Equilibrium

Rating:
Summary: Not that bad, and simply amazing as a B movie (3 stars)
Review: Equilibrium is a new film starring many people I never even heard of, and a few familiar face character actors from European cinema. All in all this movie was a shade better than the "Brave New World" miniseries that aired on the major networks a few years ago. That is to say it wasn't that good, but neither was it bad. It is a highly derivative work of past films, tv shows, literatute, and video games. The acting was a tad cheesy, although I think it was meant to be given the SF premise that "Emotion is Illegal". The wooden actor (Christian Bale) came across as fairly genuine in the parts he played "emotional". Kudos to him for playing it like Keanu in the Matrix. The movie wanted to be The Matrix (I picked it up as it was advertised to "blow away the Matrix") so bad that it kind of stunk up the place with its more strained efforts. However, there were some really phenomenally great action scenes, and it's always good to see Sean Bean in another movie, even if he got killed off rather sharpish. As a major theatrical release? It stinks. As a B-movie or just a rental it comes off as amazingly well done (especially for fans of sci-fi television and classic authors like Orwell). So, with that in mind, I shall give Equilibrium a solid B rating, with kudos to Christian Bale and the director for creating a 2 hour version of an Outer Limits episode.

Rating:
Summary: WEAK STORY LINE!
Review: Let me guess, the creator had some exceptional action sequences, but needed an excuse to put it on the big screen. Voila! Equilibrium was created. Born in the same vein as the box office doomed "The Transporter" (Starring Jason Statham), this movie has a pretty dull story line. Word of advice, DO NOT PURCHASE THIS MOVIE!

Rating:
Summary: Action fans...BUY THIS MOVIE!!!
Review: This movie really surprised me...and that says a lot. I'm a veteran action movie junkie-I bet I've seen thousands of action scenes,my sentimental favorites being the Hong Kong variety. As in John Woo,pre-Hollywood. You know,the stuff that makes your jaw drop,your adrenaline rush,etc. The original "Matrix" was incredible,while "Reloaded" was still pretty cool.Wanna know why it wasn't incredible,and "Equilibrium" is? Because now that the "Hong Kong influence" is part of our American film lexicon,we've sort of seen it all before. It takes some mighty doings nowadays to make our jaws drop. But "Equilibrium" isn't just about the original,unforgettable action scenes (that you will replay again & again.)It has a solid story,maybe not wholly original,but the approach to the action (and the thought behind it)was REAL original.Kung Fu? Seen it-slow motion,bone breaking,physics defying,wire flying,yadda yadda. Gunplay? Who can top the master...Woo & Yun-Fat said it & did it all in Hong Kong. Or so you thought...howzabout "Gun Fu"? With scenes so utterly cool,you may forget you love martial arts fights! Oh,and throw in some katana-style swordplay,along with Christian Bale,the most unflappable gunfighter since a certain "man with no name".Then add a solid storyline,great editing,terrific acting and a restrained directorial hand (no "bullet time" or slow-mo O.D. here),and you have probably what will be the greatest futuristic actioneer that no one has heard of (in this or any other year). BUY IT!!! You won't regret it...

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: It is easy to see that this movie is low budget and that many of the ideas were borrowed. However, the message put forth and the quality of action are astounding. Personally I think the action sequences are a step up from the Matrix Reloaded because I'm not one for CGI. This is the real deal. The gun kata is an amazing concept. For anyone who has taken martial arts, they know a kata is an organized series of forms that could be used in a multiple attacker situation. The fact that guns are used in this type of form and you still remaining in a stationary position, you just have to see it. Then with the story, well, its a bit slow. The message is there though right in your face. This is definately a movie that will make you think and due to the low budget, a cult classic for this genre.

Rating:
Summary: Hang On
Review: Equilibrium is a movie that is unexpected from all directions. To the Brillian Action Sequences, Performances and Art Direction.

The story is set in the near future where people are left to live in the world with no feelings whatsoever, by injecting a new found formula called Prozium. The government belives that feeling such as anger, rage, jealousy etc. are the main causes of people's intolerance to Humanity.

Christian Bale is outstanding in this movie. He is very still and rigid which is great, because that's what his character is all about. His best emotions show through when he is at a time in the movie where his feelings and his passion for wanting to live life with feelings are emerging from inside of him. The supporting cast of Taye Diggs and Emily Watson is also great, they both add a feeling of completeness to the whole movie which was great to see.

Props goes to the director Kurt Wimmer who wrote and directed the movie with such passion that he also made up a new technique of fighting called 'Gun-Kata'. This method of fighting with guns is brilliant. The action sequences are choreographed prestinely and right on the money. The art of 'Gun-Kata' is all over the place, which isn't bad, because the Photography of the film is shot in a pace that makes you see the Beauty in the Danger. Well Done.

The Art Direction of the sets are great. I see lots of symettry and lot's of dark colours of Grey. Lot's of Dark Grey which is great because it hightens the sense of flatness in the charaters' emotionless lives.

Equilibrium is something that I've been wanting to see for a while. It left the theatres quickly, but for sure this movie is something worth watching.

Rating:
Summary: Equilibrium
Review: This movie borrows from enough famous sources to feel familiar and yet throws in some twists to keep you watching. Set design and wardrobe definitely bring to mind, Gattica, The Matrix, even Blade Runner and Dune to a degree. THat is to say it looks mostly dark and cool.

A few plot holes undermine the premise. For example, the introductory voice-over needs to explain why some "feeling" is obviously legal and other forms of emotion are not. Ambition, jealousy and pride exist, all three are in the Diggs character. In fact, Bale is married with children and showed loyalty to the state. All these emotions, allowed in a Prozium nation.

I can forgive the casual burning of the Mona Lisa (wouldn't that be a great find for "emotion hunters?") but after a brilliant fight sequence, the entire communications network was brought down by shooting out 8 or 10 workstation screens. One last gripe: Couldn't the producer do better than a whited-out late model Caddilac Seville as a "car of the future?"

The good stuff? Bale's performance was gripping; the whole premise makes the emotions he shows all the more meaningful. By the way what was Keanu Reeve's excuse for being stiff? The Matrix never suppressed emotion!

The concept and delivery of guns married to martial arts was a fresh and stunning visual concept. Sure, it was surreal...but it was cool! The twists that Equilibrium uses to avoid total predictability are effective. Namely his failure to save everyone.

All in all, I enjoyed it for what it was made of: cool action, cool clothes and sets and a main character with just enough arc to keep you interested in him.

Rating:
Summary: Wow.............?
Review: This movie was a pretty good flick. It had imagination, a great score, a working plot, but the stroy line wasn't all that original. It looked like a mix between 'The Giver' and 'Fahrenhiet 451'. It also took a little while to get to the action. It was also strange to see Christian Bale to play such a good guy. But, yeah, it was good.

Rating:
Summary: Just when you think all movies officially now stink...
Review: ... you get a diamond like this one, 'Equilibrium.' Yeah, I know it borrows from Bradbury, Orwell, and the Wachowskis, but guess what? NO STORIES ARE COMPLETELY ORIGINAL! Stories are just good, or bad, and this one is kick-butt.

This is a low-budget movie with heart. Watching Christian Bale's 'deterioration' into a feeling human being was fascinating without becoming too sticky. Bale is perhaps one of the only action-capable actors to pull off such a demanding role. Gun Kata is a concept that has been around for a long time without anyone placing a name and philosophy to it. Yes, the odds he survives are unrealistic, but so is flipping upside down while firing an M-16 and actually hitting people. What's important is that gun kata is a means of explaining the mythic capabilities of the hero in a cool way. And the action scenes pay off in a huge way.

By the end of the movie, when Bale shows up in his white cleric's outfit, he has so morphed into the ultimate good guy that you just can't wait for him to explode. This is one movie that actually pulls you in, makes you think, and entertains you.

-- JJ Timmins

Rating:
Summary: Not To Be Missed
Review: Equilibrium is a film that I've wanted to see, ever since I saw the trailer. I saw the incredible fight sequences, the exceptional cinematography and the undelivable production design. When this film arrived on DVD I went and rented it right away and WOW!!! Equilibrium delivers on all those levels!!!

The movie is set in the future; where people are kept 'intact' by them taking doses of a new formula called Prozium. This formula keeps people from feeling any emotions whatsoever, because the government believes that human emotions get in the way of individuals, which causes the many intolerable violence and deaths in the world.

I have to start out by saying that the performance of Christian Bale is really something to see. He is very rigid and strong, which is why the film works. You get a sense of his pain of living life without feeling anything. Also, the supporting roles of Taye Diggs and Emily Watson is great. They add the right amount of attitude and completeness to the film which is great to see in this movie. The action sequences are EXCELLENT. With this new technique called 'Gun-Kata' adding a cool punch of using guns to fight in a way that is both beautiful but dangerous. I cannot say anything bad about this 'Gun-Kata' technique; It's really something to see for yourself.

With the positive aspects being said, there are some minor flaws in the film. There are some parts in the movie that are dialogue oriented, and some of them seem a bit too long. But, when the film is right on the action, it makes up for the time of the dialogue.

Overall, Equilibrium was a miss in the theatres, but go and give this movie a try and I guarantee that you'll be blown away.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome, It's Hitler on steroids...a must see!!!
Review: I was expecting this movie to be like The Matrix. Only two things resembled The Matrix, one was a shoot out scene and the other is they wore coats that resembled Keanu Reeves' coat. Other than that, it's not living in a computer world or anything like that type movie. I kept expecting someone to wake up only to realize their entire life was a dream. Finally I figured out it wasn't meant to be a computer/dream type movie. Once I realized that, I was able to enjoy the movie even better.
This movie is amazing. I love the fight scenes and the flow the movie is near perfect. It is very well directed and the acting is top-notch! I can't think of anything I didn't like about this movie...well one thing, a couple of the fight scenes could have been a bit longer. But even the short fighting scenes are still very effective.
A+ kudos for an excellent movie, which will never leave my DVD collection, I recommend it to any Sci-Fi and/or Thriller fans.