DVD REVIEW: EQUILIBRIUM (2002)

EQUILIBRIUM

RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 6TH, 2002 (Limited)/NOW ON DVD

RATED: R

RUNNING TIME: 107 MINUTES

CHRIS'S RATING: *****/*****

 

PREMISE: (Via IMDB) In a futuristic world, a strict regime has eliminated war by suppressing emotions: books, art and music are strictly forbidden and feeling is a crime punishable by death. Cleric John Preston (Bale) is a top ranking government agent responsible for destroying those who resist the rules. When he misses a dose of Prozium, a mind-altering drug that hinders emotion, Preston, who has been trained to enforce the strict laws of the new regime, suddenly becomes the only person capable of overthrowing it.               

 

THE PRO'S: Extremely stylistic, fantastic premise and storyline, Christian Bale is a badass in this plain and simple, fantastic acting all around, some very nicely placed twists.

 

THE CON'S: Ends a little too abruptly, lacks proper development for some key players.

 

THE REVIEW:

 

This movie came highly recommended from my older brother, and as such, he and I sat down to watch it this weekend. And while it is definitely not the best movie I have ever seen, it definitely ranks high up there and overall makes its way high up on my list of favorites for a variety of reasons.

 

To sum up the story as best I can, Christian Bale plays John Preston, a man who lives in the distant future, where, after World War III, the world has destroyed emotions and rendered them unlawful. As a single father to two children, Preston watched, and helped with his own wife's execution, as well as that of his partner. The latter of which causes him to begin down a dangerous path, a path of feeling.

As far as dystopian stories go, this definitely ranks very high up there as far as originality goes. The story is told in a very stylistic fashion almost reminiscent of The Matrix Trilogy. Much of the action in the movie is well placed, and for the most part, the movie relies on its actors, dialogue, and exposition to tell the story. With an especially excellent exposition that opens the movie in a way that instantly grabs your attention much like a good book.

 

The acting is excellent here as well, with its two leads, Christian Bale and Taye Diggs carrying the movie with relative ease. I find it interesting to note that there are some very early shades of Bale's Batman portrayal here, which are of note, especially when he's kicking butt. You can very easily see what he's capable of here, long before he became The Dark Knight.

5/

But, where it's leading characters shine, the movie seems to underuse and undervalue its supporting cast. Most notably William Fischner's character, and the main villain of the film. Both seem to be there mostly as plot devices to push the story along, and while they do their job, they just seem to be there. While it doesn't ultimately hinder the movie in any way, it does detract from some of the enjoyment that comes from it.

 

Another, albeit minor issue I had with the movie was the final scene. The movie very much leaves you desiring more of an ending than it provides. The way it ends is excellent, and while predictable, very well executed. But the final shot leaves you rather wondering "Well, that's it? What happens next?" and overall, I believe a little more should have been added to correct this issue.

 

That being said, it is still an expertly crafted, well acted, and well-written sci-fi epic. If you like other Dystopian stories, it's very easy to find a lot to like in this. Much like The Maze Runner, which I previously reviewed, it does a lot to stand out from the norm. Here, foregoing a love triangle, and teenage angst for a power struggle, and a set of mature, and intriguing characters. In short: it's an action packed thrill-ride which I enjoyed from beginning to end.

 

IN CONCLUSION:

Equilibrium is an action-packed, fun, and intriguing take on a desolate Dystopian society. Christian Bale and Taye Diggs both give stand-out performances that are awesome. And while the supporting characters are underused, the movie does an excellent job of enticing you in many other ways. A must-see for any lovers of the genre.

 

5/5 STARS
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED