JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
Equilibrium (2002)
EQUILIBRIUM
Writer/Director: Kurt Wimmer
DVD Cover
Starring: Christian Bale, Sean Bean, William Fitcher, Dominic Purcell, Taye Diggs, Sean Pertwee, Emily Watson
“Prozium - The great nepenthe. Opiate of our masses, glue of our great society. Salve and salvation, it has delivered us from pathos, from sorrow, the deepest chasms of melancholy and hate. With it, we anesthetize grief, annihilate jealousy, obliterate rage. Those sister impulses towards joy, love, and elation are anesthetized in stride, we accept as fair sacrifice. For we embrace Prozium in its unifying fullness and all that it has done to make us great.”-Father
Using Ray Bradbury’s classic novel Fahrenheit 451 as a frame work, Equilibrium is a thoughtful high impact action Sci Fi with dazzling camera work and an interesting rework of a prophetic idea. Education & emotion lead to revolution.
In this Orwellian society of the future anything that may inspire or create free thought is a capital offence, music, literature, celluloid, art is banned. To compensate the fascist world order administers compulsory ingestion of an emotion suppressing drug called Prozium.
John Preston, (Christian Bale) is a Cleric who must uphold these laws and unleash lethal force with deadly precision on those who oppose or question the mandate. A cleric is a modern day samurai in service to the state, physically and mentally disciplined he is a man of honour who follows a code.
"Always practicing, Cleric. Maybe that's why you're the best".-Brandt
Problem is Preston is starting to have a crisis of faith because of what he is seeing and experiencing. He begins to ponder his past and inevitably the future becoming self aware, a luxury in this bleak glance at the world of tomorrow.
“I saw Robbie Taylor crying today. He didn't know, but I saw. Do you think I should report him?”-Robbie Preston
John Doe says:
This criminally straight to video release is a well planned retelling of a necessary fable for modern audiences. The script is intelligent and observant with colourful dialogue, full of catchy phrases, it is not Shakespeare but it is a step above the average.
Visually the film constantly gives you something to look at or evokes a response and the soundtracks synthetic classical score help you empathize with our protagonist and enhances, without overpowering the choreographed carnage.
Christian Bale (Empire Of the Sun, Velvet Goldmine, Batman Begins) takes his job seriously and so does the character of John Preston, we believe he never smiles. There are echoes of Patrick Bateman and Bruce Wayne in the role and its fun to see the spin that the actor puts on the role. Through his eyes we see this world and watch the subtle emotion breaking through as makes the transitions from automaton to revolutionary
Sean Bean (Ronin, Big Empty, Lord of The Rings) plays it sympathetic for a change, no trace of malice here. Taye Diggs (Go, Way Of The Gun) does his best tough guy act with a cold stare and a wry smirk; he enjoys playing in this characters duplicitous skin.
Rumour is that Miramax made so much on overseas video sales with this film they decided not to release it cinematically for fear of running at a loss, our loss. Seeing the eye watering set pieces and finely executed stunts on a 100 foot screen would have been a highlight of 2002.
If your home theatre comes with a Plasma screen and subwoofer you’re in for a ride. Your nose will be bleeding after witnessing jaw dropping scenes of fluid movement and controlled slaughter care of a devastating martial art invented by the films director. Enjoy the splendour.
“The gun katas. Through analysis of thousands of recorded gunfights, the Cleric has determined that the geometric distribution of antagonists in any gun battle is a statistically predictable element. The gun kata treats the gun as a total weapon, each fluid position representing a maximum kill zone, inflicting maximum damage on the maximum number of opponents while keeping the defender clear of the statistically traditional trajectories of return fire. By the rote mastery of this art, your firing efficiency will rise by no less than 120%. The difference of a 63% increase to lethal proficiency makes the master of the gun katas an adversary not to be taken lightly.”-Du Pont
The DVD:
As I said in my review, Equilibrium is a great work out for your home theatre system. The picture and sound are up to spec and the commentary is informative and entertaining. There is a also a thin making of doco that features interviews with cast and crew.
“Prozium - The great nepenthe. Opiate of our masses, glue of our great society. Salve and salvation, it has delivered us from pathos, from sorrow, the deepest chasms of melancholy and hate. With it, we anesthetize grief, annihilate jealousy, obliterate rage. Those sister impulses towards joy, love, and elation are anesthetized in stride, we accept as fair sacrifice. For we embrace Prozium in its unifying fullness and all that it has done to make us great.”-Father
Using Ray Bradbury’s classic novel Fahrenheit 451 as a frame work, Equilibrium is a thoughtful high impact action Sci Fi with dazzling camera work and an interesting rework of a prophetic idea. Education & emotion lead to revolution.
In this Orwellian society of the future anything that may inspire or create free thought is a capital offence, music, literature, celluloid, art is banned. To compensate the fascist world order administers compulsory ingestion of an emotion suppressing drug called Prozium.
John Preston, (Christian Bale) is a Cleric who must uphold these laws and unleash lethal force with deadly precision on those who oppose or question the mandate. A cleric is a modern day samurai in service to the state, physically and mentally disciplined he is a man of honour who follows a code.
Problem is Preston is starting to have a crisis of faith because of what he is seeing and experiencing. He begins to ponder his past and inevitably the future becoming self aware, a luxury in this bleak glance at the world of tomorrow.
“I saw Robbie Taylor crying today. He didn't know, but I saw. Do you think I should report him?”-Robbie Preston
John Doe says:
This criminally straight to video release is a well planned retelling of a necessary fable for modern audiences. The script is intelligent and observant with colourful dialogue, full of catchy phrases, it is not Shakespeare but it is a step above the average.
Visually the film constantly gives you something to look at or evokes a response and the soundtracks synthetic classical score help you empathize with our protagonist and enhances, without overpowering the choreographed carnage.
Christian Bale (Empire Of the Sun, Velvet Goldmine, Batman Begins) takes his job seriously and so does the character of John Preston, we believe he never smiles. There are echoes of Patrick Bateman and Bruce Wayne in the role and its fun to see the spin that the actor puts on the role. Through his eyes we see this world and watch the subtle emotion breaking through as makes the transitions from automaton to revolutionary
Sean Bean (Ronin, Big Empty, Lord of The Rings) plays it sympathetic for a change, no trace of malice here. Taye Diggs (Go, Way Of The Gun) does his best tough guy act with a cold stare and a wry smirk; he enjoys playing in this characters duplicitous skin.
Rumour is that Miramax made so much on overseas video sales with this film they decided not to release it cinematically for fear of running at a loss, our loss. Seeing the eye watering set pieces and finely executed stunts on a 100 foot screen would have been a highlight of 2002.
If your home theatre comes with a Plasma screen and subwoofer you’re in for a ride. Your nose will be bleeding after witnessing jaw dropping scenes of fluid movement and controlled slaughter care of a devastating martial art invented by the films director. Enjoy the splendour.
“The gun katas. Through analysis of thousands of recorded gunfights, the Cleric has determined that the geometric distribution of antagonists in any gun battle is a statistically predictable element. The gun kata treats the gun as a total weapon, each fluid position representing a maximum kill zone, inflicting maximum damage on the maximum number of opponents while keeping the defender clear of the statistically traditional trajectories of return fire. By the rote mastery of this art, your firing efficiency will rise by no less than 120%. The difference of a 63% increase to lethal proficiency makes the master of the gun katas an adversary not to be taken lightly.”-Du Pont
The DVD:
As I said in my review, Equilibrium is a great work out for your home theatre system. The picture and sound are up to spec and the commentary is informative and entertaining. There is a also a thin making of doco that features interviews with cast and crew.
"Now Im going to take of these handcuffs while hanging upside down in a straight jacket...oops wrong movie"
Lost Fanatic
Day Break TV
I heard it showed at a loss in the US. I didn't see it in the theatre--didn't even see ads for it--and I wish I had.
Film & TV on DVD
Equilibrium didnt show in cinemas here, its not a perfect film but its certainly above average action fare that is as engaging as any thing currently on the bigscreen.
Have you seen Francois Truffaut adaption of Farenheit 451, its the same idea, just more contemplative.
Lost Fanatic
Day Break TV
Equilibrium especially speaks to me because of the emotion-suppressing drug use. That is such a popular thing now and I don't think people realize how much it dulls them.
Film & TV on DVD
Escpecially, children on Ridolan and adults on Valium and Codine.
Let alone anti psychotics that are dished out all the time by supposedly qualified professionals.
Fahreheit 451 is obvious.
'Father' hints at 'Big Brother' from '1984'.
The use of the 'T' in many of the scenes was taken from 'Brave New World'
Film & TV on DVD
Totally agree that 1984 & Brave New World were highly influential in Equilibrium. Also The Shape Of things to Come lurks about as well.
Film & TV on DVD
I hope you continue to enjoy my selections.
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Looks cool, though... I've never heard of this one...
Lost Fanatic
Day Break TV
Film & TV on DVD
V for Vendetta was a rather dull rework of some of these ideas as well.