Equilibrium

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. (05/06/2003)

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. (20/09/2003)

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. (16/11/2007)

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. (26/05/2008)

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. (12/10/2004)