Rating of
3.5/4
"Equilibrium" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 12/20/11
A future society that subdues its populace with an emotionally inhibiting drug is enforced by a police force of "clerics" who execute all those accused of "sense crime". Dismissed by most upon its release as just another Matrix clone, there are superficial similarities; stylistically the action choreography and costume design are very similar. There's a lot more going on under the surface however, as it takes cues from the likes of 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 in its depiction of a totalitarian, book burning society and message of individuality and what it means to be human. But by far the biggest difference is in its star; Christian Bale's far superior range makes for a performance that's both emotionally engaging and believable in its depiction of a man suddenly in conflict with everything he had been taught and dealing with emotions he has no experience with. Equilibrium is a very under-rated film in my opinion and is everything a sci-fi movie should be about; style, action, strong concepts and a message about the human condition. More V For Vendetta than The Matrix and definitely worth seeking out if you like sci-fi with a political slant.
Recent Comments
WithinTheDarkness - wrote on 12/06/12 at 09:51 AM CT
Equilibrium Review comment
I myself am enjoying the fact, that as the people who say it is nothing but a re-hash of old sci-fi films, that I can sit here and say there is more to it if they actually looked closer. If they did, then they'd find out it wasn't. I find joy in listing the similarities and differences between certain sci-fi films and Equilibrium. You've done a good way of pointing that out.
