Equilibrium
Amazon.co.uk Review
From the outset, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was about conflict. Producers Rick Berman and Michael Piller challenged the utopian ideals of Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek universe to create something totally different from its predecessors. That meant no familial camaraderie, squeaky-clean Federation diplomacy, or beige décor. Instead they wanted interpersonal friction, ruthless enemies (Gamma Quadrant Imperialists–The Dominion) and rebellion at every turn. The DS9 concept was originally facilitated by introducing the Cardassian/Bajoran war during The Next Generation‘s final days. After a muted first reception fans gradually came to accept the new look, but no one liked Star Trek without a starship and eventually the producers capitulated to viewers’ wishes by introducing the USS Defiant (an apt name) in Season 3.
Relying far less on technobabble than TNG, DS9 was unafraid to focus on matters of the spirit instead, demonstrating a ballsy independence from its parent shows. Taking up the gauntlet thrown down by Babylon 5, improved CGI space battles also became a fan favourite. Throughout the increasingly serialised story arc there were rebellious factions within the different establishments: Kira had belonged to the Shakaar resistance cell; the Maquis was Starfleet vs Cardassians; section 31 was a secret Starfleet group; the True Way was a Bajoran group opposed to peace; the Cardassians had their Obsidian Order and the Romulans their Gestapo-like Tal Shiar. Yet for all its constant bickering and espionage (even Bashir got to be James Bond), there was always some contemporary social commentary lurking: the Ferengi were used as a comedic foil to frown on materialistic greed; drugs were looked at via the Jem’Hadar foot soldiers’ addiction to Ketracel White.
Perhaps Sisko summed up the real heart of things: “Bajor doesn’t need a man, it needs a legend”. A future vision that retains a place for religion and spirituality turned out to be Deep Space Nine‘s first best destiny. –Paul Tonks
I caught this film by accident on Filmfour a while back, and never got round to seeing the end. As the film had grabbed me somewhat, I bought it.
Comparisons with The Matrix are a little unfair – apart from the fight scenes and the long-black coats, the films are completely different. In fact, I believe the film could have benefitted from a more Matrix-comparison-free marketing drive. I overlooked this one so many times in the video store because it looked like it was a cheap stright-to-rental rip-off of the Matrix, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
In terms of mood, pacing and general ‘look’ the film has a lot of similarities with Gattaca: another film set in a dystopian future where biochemical solutions erase the flaws inherent in the human condition and individuals find themselves pitted against these ‘dehumanising’ forces.
Again, like Gattaca, the film looks utterly stunning. Every shot is beautifully composed with careful attention to geometric detail.
Elements of Nineteen Eighty Four sit quietly in the background in the form of the patriarchal totalitarian leader of the society, ‘Father’, and his periodic addresses to the general public on giant wallscreens.
The fight scenes are very Matrixy though. The film has an odd choice of combat: the curious device of a ‘Gun Kata’ which is a sort of martial art for people with shooters that spring out from their sleeves. It’s not overdone to the point of silliness though, and kind of works in an odd way.
I’m not a big fan of action/shooty films, but this one was really artful.
Rating: 4 / 5
Equilibrium is a surprisingly good film and sorely underrated. Set in a future where emotions are banned, as is anything that may engender emotion such as music and literature, the storyline may conjure thoughts of 1984 or Fahrenheit 451. Make no mistake however; Equilibrium is no copy of those films.
After World War 3, it is decided that emotions lead to war and the prevention of further war can only be achieved by preventing the population from feeling. Every day the population have to take their prescribed mood dampening pills. Christian Bale stars as Preston, a law enforcement agent, who seeks out and destroys ‘sense offenders’, people who stop taking their medication and who actively read and listen to music. When Preston’s partner (played by Sean Bean) is found to be a sense offender and he is forced to kill him, Preston starts questioning his world and the part he plays in it. He decides to take the dangerous path of skipping his pills and starting to feel.
This is no high octane, special effects packed film. There are a few, well choreographed martial arts fight scenes but for the most part the film relies on a good story set in a sterile, featureless and soulless setting to set the atmosphere. The movie has been well produced and the cinematography is first class. This is a film that belongs in the collection of any fan of science fiction.
Rating: 5 / 5
What I found amazing about Equilibrium was the fact that although the subject matter was not unsimilar to these films (near future setting, elite orginization, with corruption in the ranks etc.) the director had achieved a believeable,dynamic,intruiging alternate reality, with possibly half the budget of other movies from its genre.
Christian Bale was well cast in the lead rolem, with his cold expression, and “chiseled” features relaying the sterile feel of the film. I felt Emily Watson was a little under used,having only brief scenes, it was hard to identify with her character but was still none the less a worth inclusion.
For all the re-hashed ideas,Equilibrium also generated its fair share of new concepts, most noteably the “Gun-Fu” fight scenes proving a refreshing change on the (done to death!) Bullet-Time/Wire Fliers that we now see in every second film we watch,also worth a mention is the interesting spin Equilibrium takes on the classic,all exploding,all shooting good VS. evil finale,without giving it away, it is probably more memorable than the majority of most recent films!
Because this film is yet to be released in Australia,I ordered it knowing almost nothing about it, Now that I have seen it,it will remain a crucial part of my DVD collection, I hope this review will encourage other buyers to live like the “Resistance” and do the same!
Rating: 4 / 5
Equilibrium is a surprisingly good film and sorely underrated. Set in a future where emotions are banned, as is anything that may engender emotion such as music and literature, the storyline may conjure thoughts of 1984 or Fahrenheit 451. Make no mistake however; Equilibrium is no copy of those films.
After World War 3, it is decided that emotions lead to war and the prevention of further war can only be achieved by preventing the population from feeling. Every day the population have to take their prescribed mood dampening pills. Christian Bale stars as Preston, a law enforcement agent, who seeks out and destroys ‘sense offenders’, people who stop taking their medication and who actively read and listen to music. When Preston’s partner (played by Sean Bean) is found to be a sense offender and he is forced to kill him, Preston starts questioning his world and the part he plays in it. He decides to take the dangerous path of skipping his pills and starting to feel.
This is no high octane, special effects packed film. There are a few, well choreographed martial arts fight scenes but for the most part the film relies on a good story set in a sterile, featureless and soulless setting to set the atmosphere. The movie has been well produced and the cinematography is first class. This is a film that belongs in the collection of any fan of science fiction.
Rating: 5 / 5
You will not see a better sci-fi film than this, bale is superb as a man caught between what is lawful and what is humane. It is a superb contrast into a future society which is dominated by a citizens ability not to feel emotion, the key plot is that rebellion is formed by those who wish to feel. They believe that feelings are what make them human, Bales role as the highest “cleric” in a justice sytem managed by a totalitarian leader is carried off with brilliance.
Bale succumbs to the lure of his emotions when he accidently destroys his dose of the emotion quelling drug, he then becomes succeptible to emotions and goes through a radical change in his persona. When a woman he meets turns out to be a rebel he starts to fancy her, and through her he finds a connection to the underground. Agreeing finally to help the rebels kill the leader of the governing body, he fights to contain his emotions long enough not to be discovered himself. His final catalyst being the loss of his beautiful rebel lady friend, he goes on a rampage of amazing proportions.
The action sequences in this film are amazing and bar none (yes even the matrix) is one of the best sci-fi movies ever. Bales performance is flawless, as is that of Taye Diggs as his evil nemesis/ friendly counterpart. Bale probably would of made a better Neo to be brutally honest, and at least there are no scary sequels. Fantastic 10/10.
Rating: 5 / 5