Equilibrium [DVD] [2003]

This film is an absolute classic. Is it the greatest sci-fi film of all time, no, however it's a damn good one This is a solid film which is not just another brainless action flick. I fear the main reason that this film never gained the appreciation and success that it deserved, was it was poorly marketed. I remember seeing adverts for this when it first came out, and the only focus was on the gun action, it told you nothing about the film itself. Such a shame as this film is so much more. Set after WW3, society has been destroyed and replaced by a totalitarian new order which has risen from the ashes. It has been deemed that humanity could not survive a forth world war and that the only way to prevent it, is to suppress humanities inner nature to destroy itself, the way, suppress all emotions by drugging the population to eliminate our ability to feel. A high cost, because in doing so although we have achieved peace between ourselves, and we will no longer feel anger or rage, there will also be no joy and pleasure either. Well we soon see that even this world is still far from achieving peace, as the city state Libria, through it's Grammaton Clerics who are this world's thought police are waging a war against the remains of the old world in an effort to eliminate everything that could tempt people to want to feel once again, so ofcourse the irony being in order to achieve peace, Libria is waging a perpetual war on human emotion itself and all those unwilling to give it up and live in this cold new emotionless world. I won't go any further as to do so would spoil the film, and my run down does not do this film justice. But I will say that the performances, the action and the story in this film are top notch. If you like dystopian sci-fi action films with some deeper meaning to the story, about where we could very well end up going one day if oppression of thought, the individual and censorship all get taken to the nth degree, then I can't recommend this film enough.

Let's be honest, Equilibrium is never going to be hailed as an action classic. But once you see the film you have to question why this film doesn't get that sort of recognition.The plot of the film is heavily influenced by books like 1984 and Fahrenheit 451, the latter of which it all but plagiarises in places. Set in a near-future post-apocalyptic world where humanity has decided to repress it's emotional impulses by using a legally compulsory drug, cue the inevitable conflict between those who enforce the law and those who want to keep their emotional responses. A nice edge to the film is that though the emotionally-repressive government is initially cast as the villains of the piece they do have a good argument for their actions which brings you, at l;east partially, onto their side in places. Christian Bale plays the head enforcer of the regime who accidentally misses a dose and ends up trying to bring down the system he has spent his life defending, Bale as ever is excellent and basically has to carry this thing on his own for about 90% of the movie, he does an excellent job throughout and cannot be faulted.This film isn't all about the action (in fact, after the opening sequence there's a surprisingly long wait until another action scene) but when that action does come it's absolutely spectacular. The principle character uses a fictional martial art called the Gun Kata in combat, the idea behind which is that by being completely clinical and analytical about a gun battle he is able to predict where his opponents are most likely to be without having to look and also know where they will fire so he can dodge their shots. Make no mistake, this is a martial arts movie with guns. Movements are robotic and precise, looking well practiced and skilled thanks to fantastic choreography and effects work. This movie's action sequences look nothing short of spectacular.This movie was badly advertised (just look at the DVD tag line) as a matrix rip-off. The really undersold a film that, though it doubtless is similar in places, is completely different to that franchise. Is Equilibrium better than The Matrix? No, but it easily beats the two inferior Matrix sequels along with pretty much every other western movie in the 'legacy of John Woo' action sub-genre.In a market flooded with bad matrix rip-offs and cheesy effects flicks with a plot too small to fill the back of a DVD box, Equilibrium is a pleasant surprise. It's got brains and an excellently constructed plot, an excellent central performance from the much-underused Bale, and some of the most mind-blowing action scenes you'll ever see. If you're a fan of action movies, if you lamented the clumsy and unsatisfying Matrix sequels, if you just want a solid movie that'll bear up under repeat viewing, then Equilibrium may well be just what you're looking for.