*** Official "EQUILIBRIUM" Discussion Thread (1 Viewer)

[TheLongshot]

Pretty good for a guy's second film. (Especially when the first one was a Brian Bosworth DTV movie.
The plot itself wasn't much, a rehash of F 451 with some action thrown in.
That being said, the actors make the movie. Christian Bale is good at looking cold, but he handled his awakening emotions well. He was especially good when Emily Watson was on the screen with him. Great chemestry there. Taye Diggs did fine with what he had.
It isn't a perfect film by any means. There are a lot of little problems here and there, and the gun switch doesn't quite make sense, but it certainly deserved a better release than it got.
A solid action movie, which is quite rare nowadays.
Jason

 

[CoreyII]

Hey Chuck Mayer, where are you. I know you must be burning a hole in your Equilibrium DVD by now. I know I will.

I mised a half an hour of class to pick this movie up at the store. I brought my copy at Circuit City. I was surprised that Tower and Target did not carry this movie yet.

I got two more hopeful converts, both are co-workers. One already bought DVD and plans on watching the film. The other person is planning on buying it very shortly.

Chuck, once again I wholeheartedly agree with you, I like this movie even more with each viewing. I may have mentioned this before but I think this film might develope a cult following like Pitch Black.

I've noticed on this thread that there some people and critics that site this movie as somekind of a rip off of the Matrix. They talk as if the Matrix is somekind of an original idea but its not.

I mean don't get me wrong the Matrix is an excellent film but the movie had ideas that were expressed in other films.
For Example:

1.)Humankind vs. an Evil Artificial Life form in a post apocolyptic environment - The Terminator Films.

2.) Going inside a the world of the computer program to battle the malevolent Main program. - Tron.

3.)Slow Motion Gun Battles and Martial Arts Sequences - any various Hong Kong action films.

The Hero wears a trechcoat - Take your pick: Blade, Blade Runner, or even Casablanca.

Characters in black suits and shades - Men in Black.

The hero is fortold to be mankinds savior - Terminator, Star Wars.

Mentor/student relationship - Star Wars

Anyway. I not trying to slam the Matrix Im just saying whats good for the goose (Equilibrium) is good for the gander(The Matrix).

 

[Chuck Mayer]

At a viewing of Reloaded tonight, one of the commercials was for this DVD. I almost fell out of my seat. That's more advertising than it ever got for the theater.
EQ and The Matrix are VERY separate entities. I still feel the gunplay in EQ is the best I have ever seen. I look forward to the commentaries
I am still around, but I have Reloaded on my mind. I still expect EQ to do just fine as it finds it's niche.
Thanks for remembering my love for this film
Take care,
Chuck

 

[Paul Case]

Apparently this dvd is selling very well! From what I have been hearing, many stores sold all of their copies on Tuesday. That is definitely a good sign. Bring on the Equilibrium cult.

 

[Lou Sytsma]

Doesn't hit Canadian stores till the 20th. Looking forward to finally seeing this.

 

[Alex Spindler]

When I saw that the documentary was called "Finding Equilibrium", I thought it was going to be a fan film about a couple of guys going cross country in search of theaters even showing the film.
I do agree that this is an impressive film, and has perhaps the most inventive and impressive gun battles since Woo's Hong Kong films.
How is this as a driver for anyone looking for reasons to see this film?
One
Two
Three

 

[CoreyII]

Hey Chuck, that's good news that Equilibrium is getting some advertisement, I just wish it wasn't on the back of the Matrix Reloaded because both are very different films.

By advertising it with the Matrix, it seems Equilibrium will never get from under the Matrix's shadow.

But then again Dimensions film does have that little statement "Forget the Matrix" on the front of the Equilibrium DVD.

Anyway as long as the film starts get the recognition it
deserves is all that really matters.

 

[Chuck Mayer]

Dimension is just hoping to sell a few copies using The Matrix's "cool cachet". It's pathetic, but their whole treatment of the film has been pathetic, so whatever. I should be happy they are advertising it. Thanks for those pics, Alex. The bottom two (the top is great drama) are just some of the best action scenes I have ever seen, with the second pic you showing being a real favorite.
EQ shouldn't win a lot of Oscars, but it's a much better film than most of what sees wide release. It can be flawed and derivative, but it's well-written, well-directed, and very well-acted. If you can let yourself buy into the premise, it's a great way to spend a few hours. I'll be watching mine again soon
Take care,
Chuck

 

[David_Caldwell]

I loved Equilibrium and will be buying the DVD. Am I some new-to-cinema Matrix fanboy? Absolutely not. I am old enough to have seen Blade Runner in the cinema back in '82 plus everything else referenced in Equilibrium, I am quite aware of all the influences. My view is that, yes, one can sit and identify 1984, Brave New World, etc. but that is really beside the point. Equilibrium doesn't simply copy those ideas in a Matrix way, but takes the ideas and merges them into a new story. After all, if someone makes a love story, we don't say, "Ah, but somebody has already made a story about two people falling in love, overcoming some difficulties, but ultimately get together and this is just a copy." No, Equilibrium does refernece many ideas we are already familiar with, but they are properly merged to create a new narrative.

What about the gun-kata? Is it Matrix-like? Well yes and no. In that I believe it does not simply copy The Matrix, but rather simply has The Matrix in its history. Not entirely new, but sufficiently specifically defined as to make it individual to this film. I think the Matrix films are great and yet are vastly overrated. I think Equilibrium is great and is not nearly well-enough recognised. No, it is not the best film ever made, but it is great fun watching it and I will be happy to watch it multiple times.

 

[EricW]

just picked the DVD up and was pleasantly surprised. loved the look of the film. actions sequences ROCKED. i hadn't read alot of this film (on purpose) and while some people were comparing it to The Matrix i took it with a grain of salt. in these times where action-fu is a dime a dozen, a smaller budgeted film that can pull off such fresh and original sequences is quite impressive. story-wise we've seen everything before, in one form or another, from that perspective the movie bordered on cliche/parody, but when a movie can be this entertaining it doesn't matter.

one question (spoiler): the "Father" said at the end that his plan was to get a Cleric into the resistance. Bale was that Cleric. but wasn't Sean Bean already infiltrated right at the beginning? couldn't they have just used him? if they were watching Bale from the start, they must have been aware of Bean.

 

[EricW]

p.s. gotta love Alliance Atlantis up here in Canada. this DVD includes the trailer to BELOW, yet their own release of BELOW did ~not~ have the trailer.

 

[Alex Spindler]

I thought the point was that they needed a cleric who didn't know yet that he had the capability of feeling. That way they could set him up with a control (Diggs) before he turned. Plus, I got the impression that they thought that Bale was a more capable Cleric than Bean was, so they would actually have faith that he could complete the assassination of Father. A lesser cleric may not have made it through the door.


Also, I was thinking about the statistical basis for the Gun Kata. How would you like to be one of the first rounds of clerics?

"Hmmm, that's the fourth one that's died. I wonder why....OH! I forgot to use a floating point calculation. Sorry fellas."

 

[Hunter P]

Rented this last night. I knew that this movie was already being labeled as a cult movie so I knew what to expect. I was able to enjoy it on that level for the most part.

I didn't even mind the "rip-off" moments because isn't everything today a rip-off? We say that they ripped off the Matrix but the Matrix is a rip-off itself. You could argue though that this movie probably would not have been made if the Matrix was not so successful. The producers were trying to cash in on a slice of the Matrix pie.

Unfortunately, I cannot give this film a full thumbs up. Definitely not a thumbs down however. I'm sorry but I just couldn't get over the whole "non-feeling humans" concept. Throw down a gauntlet like that and I'm spending the whole movie nitpicking moments where the characters show emotion. Maybe if "Father" could have supressed something less impossible then I could have enjoyed it more.

That aside, I thought some of the action sequences were great. Great style, very creative. As a moviegoer, I don't care if the hero beats his/her opponent. I care about how good they look doing it. The next time I see this film, I might watch it like a porno. Just fast forward to the good parts.

One small nitpick on the action scenes: They felt non-challenging to Bale. The guy barely worked a sweat as he killed guys in record time. His fight at the end was the first time it took longer than 5 seconds to kill a guy. Even his last fight with Diggs was dissapointing since I was expecting him to finally fight someone more his equal. But that scene was enjoyable in an Indiana Jones way, I guess. Hot-shot, cocky villian thinks he's about to kick some serious hero-ass but, instead, gets dispatched in two seconds.

I got a good chuckle out of the cars. Obviously technology has advanced a lot in the future but the cars look the same. I guess the sedan is the perfect design and cannot be improved.

I also found it amusing seeing these rough and tumble resistance fighters who are trying to protect paintings like the Mona Lisa and the famous "Fruit in a Bowl" painting. Shouldn't they want to preserve porn and pro wrestling videos?

In summary, I couldn't buy the substance but I did like the style. I can see how this can become a cult classic.

Flame On!

 

[Ted Lee]

The next time I see this film, I might watch it like a porno. Just fast forward to the good parts.

i also watched this last night and can safely say it's worth a rental but that's about all.
i just couldn't "buy" most of the plot devices. they just felt forced.
however, my main critique is with the fighting. if you notice, it's all hand-stuff. borrinnggg!!! there's very little body movement and i'm not sure if i remember more then a few kicks.
good style...no substance. i'd give this a "C-".

 

[TheLongshot]

Well, this is what happens when a little-seen film gets hyped up and people don't think it is all that when it comes out on home video.

This isn't the world's greatest film. Most would agree with that. That being said, it is better than the treatment of it got. For the low budget and the inexperience of the director, this is a flawed gem. It isn't perfect, but it is still interesting to look at.

I bought it, and I don't regret my purchase. I'll probably get my money's worth out of it.

Jason

 

[James T]

I saw this movie because someone recommended it to me. I never even heard of it, but I'm glad I rented it.

 

[Jeff Kleist]

however, my main critique is with the fighting. if you notice, it's all hand-stuff. borrinnggg!!! there's very little body movement and i'm not sure if i remember more then a few kicks.

Find a real fighting expert and ask him, you'll find that if everyone knows what they're doing there is rarely time for kicks. The fight Preston has with his partner at the end is pretty much how a real katana battle goes.

 

[James T]

The reason people don't kick in fights is the same reason why people don't punch their opponents in the foot

 

[BrianShort]

I pretty much agree with Hunter P's assessment. I couldn't get past the whole emotionless humans concept, found myself noticing every time one of these people showed emotions they supposedly didn't have, but liked most of the action (though things did seem way to easy for Bale)

Brian

 

[Josh Lowe]

this movie borrowed elements of minority report, farenheit 451, 1984, gattaca, logan's run and blade runner and smooshed them together with some stylized action sequences.

it was okay, not as good as it was made out to be. the "message" was very heavyhanded and awkwardly shoved at you, starting right off with the mona lisa. a little more subtlety would have gone a long way.