Equilibrium is the best movie you've never seen

[DeeBye]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238380/

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 is a top ranking government agent responsible for destroying those who resist the rules. Whe 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.

I bought this movie because a friend of mine recommended it. I've watched it twice now. It's one of the better movies I've seen in the past year. Christian Bale stars in it, which was enough motivation to get me to buy it.

[Skandranon]

Definitely a sleeper. Most people I've talked to have never heard of it. The plot's a little shaky, but it's worth watching for the gunfights alone.

[roguebanshee]

I've wanted to watch it for a year or more, but have been unable to find it so far:(

[Yurup]

I've seen it and its a pretty nice movie.:)

[faemaster]

I have to totally agree here. It is not the best movie ever made, but it is probably the most underappreciated movie in its genre... B)

@ Roguebanshee : if you live in Western Europe : www.play.com - 11.49 euros, free delivery, but English fthi subtitles only. If you live in the US : www.amazon.com - $9.99, don't know the delivery cost because I don't buy at amazon.com - with me living in Europe and all ;)


fae

edit : if you are not living in Western Europe or the US I am afraid I can't help you locate it :)

[roguebanshee]

@ Roguebanshee : if you live in Western Europe : www.play.com - 11.49 euros, free delivery, but English fthi subtitles only. If you live in the US : www.amazon.com - $9.99, don't know the delivery cost because I don't buy at amazon.com - with me living in Europe and all ;)

Thanks for the tip, never used play.com before and I couldn't find the movie for sale on any of the local search engines. A slightly dangerous site though, I found a bunch of other movies I was missing from my collection.:P

[Falomin]

*****Possible Slight Equilibrium Spoilers Ahead******




If you have seen the movie already, please read on! If you haven't, go watch it!! Join Netflix or Blockbuster.com to rent it.






My brother and I have a disagreement over this movie, I feel that the "best," most touching moment was when our hero protects the puppy, this being the turning point of the movie. As an animal lover, this of course is moving to me. My brother is a much more visual person and felt that the first sunrise our hero sees was the "best" point of the movie.

So, which part did you find more touching? For me, while a sunrise is indeed beautiful, it's beauty pales in comparison to the wonder of protecting an innocent, trusting animal's life at grave risk to your own.

[Zippyy]

Equilibrium is the best movie you've never seen

But... I've seen it.

It was fantastic.:)

I hold the opinion that the "best" moments advocated by you and your brother are equally touching, and therefore both the best part of the movie.

It has been a few years since I saw it, and I'd like to see it again to refresh my memory. The main theme was reminiscent of The Giver, which I also should read again.:)

[DeeBye]

My brother and I have a disagreement over this movie, I feel that the "best," most touching moment was when our hero protects the puppy, this being the turning point of the movie. As an animal lover, this of course is moving to me. My brother is a much more visual person and felt that the first sunrise our hero sees was the "best" point of the movie.

The puppy scene was great. I love the look Bale gives when the helpless puppy jumps into his arms.





It's like someone tossed him a hand grenade.

I personally feel that the most touching scene was when he heard Beethoven.

[Occhidiangela]

I personally feel that the most touching scene was when he heard Beethoven.

As touching as the Beethoven scene in "A Clockwork Orange?" ;)

Occhi

[Obi2Kenobi]

I keep trying to find this, but I can't. I'm not going to rent it, I'm buying it. I will not relent!

[Occhidiangela]

I keep trying to find this, but I can't. I'm not going to rent it, I'm buying it. I will not relent!

Rented the movie last night on the recommendation of Lurkers.

My daughter picked up on the similarity in theme with Farenheit 451. Of course, the "fireman turns rebel" is also a 451 theme. My wife found it extremely tiresome and left the room, as she finds SFX gunfights, Kung Fu movies, and gratuitous action less appealing with each passing year.

I found it heavy on "faux martal arts" and light on plot. Short answer: formulaic dystopian sci fi. I still enjoyed it. I sat there, hoping they'd do something novel with the film before the end since it was so well received by a smart audience. (Lurkers) It never arrived, though cutting off Ty Diggs' face was a neat idea.

Equilibrium was worth a look, so thanks for the recommendation I am glad folks are keeping the dystopian genre alive. I would rather have seen a bit more character development and a bit less arcade fighting re-enactment. I also would have liked to see a lot less emotion from Ty Digg's character, who is supposedly still taking his feelings supression drugs. I did like the "oh sh--" when th tech sees Preston's polygraph go stable, as he realizes what that means. Nice touch.

My son asked: If he (the Cleric John Preston) didn't have feelings, how did he and his wife have kids? My son sort of put his finger on it, didn't he? :)

A comic book put to film, with a thin story.

Puppy scenes were great, as was the moment John Preston realized his son had been sandbagging him for most of the film. :) I wonder if his name was chosen as a veiled reference to Prester John .

Occhi

[Dixen Andomiel]

I have similar feelings as Occhi on this one, but I absolutely loved the movie. I too wish they had spent more time developing the characters and even more so wish they had done this movie as a trilogy... I think given the course of 3 movies they could have fleshed out the characters much, much better and maybe even taken a few and elevated them to "love to hate" status. Brant (Ty Diggs character) could have made such a good bad guy, but as it was he was merely mediocure at best. 3 movies would have also given more time to really explain how the transition to one world to the next really took place, as well as giving the audience more time with how "father" came to be...

All in all, like I said, I loved the more... but there was sooooo much more they could have done with it.

[DeeBye]

My son asked: If he (the Cleric John Preston) didn't have feelings, how did he and his wife have kids? My son sort of put his finger on it, didn't he? :)

They were just doing their patriotic duty.

I like how they slept in two single beds pushed together.

[Occhidiangela]

They were just doing their patriotic duty.

I like how they slept in two single beds pushed together.

That sounds a bit too much like "cover her face with the flag and go for the glory" for my taste. It takes a feeling to arouse, which is a requirement for the seed to be planted.

Remember, the biggest sexual organ is the brain.

Occhi

[Lissa]

That sounds a bit too much like "cover her face with the flag and go for the glory" for my taste. It takes a feeling to arouse, which is a requirement for the seed to be planted.

Remember, the biggest sexual organ is the brain.

Occhi

Maybe they perfected Viagra and the female equivalent... :whistling:

[Occhidiangela]

Maybe they perfected Viagra and the female equivalent... :whistling:

Could be.

How growing up in a "feelingless" household would influence kids is a thought that depresses me.

Occhi

[faemaster]

Thanks for the tip, never used play.com before and I couldn't find the movie for sale on any of the local search engines. A slightly dangerous site though, I found a bunch of other movies I was missing from my collection.:P

Now you mention it... I should have probably put a warning in that post... They keep making me buy DVD's as well <_<

Fae