Directed by:
Kurt WimmerScreenplay:
Kurt WimmerCinematography:
Dion BeebeComposer:
Klaus BadeltCast:
Christian Bale, Dominic Purcell, Emily Watson, Christian Kahrmann, Sean Bean, David Hemmings, Dirk Martens, Angus Macfadyen, Taye Diggs, Sean Pertwee (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
In a dystopian future, a totalitarian regime maintains peace by subduing the populace with a drug, and displays of emotion are punishable by death. (Netflix)
Reviews (12)
The cult status of Equilibrium has indeed remained a bit of a mystery to me, because this film cannot deny its B-movie aspects even through a poor visual aspect, which in some passages literally stinks of a cheap action film, or with the script, which does develop a very interesting totalitarian Orwellian-Bradbury plot, but at the cost of cheap twists and not very convincing replicas. Even the choreographic aspects of Equilibrium cannot match the brilliance of The Matrix, the futuristic martial arts only look good in certain moments, while sometimes it looks like an excessively accelerated pub brawl. Kurt Wimmer really isn't a great director, and the strangled budget certainly didn't help him much, so his film gives off an uneven impression, cheap moments alternate with successful ones, and good pictorial compositions are alternated by crap. I liked Christina Bale the most in the main role. He does not dazzle, but he plays his role with an overview (albeit without Reeves charisma). Overall, Equilibrium seemed to me like a promising sketch, walled up by overly flashy B-movie crayons.
()
Equilibrium is a decent B-movie with good visuals and an interesting subject, but its undermined by clichés and predictability. It’s a less artistic, poppier version of Lucas’s THX 1138, intended for a younger audience raised on computer games. Kurt Wimmer has something. He could become a great director when he grows up.
()
A slightly schizophrenic mix of 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Minority Report and The Matrix. Some may like it, but it doesn't work together for my taste. The beginning was promising, though, an oppressive vision of an Orwellian society, with the excellent Bale as a cleric discovering his feelings. It had atmosphere, it had depth, but as time went on it became more and more of a mess, kept afloat by the few scenes of Bale and Emily Watson together. I wish Wimmer would make a proper action flick next time, because the final action sequence was excellent. PS: My wish was granted 4 years later, unfortunately.
()
The fight scenes aren’t cool, they are ridiculous.
()
Equilibrium is a sort of hybrid trying desperately to please. It would really like to be a philosophical sci-fi reflecting (not only) current affairs and at the same time eye candy full of cool things for the younger generation. In the first case, this effort leads to lame and smart sounding literality that’s enough to make you sick. There is not one originally presented thought here, or rather it has no thoughts at all. Fahrenheit 451°, Brazil and A Clockwork Orange can all continue to sit of their pedestals in peace. In this respect the creators really lost it. On the other hand, the action part works pretty well. If you take into account the movie’s low budget. Christian Bale is the only one holding everything together here with his charisma that also manages to hide his uninspiringly written character. So this is no second Matrix. Just a barely average B-movie playing hard to be something more than it is. And I don’t like that.
()
A genre mix with a concept that not even the legendary 1984 managed to see through to the end. Where some passages here are missing action, that makes it better. It's a pity for the slow start, which instead of an exciting action sci-fi ride, resembled a tired post-apocalyptic story. The rest is visually attractive and intellectually engaging, on the second try even more abundant and complex.
()
I'd take those nifty sleeves and pockets, too... What would the world be like if we couldn't feel? Like this? Better? Worse? Would it even be at all? No, I don't want to know. I feel. You feel. We feel. And that’s how it will be as long as the last person breathes. A very beautiful film. Makes me think a lot – once the credits start rolling, that is. Otherwise, I enjoyed the spectacle throughout. The shooting and the hidden emotions. I hate strict regimes; that is, unless they're breaking down.
()
A typical case where film critics and fans sharply disagreed; immediately after its release, I believe it had an 80% rating. I really liked it on the big screen. After leaving the movie theater, I would have given it a 75% overall impression, but I'm convinced that on a second viewing, my rating would drop by about 15%. Films like this are akin to meeting a charming girl who shows up to the second date without makeup... Decent acting and special effects, visually flashy, but the script and dialogue quality are nothing to write home about.
()
The urban-industrial feeling is great, kind of retrofuturistic, it slightly reminds me visually of V for Vendetta. The action is great but lacks a bit of budget (but it still has a lot of energy and power), and the flashy explosion scenes are not exactly the great, but they are alright for an action B-movie with reasonable ambitions. Christian Bale is likeable and the idea is deep, although simple. There are some flaws, but nothing major. This film has pace and drive and knows what it wants to say and how. That's the main thing.
()
Today this is an almost cult-classic that makes the most of the excellent premise of a world devoid of emotions and the performance of Christian Bale, who’s incredibly cool in his role sporting a cold gaze that only a handful of actors can match. The Matrix-style action, however exaggerated and silly, is wonderfully entertaining and brisk, the story is lightning-fast, with a pace that doesn't let up for a moment. Of course, the term visual orgy fits this movie better than any other sci-fi flick, but director Wimmer did a great job, even with regards to the plot, which certainly does not disgrace Equilibrium, quite the opposite. In my list of sci-fi movies this one is ranked pretty high.
()
Definitely a film for me that made me realize how scared filmmakers are of proper action sequences these days. Visual splendor, amazing music, great sets, and the final fight with the main bastard is a choreographed delicacy. I'll also mention the fast direction, the clever cinematography, and the really superb editing, especially of the action scenes. And yet the vision of a world without emotions – the filmmakers took on too much with that. From that perspective, it's quite a mess. That's why I’m not giving it a 5.
()
When I first saw the film several years ago, shortly after its premiere, I was amazed by the concept. Today, I feel like this is a terrible rip-off. The idea isn't bad, but it's unnecessarily wrapped in a Matrix-like cloak. The film aims to look unnecessarily good, but in its action scenes, it simply can't hide that the screenplay is a weakness. It's not that surprising. It amazed me once; today, it just pleases me, but not very much.
()
Ads