyable and is a good package considering its low budget. Christian Bale's acting style compliments the cool emotionless feel to the movie, plus there's a bit of heart in there to. It is a bit gimmicky, yes, but it packs a punch, with simplistic costumes that look realistic, to the brutalistic architecture style. I really recommend this movie for a fun scifi movie night, but don't be overly serious or you will look like a emotionless dictator.
1,071 Reviews
but seriously... Could Christian Bale be any better?
IrisGoeth16 April 2008
My review is one on Christian Bale rather than the movie per se. His going from stone-cold to an emotional man is simply flawless. He gets to transmit everything the story needs at the right time. Bale is the greatest actor of his generation and never afraid to get his hands REALLY dirty. He's played a highly controversial psycho (in an admittedly light version of a really crude and insightful novel... But you realise after you watch him, every time you read the novel again HE IS Patrick Bateman), a LITERALLY starving and tormented loner (please see The Machinist if only for his PERFECT, ground-breaking work of art, which includes both his acting skills and his beyond-emaciated body), a hopeful gay teenager turned hopeless adult (Velvet Goldmine, where he's amazingly accurate in a minor -as length goes- role and you really believe he's a shy and lively teenager and minutes later you believe he's a weary, melancholy adult), a conflicted superhero (the best Batman by far, followed by Michael Keaton of course) and all sorts of middle-of-the-road characters. He's not your average mainstream star and he'll never be, I hope... He's too much in love with his work to become that. Good for him.
Equilibrium is a very fine movie. Highly entertaining, the score was more than okay, the casting does a really good job (I liked The Matrix -although I prefer Equilibrium's sobriety and rhythm, which many may find boring-, but come on... The actors were inferior and I'm sorry but Keanu Reeves just can't make it. Where Bale is all complex, nuanced and charismatic, Reeves is just handsome wood) and the fight scenes are beautiful to look at. Cons are the Father, who seemed too weak to me, and the ending which doesn't do justice to what comes before. In any case, this is an above-average sci-fi flick. Take a look.
Equilibrium is a very fine movie. Highly entertaining, the score was more than okay, the casting does a really good job (I liked The Matrix -although I prefer Equilibrium's sobriety and rhythm, which many may find boring-, but come on... The actors were inferior and I'm sorry but Keanu Reeves just can't make it. Where Bale is all complex, nuanced and charismatic, Reeves is just handsome wood) and the fight scenes are beautiful to look at. Cons are the Father, who seemed too weak to me, and the ending which doesn't do justice to what comes before. In any case, this is an above-average sci-fi flick. Take a look.
"Equilibrium" is really hard to type.
Anonymous_Maxine23 March 2008
I bought Equilibrium just because Christian Bale is in it. To tell you the truth I was certain that it was going to be a goofy, direct-to-video sci-fi fiasco that most involved would just as soon forget. The cover box reminded me of Universal Soldier. As it turns out however, it's not a movie that those involved want to forget, it's an overlooked gem, no doubt because it came at the height of the Matrix craze, which it may resemble in too many ways. Unfortunately, too many people will callously write it off as a Matrix rip-off, and it's a shame because this is one of the best science fiction films to have come along in quite some time.
It takes place in the far off 21st century, but it's not about the future (given that it exists in a future that can't ever exist), it's about the disturbing reality that war is a part of human nature, and in order to eradicate it from the modern world we would have to become a homogenized society of emotionless, drug-controlled zombies. No jokes about that already being a reality.
The movie's biggest assertion is that it assigns blame for man's inhumanity to man to his ability to feel (ignoring the real causes, such as religion, political power, and less dogmatic things like national pride and human rights). The current government is based on enforcing the mass removal of emotion from the masses using a drug called Prozium, and is the source of the movie's main irony, that in order to eradicate war, it has waged war on all of it's own citizens, who constantly live under close surveillance.
The government employs Grammaton Clerics to handle that surveillance. They are highly trained officers authorized to kill anyone they deem to be "sense offenders" on the spot ("I trust you'll be more vigilant in the future?"). There is, in fact, a staggering amount of irony in the film, given that all emotion or feeling is strictly forbidden under penalty of death, and yet anger, suspicion and fear are all alive and well, and even flaunted. It's also interesting to consider that in real life it is the dogmatic, Cleric-like believers who aspire for war, and the normal people who just want to live their lives.
For the most part the movie ignores the fact that it is governments that wage war, not citizens (even emotionally sensitive ones), but no matter. The important thing that you need to know about the movie is that it goes way, way too far, and because of that, it's fun. I cheered out loud several times during the film because the gun fights, which are so unrealistic it's almost funny, are genuinely well-choreographed and exciting. If I may say so, this is what gun fights in hard core science fiction movies should look like.
Many people criticize the movie for being unrealistic or too extreme, altogether forgetting what kind of movie they're watching in the first place. The movie is not about moral dilemmas, even though the main character suffers a tremendous one, it's a fast, gritty science fiction movie that makes no apologies, and owes none. The characterization may be just a little heavy (Bale's character going from not understanding a question about what he felt when his wife was incinerated to having a soft spot for puppies, etc.), but like another outstanding and equally over-the-top film, Shoot 'Em Up, nothing is out of place. All of the excesses look right at home.
It is interesting to consider the real-world implications of the content of the movie though, regardless of how unrealistic it is. The totalitarian regime, for example, resembles Mao Tse- tung's manner of oppression with startling closeness, even down to the children spying on and reporting their parents. Under Mao, children who reported their parents engaging in "counter'-revolutionary activities" were publicly hailed as national heroes while their parents were generally tortured and executed. Whether the crimes were real or not was unimportant, what mattered is that, as you can imagine, in a society where people were so easily made to desperately fear their own children, you can imagine the level of control the government (Mao) had over the people. Something similar happens in this movie.
The similarities to The Matrix films are obvious, but limited mostly to superficial things like the fight scenes and some costumes. Thematically, the movies are totally different, and even with all of the similarities, this movie is more than able to stand on its own, and any similarities are more just an unfortunate bit of timing, as this is probably what caused the movie to be so overlooked. If you can't handle a little excess in the movies, definitely stay away from this one. But if you can watch a movie just for a good time, you could do a lot worse than this.
Note: Keep your eye out for Dominic Purcell, Prison Break's Lincoln Burrows, in the opening scene. He should have had a bigger role in the movie...
It takes place in the far off 21st century, but it's not about the future (given that it exists in a future that can't ever exist), it's about the disturbing reality that war is a part of human nature, and in order to eradicate it from the modern world we would have to become a homogenized society of emotionless, drug-controlled zombies. No jokes about that already being a reality.
The movie's biggest assertion is that it assigns blame for man's inhumanity to man to his ability to feel (ignoring the real causes, such as religion, political power, and less dogmatic things like national pride and human rights). The current government is based on enforcing the mass removal of emotion from the masses using a drug called Prozium, and is the source of the movie's main irony, that in order to eradicate war, it has waged war on all of it's own citizens, who constantly live under close surveillance.
The government employs Grammaton Clerics to handle that surveillance. They are highly trained officers authorized to kill anyone they deem to be "sense offenders" on the spot ("I trust you'll be more vigilant in the future?"). There is, in fact, a staggering amount of irony in the film, given that all emotion or feeling is strictly forbidden under penalty of death, and yet anger, suspicion and fear are all alive and well, and even flaunted. It's also interesting to consider that in real life it is the dogmatic, Cleric-like believers who aspire for war, and the normal people who just want to live their lives.
For the most part the movie ignores the fact that it is governments that wage war, not citizens (even emotionally sensitive ones), but no matter. The important thing that you need to know about the movie is that it goes way, way too far, and because of that, it's fun. I cheered out loud several times during the film because the gun fights, which are so unrealistic it's almost funny, are genuinely well-choreographed and exciting. If I may say so, this is what gun fights in hard core science fiction movies should look like.
Many people criticize the movie for being unrealistic or too extreme, altogether forgetting what kind of movie they're watching in the first place. The movie is not about moral dilemmas, even though the main character suffers a tremendous one, it's a fast, gritty science fiction movie that makes no apologies, and owes none. The characterization may be just a little heavy (Bale's character going from not understanding a question about what he felt when his wife was incinerated to having a soft spot for puppies, etc.), but like another outstanding and equally over-the-top film, Shoot 'Em Up, nothing is out of place. All of the excesses look right at home.
It is interesting to consider the real-world implications of the content of the movie though, regardless of how unrealistic it is. The totalitarian regime, for example, resembles Mao Tse- tung's manner of oppression with startling closeness, even down to the children spying on and reporting their parents. Under Mao, children who reported their parents engaging in "counter'-revolutionary activities" were publicly hailed as national heroes while their parents were generally tortured and executed. Whether the crimes were real or not was unimportant, what mattered is that, as you can imagine, in a society where people were so easily made to desperately fear their own children, you can imagine the level of control the government (Mao) had over the people. Something similar happens in this movie.
The similarities to The Matrix films are obvious, but limited mostly to superficial things like the fight scenes and some costumes. Thematically, the movies are totally different, and even with all of the similarities, this movie is more than able to stand on its own, and any similarities are more just an unfortunate bit of timing, as this is probably what caused the movie to be so overlooked. If you can't handle a little excess in the movies, definitely stay away from this one. But if you can watch a movie just for a good time, you could do a lot worse than this.
Note: Keep your eye out for Dominic Purcell, Prison Break's Lincoln Burrows, in the opening scene. He should have had a bigger role in the movie...
Put down the Valium and watch this film
BrandtSponseller9 March 2005
Set in a future, post-World War III society where emotions have been outlawed, Equilibrium tells the story of John Preston (Christian Bale), a government agent who begins to have doubts about the policy he is enforcing.
Equilibrium is the perfect example why I do not rate lower for derivativeness or unoriginality. The film is basically high-concept combination of Fahrenheit 451 (1966), George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (original published in 1949, film versions appeared in 1954, 1956 and 1984), The Matrix (1999) and a bit of The Wizard of Oz (1939) thrown in for good measure. What matters is not how original the ideas are (assuming it's not a case of plagiarism), as whether something is original or not is an epistemological problem that tells us more about our own familiarity with other material rather than the precedent status of the artwork we're questioning, but how well the material is handled. The high-concept material in Equilibrium is handled brilliantly.
On its surface, after a brief action-oriented beginning, Equilibrium is basically a progression from a fairly complex sci-fi film (meaning simply that it takes a lot of exposition to get up to speed) to a thriller to a "gun fu"-styled actioner. The progression is carried out deftly by writer/director Kurt Wimmer (who unfortunately hasn't shown the same level of elegant panache in other films I've seen from him, including Sphere (1998) and The Recruit (2003)), with all of the genres somewhat present throughout the film. Wimmer is so austerely slick here that Equilibrium sometimes resembles a postmodernist automobile commercial. The transition from genre to genre is incredibly smooth.
The most impressive material on this surface level is the gun fu action stuff, which almost "out-Matrixes" The Matrix in style, if not volume. Preston is so skilled to be an almost invincible opponent. His solitary misstep as a fighter occurs once he gives himself over to emotion. This is nicely related to the common advice from kung fu senseis that emotion lessens one's effectiveness in combat.
Of course a big part of Equilibrium is the set of philosophical points it has to make about emotion. There are sections of the film that are appropriately dialogue-heavy, and Wimmer is more than conspicuous with this (one of two) primary theme(s). Just as important as dialogue for Wimmer's commentary on man's emotions are body language and behavior. Some viewers might see it as a flaw that characters frequently show what they consider to be signs of emotions in their comments or behavior, but that's part of Wimmer's agenda. Because it's difficult to even say just what counts as an emotion, and emotions are so wrapped-up with being sentient beings, it would be difficult if not impossible to fully eliminate them, and it's certainly not recommendable. The cast does an excellent job of portraying characters who are supposed to be mostly emotionless but with cracks in the stoic armor continually poking through.
Wimmer has a harsh view of our society's self-medication epidemic--even the title of the film seems to be a stab at the common claim that drugs like Prozac and Xanax are taken to help one "smooth out", or "equalize", extremes of mood, or extreme dispositions. The Equilibrium government extends this agenda into the tangible material realm as they also attempt to "smooth out" mood swings by eliminating any cultural artifacts that might promote varied moods/emotions. Wimmer seems to see it as a not-too-exaggerated extension of the modus operandi behind Prozac-like drugs.
The other primary theme is one of institutional control. Wimmer has a lot to say about unquestioningly following authorities, and he's careful to show that it's not just governmental authorities that can be a problem. He does this by tightly wrapping religious allegory with his depiction of Equilibrium's government. The leader is known as "Father", and the government secret service members are "clerics". Those outside of this control are shown as authentic, free, individualistic and happy despite the hardships involved with their embrace of forbidden thought/items.
More subtly, Wimmer employs the now overused washed out blue-gray cinematography of late 1990s/early 2000s genre films towards an unusual end. It's not just a stylistic device here, but represents a particular kind of reality. Under the purview of the fascistic government, blue-gray predominates. When glimpses of freedom/authenticity enter the film, the blue-gray look is gone, replaced with strongly saturated warm colors, and occasionally a more nostalgic subdued tone. This is one of the film's similarities to The Wizard of Oz, although maybe not the most significant one.
If you're someone who cherishes originality for its own sake, you might not like Equilibrium as much, but you have much more serious epistemological problems to sort out. Otherwise, this is a film worth watching and thinking about.
Equilibrium is the perfect example why I do not rate lower for derivativeness or unoriginality. The film is basically high-concept combination of Fahrenheit 451 (1966), George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (original published in 1949, film versions appeared in 1954, 1956 and 1984), The Matrix (1999) and a bit of The Wizard of Oz (1939) thrown in for good measure. What matters is not how original the ideas are (assuming it's not a case of plagiarism), as whether something is original or not is an epistemological problem that tells us more about our own familiarity with other material rather than the precedent status of the artwork we're questioning, but how well the material is handled. The high-concept material in Equilibrium is handled brilliantly.
On its surface, after a brief action-oriented beginning, Equilibrium is basically a progression from a fairly complex sci-fi film (meaning simply that it takes a lot of exposition to get up to speed) to a thriller to a "gun fu"-styled actioner. The progression is carried out deftly by writer/director Kurt Wimmer (who unfortunately hasn't shown the same level of elegant panache in other films I've seen from him, including Sphere (1998) and The Recruit (2003)), with all of the genres somewhat present throughout the film. Wimmer is so austerely slick here that Equilibrium sometimes resembles a postmodernist automobile commercial. The transition from genre to genre is incredibly smooth.
The most impressive material on this surface level is the gun fu action stuff, which almost "out-Matrixes" The Matrix in style, if not volume. Preston is so skilled to be an almost invincible opponent. His solitary misstep as a fighter occurs once he gives himself over to emotion. This is nicely related to the common advice from kung fu senseis that emotion lessens one's effectiveness in combat.
Of course a big part of Equilibrium is the set of philosophical points it has to make about emotion. There are sections of the film that are appropriately dialogue-heavy, and Wimmer is more than conspicuous with this (one of two) primary theme(s). Just as important as dialogue for Wimmer's commentary on man's emotions are body language and behavior. Some viewers might see it as a flaw that characters frequently show what they consider to be signs of emotions in their comments or behavior, but that's part of Wimmer's agenda. Because it's difficult to even say just what counts as an emotion, and emotions are so wrapped-up with being sentient beings, it would be difficult if not impossible to fully eliminate them, and it's certainly not recommendable. The cast does an excellent job of portraying characters who are supposed to be mostly emotionless but with cracks in the stoic armor continually poking through.
Wimmer has a harsh view of our society's self-medication epidemic--even the title of the film seems to be a stab at the common claim that drugs like Prozac and Xanax are taken to help one "smooth out", or "equalize", extremes of mood, or extreme dispositions. The Equilibrium government extends this agenda into the tangible material realm as they also attempt to "smooth out" mood swings by eliminating any cultural artifacts that might promote varied moods/emotions. Wimmer seems to see it as a not-too-exaggerated extension of the modus operandi behind Prozac-like drugs.
The other primary theme is one of institutional control. Wimmer has a lot to say about unquestioningly following authorities, and he's careful to show that it's not just governmental authorities that can be a problem. He does this by tightly wrapping religious allegory with his depiction of Equilibrium's government. The leader is known as "Father", and the government secret service members are "clerics". Those outside of this control are shown as authentic, free, individualistic and happy despite the hardships involved with their embrace of forbidden thought/items.
More subtly, Wimmer employs the now overused washed out blue-gray cinematography of late 1990s/early 2000s genre films towards an unusual end. It's not just a stylistic device here, but represents a particular kind of reality. Under the purview of the fascistic government, blue-gray predominates. When glimpses of freedom/authenticity enter the film, the blue-gray look is gone, replaced with strongly saturated warm colors, and occasionally a more nostalgic subdued tone. This is one of the film's similarities to The Wizard of Oz, although maybe not the most significant one.
If you're someone who cherishes originality for its own sake, you might not like Equilibrium as much, but you have much more serious epistemological problems to sort out. Otherwise, this is a film worth watching and thinking about.
Cult movie extraordinaire?
juniper-1410 December 2004
I've seen this movie 5 times (it's the nature of satellite TV) within the past week and it's true...you catch something you've missed or see something new with every successive viewing. This movie is way ahead of its time, and much better than the over-rated Matrix. Bale is always exceptional, and so is his "Metroland" co-star, Emily Watson. Maybe it's the Anglophile or Brit-flick fan in me, but I must say that the added presence of Sean Bean and Angus MacFadyen all but confirms the pre-eminence of UK acting in quality films. Accompanied by very appropriate techno-musik, the action sequences are fast and Euro-flashy, heavily influenced by Jan De Bont--different from the weird, drawn-out, "suspended/string puppet" thing that apparently passes for martial arts these days. (I miss Bruce Lee)
Anyway, if you haven't seen it, give this a shot. If you already have & weren't impressed, take a look at it again. It will grow on you. See if you're inclined to show up to work the next day looking and acting very much a "Cleric" who missed a Prozium dose.
Anyway, if you haven't seen it, give this a shot. If you already have & weren't impressed, take a look at it again. It will grow on you. See if you're inclined to show up to work the next day looking and acting very much a "Cleric" who missed a Prozium dose.
Criminally underrated dystopian effort
Leofwine_draca7 July 2016
A strong film with plenty to recommend it, EQUILIBRIUM was released to the noise of "not another MATRIX rip-off" and similar sentiments. This instant decision is a little unfair, because – although obviously inspired by the Keanu Reeves blockbuster in places – EQUILIBRIUM is a decent and intelligent science fiction thriller with a pleasing change of pace. Once again we're in an Orwellian style future of grab greys and mundane apartment-block buildings, where emotion is suppressed and evil henchmen in motorbike helmets go around shooting little dogs. In this world we meet Christian Bale, a martial arts superhero who goes around murdering all those emotional and artistic folks.
Sure, it's an old story, but it works well here. CGI cityscapes aside, there are no fancy special effects robots or monsters; instead the basis is on good old-fashioned characters, and with a supporting cast that includes Sean Pertwee, Sean Bean, Taye Diggs, William Fichtner, and Emily Watson; you can't go wrong. Much of the story is predictable and there are a couple of sappy moments, but for the most part this is suspenseful, exciting stuff. A handful of violent, ultra-stylish action sequences (displaying originality, even in this day and age) add to the impact and help make the underlying dreariness rather enjoyable. Very entertaining viewing that deserves to be given a chance. A lot of this works thanks to Bale; once again, he's excellent in the part. I'd go so far as to say that this is actually better than THE MATRIX; whereas that film was all action, this one makes you think in a moral sense, and the action supports the story – rather than the action being the story.
Sure, it's an old story, but it works well here. CGI cityscapes aside, there are no fancy special effects robots or monsters; instead the basis is on good old-fashioned characters, and with a supporting cast that includes Sean Pertwee, Sean Bean, Taye Diggs, William Fichtner, and Emily Watson; you can't go wrong. Much of the story is predictable and there are a couple of sappy moments, but for the most part this is suspenseful, exciting stuff. A handful of violent, ultra-stylish action sequences (displaying originality, even in this day and age) add to the impact and help make the underlying dreariness rather enjoyable. Very entertaining viewing that deserves to be given a chance. A lot of this works thanks to Bale; once again, he's excellent in the part. I'd go so far as to say that this is actually better than THE MATRIX; whereas that film was all action, this one makes you think in a moral sense, and the action supports the story – rather than the action being the story.
Familiar Plot Let Down By The Emphasis On Action
Theo Robertson14 September 2008
Usually a film as unoriginal and derivative as this would deserve great scorn . We see such unlikely bedfellows such as BLAKES 7 , FARENHEIT 451 , 1984 and THE MATRIX all rolled in to one , but for some incredible reason that is difficult to pin down EQUILBRUIM succeeds in working . It's not a massive success and you can understand why it didn't do anything at the American box office since it has a very European look and feel which director Kurt Wimmer deserves some congratulations for
Where the film does fall down is when it tries to pander to a prospective American teen audience with its MATRIX inspired shoot outs which are very silly . If you do enough martial arts you'll be able to dodge an avalanche of bullets ? Hardly credible and is even more unconvincing in the time frame which has literally dozens of bad guys blown away . Think about it ? How long does it take an armed bad guy cock and point his weapon at someone ? two seconds ? Three seconds ? For some reason it takes countless seconds for nameless extras to point a gun at Christian Bale's hero . You also feel screenwriter Wimmer should have spent more time coming up with a subtext and more effective ending . I enjoyed the back story of a society not allowed to feel emotion on pain of death but this should have been explored far more than it is on screen
Wimmer has cast very well with a largely British cast but if you feel you've been cheated by well known names I'd agree with you . Sean Bean only has something like three scenes , Watson in the region of four while Sean Pertwee doesn't actually appear in the flesh . Once famous actor David Hemmings makes an appearance which is quite literally blink and you'll miss it . At the end of the day I guess the producers probably knew EQUILIBRUIM would find its market on video/DVD rather than the cinema therefore didn't hype up the casting too much
Where the film does fall down is when it tries to pander to a prospective American teen audience with its MATRIX inspired shoot outs which are very silly . If you do enough martial arts you'll be able to dodge an avalanche of bullets ? Hardly credible and is even more unconvincing in the time frame which has literally dozens of bad guys blown away . Think about it ? How long does it take an armed bad guy cock and point his weapon at someone ? two seconds ? Three seconds ? For some reason it takes countless seconds for nameless extras to point a gun at Christian Bale's hero . You also feel screenwriter Wimmer should have spent more time coming up with a subtext and more effective ending . I enjoyed the back story of a society not allowed to feel emotion on pain of death but this should have been explored far more than it is on screen
Wimmer has cast very well with a largely British cast but if you feel you've been cheated by well known names I'd agree with you . Sean Bean only has something like three scenes , Watson in the region of four while Sean Pertwee doesn't actually appear in the flesh . Once famous actor David Hemmings makes an appearance which is quite literally blink and you'll miss it . At the end of the day I guess the producers probably knew EQUILIBRUIM would find its market on video/DVD rather than the cinema therefore didn't hype up the casting too much
Worth seeing twice in two consecutive days (which I did.)
straightarrow8 December 2002
I went in to see "Equilibrium" with no knowledge of the movie other than a two line synopsis from a local newspaper and the movie poster in the theater lobby. As usual, I was practicing my theory of "lowered expectations." I expect a movie to be horribly awful ahead of time, so I can not be disappointed. I was not disappointed. At the end of the film I could not sit still in my seat. I felt the urge to go out into the world and proclaim the utter awesomeness of "Equilibrium." Such words as "Sweet," "Crazy," and "Righteous" sprang forth from my lips in rapid succession when I talked about the movie with my friends. Not since the "Fellowship of the Ring" have I desired to sing a movie's praises. And I mean literally SING. "Equilibrium" could, and should, be the sleeper hit of the year. The film's action sequences stir up the blood and pump the adrenaline as if you were riding a roller-coaster. The art style, while minimalistic, and thus maybe confused for low-budget by some, is actually quite successful in portraying a totalitarian and emotionless society. The acting is excellent as well, and quite possibly the best I have seen in an action film in long time. While the nay-sayers will say that the film is too unoriginal, borrowing elements of its story and premise from "Fahrenheit 451" and "Brave New World," these complaints can be disregarded as the movie adds enough of its own style and story to make the comparisons plausible in basic premise only. In the end, like any movie, "Equilibrium" is meant as entertainment. And entertain it does. It does it so very well. It mixes action and with substantial plot and original style to make an excellent whole. Go see it. Go see it twice. Go see "Equilibrium," Cleric.
Overwhelming and spectacular Sci-Fi set in a post-WWIII dystopia , in which is forbidden art and literature
ma-cortes4 July 2019
Top-notch movie with impressive production design , marvelous effects and incredible visual designs . Attractive and over-the-top Sci-Fi with some of the best and stupendous action scenes ever made . This excitingly original film is full of thrills , cutting-edge visuals , stylist innovations , groundbreaking fights , tension , suspense , but also several commercial elements , including computer-simulated violence . This is a dynamic, fast-paced and amusing movie , though downbeat . It's an enjoyable , if somewhat light-headed piece of escapism with state-of-art special effects and straightforward screenplay . Big-budgeted film by the great producers Andrew Rona , Bob Weinstein , Harvey Weinstein , Jan De Bont led to break into the booming Sci-Fi//fantasy market plenty of inventiveness and imagination . Full of action , it's complemented by rousing scenes , breathtaking fights and struggles are spotlights . It is set in an oppressive future where all forms of feeling are ilegal . Dealing with John Preston (Christian Bale) , a man in charge of enforcing the law rises to overthrow the system and state , he is a top Grammaton Cleric with fabulous martial art skills detailed to search out rebels and refuseniks at the strange world of Libria where literatura and art are no-nos . This rebellious people haven't been taking their daily dose of emotion supressing called Prozium . Of course , so when Preston catches colleague Partridge (Sean Bean) with his nose in the poetry of WB Yeats , he knows his partner will face the same fate like John's spouse : elimination by burning for sense offences . But the seeds of doubt are sown . John secretly pockets the book and later on , he becomes into an unrepentant offender . Then , Preston learns from mysterious rebels and one day , a group seeks him out and introduces him to the true nature of the hidden reality and his role in the war against its controllers . John learns about Libria , he is aware all life on Earth may be nothing more than an elaborate masquerade created by a malevolent cyber-intelligence led by Father (Sean Pertwee). Will new partner Brandt (Taye Diggs) intuit his posible defection ? Preston races against time to get his purports . Meanwhile , a traitor betrays the group and the events get worse . The group desperately battle to hold back the marauding enforcers from overtaking them .
It is a dark time for the world in this dystopian flick as the epic war between domineering authorities and dominated slaves reaches a thundering crescendo , being a Matrix wannabe . This is an action-packed , booming yarn with some of the best crossfire scenes ever filmed , plenty of bounds with shots , including awesome visual effects . This thrilling movie contains impressive fights , chills , breathtaking designs , dense philosophy and many other things . From the beginning to the end the comic-book action-packed and extreme violence is continued and it's fast movement ; that's why the picture is pretty amusing ; furthermore contains lots of spectacular combats in mart arts style , being masterfully staged . The plot may have some virtue of transparent plagiarism taking parts here and there of other dystopian stories . Contrived beyond belief with spectacular struggles that play like video games , but slickly calculated to please 2000s audiences .Cast is pretty well , it stars Christian Bale , he is fine but very serious , he is too self-conscious as an action hero . He is well accompanied by a nice support cast , as Emily Watson who as Mary O'Brien as a rebel who feels his own equilibrium waver . Along with other notorious secondaries such as : Sean Bean , Sean Pertwee , John Keogh , William Fichtner , Angus Macfadyen , Anatole Taubman , David Hemmins , Harbour , Dominic Purcell , Kurt Wimmer himself , among others .
It contains moving and pulsing musical score by Klaus Badelt . Magnificent , glamorous production design and ably mixing monumental totalitarism gothic CGI setting along with Berlin locations . Colorful and imaginative cinematography by Dion Beebe . Kurt Wimmer's good debut , and it sports the requisite metallic tecno sheen . Kurt Wimmer is a prestigious writer who has written important films , such as : Sphere , The case of Thomas Crown , Point break , Street Kings , Total Recall , Salt , The wolves , The misfits , Law abiden citizen . And he has directed a few films , such as : One Tough Bastard , Ultaviolet and this Equibrium . Rating : 7/10 . Better than average . Well worth watching .
It is a dark time for the world in this dystopian flick as the epic war between domineering authorities and dominated slaves reaches a thundering crescendo , being a Matrix wannabe . This is an action-packed , booming yarn with some of the best crossfire scenes ever filmed , plenty of bounds with shots , including awesome visual effects . This thrilling movie contains impressive fights , chills , breathtaking designs , dense philosophy and many other things . From the beginning to the end the comic-book action-packed and extreme violence is continued and it's fast movement ; that's why the picture is pretty amusing ; furthermore contains lots of spectacular combats in mart arts style , being masterfully staged . The plot may have some virtue of transparent plagiarism taking parts here and there of other dystopian stories . Contrived beyond belief with spectacular struggles that play like video games , but slickly calculated to please 2000s audiences .Cast is pretty well , it stars Christian Bale , he is fine but very serious , he is too self-conscious as an action hero . He is well accompanied by a nice support cast , as Emily Watson who as Mary O'Brien as a rebel who feels his own equilibrium waver . Along with other notorious secondaries such as : Sean Bean , Sean Pertwee , John Keogh , William Fichtner , Angus Macfadyen , Anatole Taubman , David Hemmins , Harbour , Dominic Purcell , Kurt Wimmer himself , among others .
It contains moving and pulsing musical score by Klaus Badelt . Magnificent , glamorous production design and ably mixing monumental totalitarism gothic CGI setting along with Berlin locations . Colorful and imaginative cinematography by Dion Beebe . Kurt Wimmer's good debut , and it sports the requisite metallic tecno sheen . Kurt Wimmer is a prestigious writer who has written important films , such as : Sphere , The case of Thomas Crown , Point break , Street Kings , Total Recall , Salt , The wolves , The misfits , Law abiden citizen . And he has directed a few films , such as : One Tough Bastard , Ultaviolet and this Equibrium . Rating : 7/10 . Better than average . Well worth watching .
The Matrix meets Logan's Run
Fluke_Skywalker9 March 2023
Any "concept" movie comes with a whole host of flaws in its logic. And make no mistake, there are holes here that you could drive a bus through. But none of that really matters because if you just take the premise at face value and go with it, the end result is often compelling, and a heck of a lot of fun.
The influences here are crystal clear. Coming out just a few years after "The Matrix", the aesthetic, electronica score and the hyper-stylized fighting (here a Gun-Fu that is, if you'll pardon the pun, a blast) are clearly mimicking it. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then "The Matrix" should be flattered indeed.
The other clear influence is "Logan's Run". The post-war dystopian society that seeks to control mankind's darker urges via a methodology (here feeling suppression, there a control on how long people may live) enforced by a government law agency.
"Equilibrium" has all of the classic dystopian trappings, and your interpretation of it will likely be in line with your personal politics and philosophies. I'll spare you mine, but I will say that I felt that the story was eerily prophetic at times.
Even if you're not in the mood for a think piece, the action and performance here are more than enough reason to give "Equilibrium" a, well, shot.
The influences here are crystal clear. Coming out just a few years after "The Matrix", the aesthetic, electronica score and the hyper-stylized fighting (here a Gun-Fu that is, if you'll pardon the pun, a blast) are clearly mimicking it. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then "The Matrix" should be flattered indeed.
The other clear influence is "Logan's Run". The post-war dystopian society that seeks to control mankind's darker urges via a methodology (here feeling suppression, there a control on how long people may live) enforced by a government law agency.
"Equilibrium" has all of the classic dystopian trappings, and your interpretation of it will likely be in line with your personal politics and philosophies. I'll spare you mine, but I will say that I felt that the story was eerily prophetic at times.
Even if you're not in the mood for a think piece, the action and performance here are more than enough reason to give "Equilibrium" a, well, shot.
Surprisingly Good!
Mylene-220 July 2005
I watched this movie late one night on one of the Encore channels. Stayed up past my bedtime I did. Then I recorded it the next time it was on. Watched it two more times and then, AND THEN, bought the DVD and watched it a couple if not three more times. First, I rarely will watch a movie twice unless enough time has passed that I have forgotten how it ends. There are just too many movies out there and not enough time. But this movie deserved the time. I loved the fight scenes, loved the premise of the movie, loved the acting (and seeing Christian Bale shirtless). Emily Watson is an amazing actress. It's rare these days to see an action/SciFi with actual plot and dialog. How can I care about a movie if I don't care about the characters? Anyway, watch it. I've lent the movie to about 5 guys and they all liked it. One guy is into the Martial Arts and he thought the fight scenes were awesome (my word -- his word/s was/were "the fight scenes were well choreographed").
Moral of the story is: watch it, you won't be disappointed. Oh, and I said "Surprisingly Good" because I had never heard of the movie and was expecting some B movie crap -- what can I say, I couldn't sleep.
Moral of the story is: watch it, you won't be disappointed. Oh, and I said "Surprisingly Good" because I had never heard of the movie and was expecting some B movie crap -- what can I say, I couldn't sleep.
George Orwell's « 1984 » meets Matrix
sorinvlasiu-1734231 May 2020
A nice surprise this movie and I wonder how I missed it when it was released. It's a story happening in a George Orwell's « 1984 » kind of world with Matrix inspired fights. Christian Bales meets William Fitchner (they also met in Black Knight I think), Sean Bean and Emily Watson in a great fiction/action movie.
it was good
kill-59 December 2004
I think this movie was a good movie, and I also think that most critics were unjustified in their reasoning for panning it. Almost seems like a conspiracy. Anyway, the story was interesting, it set up some kind of a reality where we have this "gun kata", and stuck with it. The "gun kata" never became a deus ex machina, it just drove the action sequences, while staying clear of the actual plot, which had some interesting twists, certainly more than the matrix. I think Christian Bale's character was a kind of clone of keanu reeves in the Matrix, but he is clearly a better actor, and his range was really challenged. The other characters were much less "wooden" and comic book like than the evil characters in the matrix, which ironically made them more human, almost too human for an action movie, and that is probably why the critics were so hard on it. The matrix (at least the first one) didn't take itself too seriously, but this one did...and I think it lived up to the challenge as much as any action movie set in the distant future with some reality bending. I really enjoyed it, and would have liked to see it in the theatre, none the less a great rent if you liked the first matrix, kill bill, or any other film that blends action with choreography and weaves an interesting tale of reality. My suggestion might have been more extreme antagonists, but then, perhaps this movie will help me accept more human-like villains in action movies. Anyway give it a try!
An interesting if underdeveloped Sci-Fi spectacle
eddie_baggins2 February 2022
Receiving a lukewarm at best response from critics on release and faring even worse at the worldwide box office when it was unleashed at the tail end of 2002, earning less than $5 million dollars at the international ticket booths, Kurt Wimmer's dystopian sci-fi Equilibrium has slowly but steadily gained a significant genre following in the near 20 years on from its initial release.
Taking liberally from George Orwell's revered 1984 and other similar films, Equilibrium's narrative focuses around a world ravaged by global warfare that has decided the best way forward for the human race is to squash the very instinct to feel or show emotion, as its society is policed by a gun-fu (you can only understand it once you see it) savvy police force and dictated by a mysterious leader who rules with pharmaceutical drugs designed specifically to ensure an obedient and predictable population.
It's a loaded subject matter and one with ample potential to explore and examine and it's fair to say Wimmer doesn't delve too much into the finer details of his concept as he instead keeps his film relatively narrow in scope as it centres around Christian Bale's long serving and dedicated government agent John Preston who finds himself beginning to look at life with a different set of eyes that could indeed begin to unleash his natural feelings and thoughts that have long been curtailed by the world he lives and serves in.
For such a unique concept, much of Equilibrium is fairly predictable, with Wimmer following a well trodden path towards his end game with it disappointing that the film doesn't explore much of its ideas in too much depth with the idea of the resistance force building against this new way of life or even Preston's backstory/family life not getting a lot of time to grow or make us feel much in the way of genuine emotion but there's still a fun time too be had with the film we end up getting.
The type of film that would've nowadays gotten a fair amount of airplay in the modern streaming climate, this is absolutely the type of material Netflix would overpay for the rights too, Equilibrium's lack of storytelling smarts or inability to grow much from its initial conception doesn't stop it from being an enjoyable dystopian detour that harbors within it an idea and concepts that someone would be wise to explore further if given the chance too.
Final Say -
A sci-fi that borrows plenty from previous genre entries but also creates a raft of nifty if slightly underdeveloped ideas of its own, Equilibrium is an initially dismissed feature that has understandably managed to find its growing audience in the years since its release, despite it never once threatening to be regarded as top class fare.
3 burned paintings out of 5
For more reviews check out Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)
Taking liberally from George Orwell's revered 1984 and other similar films, Equilibrium's narrative focuses around a world ravaged by global warfare that has decided the best way forward for the human race is to squash the very instinct to feel or show emotion, as its society is policed by a gun-fu (you can only understand it once you see it) savvy police force and dictated by a mysterious leader who rules with pharmaceutical drugs designed specifically to ensure an obedient and predictable population.
It's a loaded subject matter and one with ample potential to explore and examine and it's fair to say Wimmer doesn't delve too much into the finer details of his concept as he instead keeps his film relatively narrow in scope as it centres around Christian Bale's long serving and dedicated government agent John Preston who finds himself beginning to look at life with a different set of eyes that could indeed begin to unleash his natural feelings and thoughts that have long been curtailed by the world he lives and serves in.
For such a unique concept, much of Equilibrium is fairly predictable, with Wimmer following a well trodden path towards his end game with it disappointing that the film doesn't explore much of its ideas in too much depth with the idea of the resistance force building against this new way of life or even Preston's backstory/family life not getting a lot of time to grow or make us feel much in the way of genuine emotion but there's still a fun time too be had with the film we end up getting.
The type of film that would've nowadays gotten a fair amount of airplay in the modern streaming climate, this is absolutely the type of material Netflix would overpay for the rights too, Equilibrium's lack of storytelling smarts or inability to grow much from its initial conception doesn't stop it from being an enjoyable dystopian detour that harbors within it an idea and concepts that someone would be wise to explore further if given the chance too.
Final Say -
A sci-fi that borrows plenty from previous genre entries but also creates a raft of nifty if slightly underdeveloped ideas of its own, Equilibrium is an initially dismissed feature that has understandably managed to find its growing audience in the years since its release, despite it never once threatening to be regarded as top class fare.
3 burned paintings out of 5
For more reviews check out Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)
The plot = cancel culture before it reven existed
jimwaldothefirst14 March 2021
Another favourite of mine, especially reflecting now in 2021.
Back when this was released we lived in a very minor similarity of the movie plot.
Now looking at present times with global surveillance, lock-downs, cancel culture, the destruction of various parts of history as it no longer suits current beliefs. I wonder how much closer to this movie reality we really are. How many people are hoarding parts of history deemed unacceptable by the majority of a nation?
Make your own mind up.
Good story, good actors, good movie, great swordplay/gunplay sequences
Forget the Matrix, indeed.
kogomethestampede11 December 2004
If you are a fan of such books as Brave New World, 1984, The Giver, or This Perfect Day or movies like the Matrix and Logan's Run--Equilibrium is just the movie for you. In addition to a terrifying plot set in our very own future, the movie has mind-blowing action sequences that are choreographed beautifully (but not obviously) and shot brilliantly and spectacular acting on the part of Christian Bale. I hate predictable movies and this one is anything but...there are so many twists and turns, you'll be on the edge of your seat with suspense the majority of the time. I was hooked within the first minute! Whether you love action or a great plot line, this movie gives the Matrix trilogy (especially Reloaded and Revolutions) a run for its money--to say the least.
good dystopian concepts
SnoopyStyle8 January 2015
In the 21st century, there was a massive world war. The Grammaton Clerics were created trained with martial art of gun kata to eliminate war by suppressing feelings. They are tasked to destroy art, literature, music and supporters of the old ways. John Preston (Christian Bale) and Errol Partridge (Sean Bean) destroy a stash of art and a band of rebels in the Nether region. They return to the city state Libria where citizens take daily injections of Prozium to suppress feelings. Vice-Counsel DuPont (Angus Macfadyen) is their superior. Preston is forced to kill Partridge finding him reading a book of poetry. Preston's wife had been executed for Sense Offence. He is given a new partner Brandt (Taye Diggs). He accidentally breaks his dose of Prozium. He arrests Mary O'Brien (Emily Watson) but he starts to regain his feelings. He destroys his Prozium allotment.
The ideas are worthy of the various young adult dystopian franchises that is prevalent today. They would have the lead be a young girl training to be a cleric. There are some fun concepts being thrown around. The design could do with more CG work. The action is Matrix inspired but at a lesser level. This feels like an interesting sci-fi idea but is not quite executed well enough.
The ideas are worthy of the various young adult dystopian franchises that is prevalent today. They would have the lead be a young girl training to be a cleric. There are some fun concepts being thrown around. The design could do with more CG work. The action is Matrix inspired but at a lesser level. This feels like an interesting sci-fi idea but is not quite executed well enough.
A rare dose of originality
mentalcritic6 November 2004
If there is one complaint about the Hollywood system that rings true, it is that Hollywood seems quite bereft of ideas. Then films like Equilibrium come out and remind us that it's not that we're out of ideas so much as we're just not trying hard enough. Not that Equilibrium is inherently new - it borrows a fair few plot concepts from Farenheit 451 and Nineteen Eighty-Four, to name the most prominent examples. It is the way in which the old ideas are combined with the new that makes Equilibrium a fun and underrated experience.
The premise is simple enough. In a kneejerk reaction to the horrors of World War Three, the survivors outlaw what they blame the chaos upon. Their own emotions, in other words. As the lead character has a series of revelations, we begin to understand that in so doing, they have also outlawed much of what gives our existence a point. In the bland, lifeless world that the law-abiding citizens inhabit, everything that the audience takes for granted to make their lives worthwhile is being systematically destroyed. Shades of the America of today, the whole principle of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, are shown in a stark horror show.
I've read people comparing this film to The Matrix or its sequels. Where The Matrix series' fights were overlong, and often with no payoff, Equilibrium's fights are short and to the point. The difference this makes is, needless to say, as uplifting as Preston's fight to regain the humanity he stripped so many others of. Instead of having fights with no emotional connection to the characters, the story is given sufficient development to make the audience care what happens.
The film is not entirely without flaws. The Prozium element seems to have been written with no regard for the facts about psychiatric medicines. Their purpose is not to suppress emotion at all, but to balance the chemical system of the brain in order to give the patient better control of them. Sure, they're not without problems of their own, but exaggerating them like this does not do the portion of the community that needs them any favours. That aside, however, the on-camera struggle is one of the most intriguing I've viewed for some time. Ergo, this minor plot problem is made up for. The only other real complaint I have is that the film could have done with a little more footage to give some characters more of a chance to develop.
I gave Equilibrium an eight out of ten. It's not the best negative science fiction you'll ever see, but it is enough of a breath of fresh air that this won't entirely matter. If the MPAA made more films like this, it wouldn't be suffering the constant financial dire straits that it so loves to blame everyone else for.
The premise is simple enough. In a kneejerk reaction to the horrors of World War Three, the survivors outlaw what they blame the chaos upon. Their own emotions, in other words. As the lead character has a series of revelations, we begin to understand that in so doing, they have also outlawed much of what gives our existence a point. In the bland, lifeless world that the law-abiding citizens inhabit, everything that the audience takes for granted to make their lives worthwhile is being systematically destroyed. Shades of the America of today, the whole principle of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, are shown in a stark horror show.
I've read people comparing this film to The Matrix or its sequels. Where The Matrix series' fights were overlong, and often with no payoff, Equilibrium's fights are short and to the point. The difference this makes is, needless to say, as uplifting as Preston's fight to regain the humanity he stripped so many others of. Instead of having fights with no emotional connection to the characters, the story is given sufficient development to make the audience care what happens.
The film is not entirely without flaws. The Prozium element seems to have been written with no regard for the facts about psychiatric medicines. Their purpose is not to suppress emotion at all, but to balance the chemical system of the brain in order to give the patient better control of them. Sure, they're not without problems of their own, but exaggerating them like this does not do the portion of the community that needs them any favours. That aside, however, the on-camera struggle is one of the most intriguing I've viewed for some time. Ergo, this minor plot problem is made up for. The only other real complaint I have is that the film could have done with a little more footage to give some characters more of a chance to develop.
I gave Equilibrium an eight out of ten. It's not the best negative science fiction you'll ever see, but it is enough of a breath of fresh air that this won't entirely matter. If the MPAA made more films like this, it wouldn't be suffering the constant financial dire straits that it so loves to blame everyone else for.
Unexpected pearl
kabal-222 March 2005
The "Equilibrium" is one of the very little action movies that actually make sense! The script was influenced by many books and it worked! The film is really great, quick action, combined with a brilliantly stated philosophical question, breathtaking scenes with lots of effects, superb actors! It perfectly balances on the verge between just a high-budget nonsense action film (despite it's low budget) and extremely boring science-fiction film. It was quite a nice surprise when I watched it, because the director is not famous! And there was not any Hollywood superstar but all and the acting is amazingly great! Like the actors completely fit in their roles and ruthlessly overwhelm the weak script parts! I still remember the change of the emphasis when the main character changed sides! With this performance it is a serious competitor of "the matrix" or maybe more!
Although one little remark must be made in the beginning, when cleric Preston enters the barricaded room with the rebels, some shooting scenes are the same!
But I guess there is not a good film without a little weakness in it, is it?
Although one little remark must be made in the beginning, when cleric Preston enters the barricaded room with the rebels, some shooting scenes are the same!
But I guess there is not a good film without a little weakness in it, is it?
Enjoyable sci-fi despite the low budget and the recognisable style
bob the moo13 March 2004
After the third world war had ended, the survivors realised that mankind would not be able to survive much longer if it didn't tackle the thing that makes them fight - emotion. To tackle the drive to hurt and hate, the Government issues drugs to sedate the populace from the highs or lows of feeling. Meanwhile the police round up those who still feel and destroy art, books and anything that would stir feeling. The heads of these police are the elite Clerics. John Preston has always been a Cleric, but the failure of his partner and an encounter with a feeler start him thinking and feeling.
With sighs of `matrix clone' and `cashing in', I, like many viewers overlooked this film in favour of other things that may have come across as more original. However, in the mood for a bit of slick action, I rented this film and was pleasantly surprised by it. The plot may not be original - but what is these days? The film has shades of 1984 and Brave New World about it and it uses these ideas reasonably well. The concept does fall down a little bit with too much thought but on the surface it works well enough to suffice for a sci-fi action movie - the running time doesn't allow for much more than superficial thought here, although there is enough in this future to be thought provoking.
The action is good considering the low budget involved here. Yes, it's all very much thanks to the influence of the Matrix but at least it is quite stylish and exciting in it's own right rather than just being a lazy copy. The action scenes are well spread out over the film and they have good pace despite being very much style over substance. The explanation for all the acrobatics and semi-invincibility here is not as good as the explanation/justification for the same in Matrix, but again it is acceptable for this level of film. If anything, the plot goes too fast and too far - it is difficult to accept that things happen so fast, but generally it works.
The cast is a strange mix but works. The thing that surprised me was the sheer number of British actors in the cast. Bale is good in the lead role despite his American accent, he is pretty cool and manages to do the emotional change required despite the rush enforced on him by the film. Diggs is disappointing - his character doesn't get enough screentime and he doesn't fulfil the role of rival to Bale, he is a good looking guy but that isn't enough here. The support cast features Bean, Pertwee, Connelly, Fincher and McFadyen but really it is totally Bale's movie and he does pretty well to make it together.
Overall this is not a great film but it is an enjoyable action sci-fi that manages to produce an interesting, if unoriginal plot and some slick and fun action that is no less slick or fun for being a low rent version of The Matrix's effects. Well worth a Friday night look!
With sighs of `matrix clone' and `cashing in', I, like many viewers overlooked this film in favour of other things that may have come across as more original. However, in the mood for a bit of slick action, I rented this film and was pleasantly surprised by it. The plot may not be original - but what is these days? The film has shades of 1984 and Brave New World about it and it uses these ideas reasonably well. The concept does fall down a little bit with too much thought but on the surface it works well enough to suffice for a sci-fi action movie - the running time doesn't allow for much more than superficial thought here, although there is enough in this future to be thought provoking.
The action is good considering the low budget involved here. Yes, it's all very much thanks to the influence of the Matrix but at least it is quite stylish and exciting in it's own right rather than just being a lazy copy. The action scenes are well spread out over the film and they have good pace despite being very much style over substance. The explanation for all the acrobatics and semi-invincibility here is not as good as the explanation/justification for the same in Matrix, but again it is acceptable for this level of film. If anything, the plot goes too fast and too far - it is difficult to accept that things happen so fast, but generally it works.
The cast is a strange mix but works. The thing that surprised me was the sheer number of British actors in the cast. Bale is good in the lead role despite his American accent, he is pretty cool and manages to do the emotional change required despite the rush enforced on him by the film. Diggs is disappointing - his character doesn't get enough screentime and he doesn't fulfil the role of rival to Bale, he is a good looking guy but that isn't enough here. The support cast features Bean, Pertwee, Connelly, Fincher and McFadyen but really it is totally Bale's movie and he does pretty well to make it together.
Overall this is not a great film but it is an enjoyable action sci-fi that manages to produce an interesting, if unoriginal plot and some slick and fun action that is no less slick or fun for being a low rent version of The Matrix's effects. Well worth a Friday night look!
Great
dworldeater28 November 2020
Although I am late to the game in checking this out, I really found a lot to enjoy with Equilibrium. Taking place in a dark, dystopian and repressive future, Equilibrium as a sci fi action film checks a lot of boxes. The film looks great and was tightly directed. The cast is fantastic with some really great and talented British actors like Christian Bale, Sean Pertwee and Sean Bean. Equilibrium brings to mind classic dystopian science fiction like 1984 and Farenheit 451 and mixes it up with crazy Hong Kong/John Woo styled action scenes. Equilibrium does all of what it does really well and if you are a fan of science fiction or action, this flick will not disappoint. Equilibrium has both style and substance and as such is supercharged cerebral entertainment.
Surprisingly effective science fiction tale that exceeded expectations
DVD_Connoisseur22 December 2006
For some reason, I expected a cheap "Matrix"-clone when I sat down to watch the absorbing science fiction tale "Equilibrium" from director Kurt Wimmer. Despite a slow beginning that I feared would stay in grey-toned "Nineteen Eighty-Four" territory,the pace of the movie soon speeds up and the result is an exciting and gripping story with some surprises along the way.
The cast contains a smörgåsbord of British talent - Christian Bale, Sean Bean, Dominic Purcell and the lovely Emily Watson deliver strong and memorable performances. Even Sean Pertwee makes an appearance as the face of Father, the secretive leader of a futuristic fascist world where emotions are banned and suppressed by daily injections of drugs.
Bale's lead role in this movie is almost a dress rehearsal for "Batman Begins" - the "Gun Kata" action sequences are similar in tone to the "Batman" film but are actually more effective. Bale looks every inch the hero in "Equilibrium" with his impossibly chiselled features and honed physique - there's no doubting he makes a great superhero.
Taye Diggs plays Bale's career-obsessed sidekick in the film. He's excellent in the part and brings in a new level of tension to the proceedings.
The music in "Equilibrium" by Klaus Badelt is powerful and haunting and adds greatly to the atmosphere created by the stunning visuals.
While not being a masterpiece of the genre, "Equilibrium" is entertaining stuff and is definitely worthy of a rental. Some will love it, others will find it decidedly average. Very few will disregard it completely.
7 out of 10.
The cast contains a smörgåsbord of British talent - Christian Bale, Sean Bean, Dominic Purcell and the lovely Emily Watson deliver strong and memorable performances. Even Sean Pertwee makes an appearance as the face of Father, the secretive leader of a futuristic fascist world where emotions are banned and suppressed by daily injections of drugs.
Bale's lead role in this movie is almost a dress rehearsal for "Batman Begins" - the "Gun Kata" action sequences are similar in tone to the "Batman" film but are actually more effective. Bale looks every inch the hero in "Equilibrium" with his impossibly chiselled features and honed physique - there's no doubting he makes a great superhero.
Taye Diggs plays Bale's career-obsessed sidekick in the film. He's excellent in the part and brings in a new level of tension to the proceedings.
The music in "Equilibrium" by Klaus Badelt is powerful and haunting and adds greatly to the atmosphere created by the stunning visuals.
While not being a masterpiece of the genre, "Equilibrium" is entertaining stuff and is definitely worthy of a rental. Some will love it, others will find it decidedly average. Very few will disregard it completely.
7 out of 10.
One of my all time favourites.....
miltonsingh-1304216 December 2020
This movie is simply the most underrated movie of all time. But i dont care... I'm a die hard fan of the movie. It has become a cult classic now, so that certainly warms my heart... In fact now I've a filter in my life.... Those who love equilibrium are the ones who I think are similar to me and can be a part of my life... Those who can't fathom the greatness of this Kurt Wimmer masterpiece , you and I are simply different people.... This movie has only one flaw, it was way ahead of its time.... !!! But then again, every genius creation is underappreciated in its time....
Not without incident
deep06017625 October 2004
Matrix meets Martial Law. Christian Bale was fantastic in this, and, I would love to know how long it took him to learn the moves. The fight scene after the dog was found was truly, visually amazing.
Learning the true value of feelings and how to live in harmony with emotion and not outlawing them to fight the effect of war. A story with meaning and action, but most of all; lets not beat around the bush, some kick rear end moves.
Some fights were too easy and should have lasted longer, but all in all how long can the average action move last. Well done to Christian Bale.
Learning the true value of feelings and how to live in harmony with emotion and not outlawing them to fight the effect of war. A story with meaning and action, but most of all; lets not beat around the bush, some kick rear end moves.
Some fights were too easy and should have lasted longer, but all in all how long can the average action move last. Well done to Christian Bale.
more relevant than ever!
theofilossalonica9 May 2021
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