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Equilibrium starring Christian Bale: Powerful, Action-Filled, Spot-On Observation of Human Nature

Posted on August 20, 2012 Written by ripitup

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Equilibrium (2002) starring Christian Bale, Emily Watson, Taye Diggs, Angus Macfadyen & Sean Bean
Equilibrium (2002) starring Christian Bale, Emily Watson, Taye Diggs, Angus Macfadyen & Sean Bean.

In a post-WW3 world, Libria has been founded on peace. In Libria, there are no wars because citizens are devoid of feelings and urges of aggression, violence, greed, anger or jealousy. This is managed by the obligatory daily dose of the drug Prozium which prevents Librians from feeling any emotion, including passion, lust, love, joy…

In this war-free world, the only crime committed is “sense offense” as some of the citizens rebel against the regime and don’t take the drug. People aren’t allowed to keep anything colorful, personal, different-including art, books and furniture. Anything that can urge feelings…

Offenders are caught and killed. Their stuff is confiscated by the sweepers, armed forces enforcing the Father’s law, all in the name of “peace.” Outranking Sweepers are Clerics, men dedicated to further enforce the law. Clerics have been exceptionally trained in combat, whether it is with or without weapons.

And the best is John Preston Christian Bale), who despite the lack of feelings, has the ability to think like the criminals, making them all easy prey and the master of fighting skills. While he is a favorite because of these, he is also monitored very closely as he has failed to spot one sense offender, his wife.

However when an incident hits too close to home and coincidences end up Preston missing a dose, he gets a taste of what the offenders are fighting for.  This confuses him, but he can’t help but continue feeling. But as Preston tries to cope with all of these new sensations and keep his feelings for a inprisoned offender (Emily Watson), he will have to pretend that he’s still the same Preston, hide the changes from his kids, his partner (Taye Diggs), Father’s representative (Angus Mcfadyen.) But how the hell can he do his job, which involves killing many people who are just guilty of wanting to feel?

Will he be able to rebel against a system he so loyally believed in? Will he be able, or have the guts to, try and demolish the system- especially when his latest official mission is to destroy the rebels completely?

*

Why Equilibrium Is a Must-See

Sorry for the long plot summary, but I needed you to envision the world of Libria, to fully engage you in the dilemma of John Preston. I purposefully didn’t include the trailer as it is misleading (as in the event(s) that lead him to rebel) and shows a bit too much, without covering an example of change in Preston’s attitude.

Christian Bale’s portrayal of John Preston is one of the things that make this movie.

While there are practically no twists (probably nothing you won’t see coming anyway) that the movie will use to entice its audience, it really doesn’t need to. Equilibrium gets its strength from how well the artificiality of the manufactured state is shown, how impressively the fight scenes were choreographed, Christian Bale’s character’s transition, the sufficient action scenes and how it is easy to identify with the rebels, and picture how hard it would be to adapt to a world like that, had we known what feeling was like before Libria…

It’s regime draws parallel to a regime we still see in a lot of countries, and it is a wonderful display of irony, hypocrisy of those in power, and the irony of using extreme violence to “protect” “the peace.”

It’s in a movie viewer’s nature to look for plot holes, or at least to naturally “detect” them when he/she is not captivated by the movie. I can’t help doing the same with movies that bore, annoy or fail to entertain me. However, when it comes to Equilibrium, I urge you to pay attention to the dialogue and the clues thrown around. The “popular plot holes” suggested by some viewers are actually incidents whose reasons are explained or implied.

Oh and if you need an addition to the cast, Sean Bean is in it.

This is the movie that made me a Christian Bale fan. Because it actually shows that he is not just into the projects that are considered indie and/or artsy, and/or including characters that are hard to (or impossible to) relate to. Equilibrium is a lot more mainstream than most of his films, shot before the Batman trilogy.

It is fast, emotional and relevant to our world. Written and directed by Kurt Wimmer (who I also became a fan of with this movie) in 2002. Currently rated at 7.6 on Imdb.com, I’d rate it higher.

Notes on the Director and Cast:

  • Kurt Wimmer is also the writer/director of Salt (action film starring Angelina Jolie) and Law Abiding Citizen (an action/thriller starring Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx. He is also the inventor of the fighting style and “education” used in Equilibrium.

 

  • Salt 2 is being shot and is also written by Wimmer.

 

  • The movie also features the talented actor William Fichtner as the leader of the rebels.

 

 

  • Angus MacFadyen is better known for his pivotal role in Braveheart, where he played Robert the Bruce, a nobleman who was torn between his faith in William Wallace (played by Mel Gibson) and his privileges.

Related Movie Suggestions

The Island starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson

Gattaca starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Jude Law

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Christian Bale Trivia

11 Actors, 11 Drastic Weight Changes for Roles: With Christian Bale, Jared Leto, Tom Hanks and more

Cake starring Heather Graham, David Sutcliffe and Taye Diggs

Salt starring Angelina Jolie & Liev Schreiber

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: action, angus macfadyen, Christian Bale, christian bale equilibrium, director kurt wimmer, drama, emily watson, emily watson equilibrium, equilibrium, equilibrium 2002 movie, equilibrium cast, equilibrium christian bale, equilibrium movie, equilibrium movie review, Kurt Wimmer, kurt wimmer movies, Law Abiding Citizen, movies, salt angelina jolie, salt movie, salt movie review, sci fi, sean bean, Taye Diggs

Battleship starring Taylor Kitsch, Liam Neeson, Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker & Alexander Skarsgard

Posted on August 10, 2012 Written by ripitup

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Battleship movie poster - Battleship starring Taylor Kitsch, Liam Neeson, Brooklyn Decker & Alexander Skarsgard
Battleship starring Taylor Kitsch, Liam Neeson, Brooklyn Decker, Rihanna & Alexander Skarsgard. Also featuring Hamish Linklater & Peter MacNicol. Image via iceposter.com

Battleship Premise

Alex Hopper (Taylor Kitsch) is a 26-year-old guy with pretty much no ambition, to the annoyance of his older brother Stone (Alexander Skarsgård), who already has a prestigious rank in the navy. And when the broke Alex gets further into trouble trying to impress the gorgeous Samantha (Brooklyn Decker), Stone decides that Alex will join the navy and follow in his footsteps.

And while Alex is smart and talented, he keeps getting into trouble. It doesn’t help matters that his latest spectacle might end his career, and lose the chance to get accepted by his girlfriend Samantha’s father, Admiral Shane (Liam Neeson.)

But when aliens, responding to the signals sent to them a couple of years ago, arrive and start sinking ships, Alex will have no choice to grow up, fuel his energy in the right direction and try save not only Hawaii or America, but the rest of the world as well. The problem is, the aliens are far better- equipped and ready to destroy while Alex will have to do with lesser weapons, few men and the loss of people. It doesn’t help that they are shielded from the rest of the world so none can enter or exit the war zone.

So will Alex be able to pull it off without getting killed, losing more men and seeing the world fall to pieces?

*

Worth Watching?

Battleship is a fun action movie with really good effects. At 131 minutes, it could have been a little shorter. Especially right after the navy faces the presence of the alien ships/spacecrafts, the anticipation and reaction scenes are shot a bit too slowly for my liking.

But despite a couple of slow moments, the movie is quite entertaining whether you knew about the game it was based on or not. The beginning provides good comic relief as well a nice contrast to the man Alex is about to become.

I really like the supporting characters as well, especially the geeky, good-natured and perceptive scientist Cal Zapata (Hamish Linklater) who has to provide more balls than he ever had to in his life because scientists around him were too stupid to listen.

Brooklyn Decker also serves more than eye candy. In addition to being the admiral’s daughter, she is a physical therapist who finds herself right in the middle of the hot zone, thanks to her patient and gets some good ideas on her own to help the situation. And being the daughter of an admiral who is played by Liam Neeson, we don’t find it illogical that she doesn’t chicken out.

The aliens are also thankfully not green! Being from a planet with similar conditions to ours, they have some similar features so that’s a nice change.

All in all, despite being predictable in many parts, it still engages the audience in the war between humans and the aliens- which for the long part is mostly a war between Alex’s crew and the aliens.

Alex and crew got smarter and better with time, and the movie got better as time passed by. I had a good time, and started admiring the director even more. The movie is directed by actor/director Peter Berg, who I first saw as a guest actor on Alias, where he played Noah Hicks, Sydney’s (Jennifer Garner) old field-partner/ex-flame. He has acted in many good projects (e.g. Lions for Lambs), and directed quite a few. But he has definitely done a good job with the massive budget.

My complaint? Liam Neeson could have had more screen time, and kicked some alien butt, though he did say the coolest line in the movie.

Favorite line:

(Admiral Shane to the Secretary of Defense (Peter MacNicol)–angry that the secretary is barking orders despite the loss of men)

Shane: You want to send a plane? I’ll do it the second you come up here and put your ass on the co-pilot seat, sir!!

Highlights:

–          The effects.

–          The actors.

–          The soundtrack. It’s all rock ‘n’ roll and I like it. They even played Thunderstruck from AC/DC.

–          The latest strategy (ship) they use and how they use it.

–          The one-liners and funny comments, as well as, humane reactions from several characters. and not just the lead.

–          Battle putting the egos in check and turning them into a solid alliance.

–          The setting: This has to be the alien movie with the best landscape ever! It is in Hawaii!.

Final Verdict:

See it. But of course if I have to make a list of recent expensive movies, this would be my order:

-The Dark Knight / The Avengers

– The Amazing Spider-Man

– Battleship.

 

Currently rated at 6.1 on IMDB. My vote: a solid 7.

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: action, adventure, Alexander Skarsgard, Battleship, battleship 2012 movie, battleship dvd, battleship movie, battleship movie review, brooklyn decker, hamish linklater, Liam Neeson, movies, peter macnicol, Rihanna, rihanna in battleship, sci fi, Taylor Kitsch, Taylor Kitsch Battleship

Lockout starring Guy Pearce & Maggie Grace

Posted on August 1, 2012 Written by ripitup

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Lockout starring Guy Pearce & Maggie Grace: Fun, Fast, Cool Action
Lockout starring Guy Pearce & Maggie Grace: Fun, Fast, Cool Action. Image via evrenselfilm.com.

Snow (Guy Pearce) is a highly efficient, smartass CIA agent who gets setup during his last operation. Secret Service agent (Peter Stormare) is convinced that he killed a fellow agent and was selling state secrets. Snow’s only ally is another agent, who seems to believe in his innocence. But Snow eventually gets sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Emilie (Maggie Grace) is the president’s daughter on a humanitarian mission, visiting the world’s most secure prison-the first and only prison in space.

It holds the most dangerous criminals, who are kept in a sleeping state. She thinks that this increases aggression and can even cause dementia, but the guards just can’t wait to send her back off after giving her an interview with one of the criminals. But when the interview goes awry and the criminal manages to break out, she finds herself held hostage with the other employees and her one guard.

Of course there is only one guy who is good enough to get her out of there alive, and it is Snow. Not that he is willing to risk his own butt to fight against a prsion full of psychos, bu he accepts it when he learns his partner Mace has been sent there. And hey, it is the only way to get around his own sentence.

From that moment on, Snow uses all his skills to save himself and Emilie, and find Mace- while teaching a her a few thing or two about being tough. And both Snow and Emilie find out that there might be more to the other one that meets the eye…

Unfortunately, the Secret Service just might be more concerned about saving the world from an infiltration of convicts than saving one woman, even though she is the first daughter…

*

Lockout is one of the funniest, most entertaining and exciting sci-fi/action movies out there. Actually, a part the prison is the only sci-fi element, but then again, it doesn’t seem that much of a stretch for 2079. And it is not funny because there is comedy, but because Snow delivers hilarious oneliners with perfect timing. And it is fun to see your well-built, effective and attractive agent deliver all the comedy with a straight face.

See Lockout- it is fun action at its best, and was co-written by Luc Besson. Make the action here Guy Pearce and you have a cool movie at your best, without an unneccessary love story attached.

Also on Guy Pearce:

Guy Pearce Trivia

The King’s Speech starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush & Guy Pearce

Also on Peter Stormare

The Killing Room starring Timothy Hutton & Peter Stormare

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: action, guy pearce, guy pearce lockout, guy pearce movies, lockout cast, lockout guy pearce, lockout movie, Luc Besson, maggie grace, maggie grace lockout, Peter Stormare, sci fi

The Kovak Box starring Timothy Hutton, Lucía Jiménez & David Kelly

Posted on October 20, 2011 Written by ripitup

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The Kovak Box starring Timothy Hutton, Lucía Jiménez & David Kelly
The Kovak Box starring Timothy Hutton, Lucía Jiménez & David Kelly. Image via movieposterdb.com


David Norton (Timothy Hutton) is an accomplished sci-fi writer who is invited to be the speaker at an exotic location. With lots of best-selling books under his belt, and a loving relationship with his girlfriend Jane (Georgia MacKenzie), he couldn’t be happier…that is until he starts receiving odd messages and Jane jumps out of their hotel room window…

Silvia (Lucía Jiménez) is at the same hospital, and unlike Jane she is lucky enough to have survived the fall. But as she tries to leave the hospital, she realizes that some people are after her.

As David and Silvia realize they are in this nightmare of a puzzle together, they try to understand what’s going on and why. Maybe someone is pushing David to write a story he didn‘t sign up for…

*

The Kovak Box has a very interesting premise, and it does live up to it to a certain extent. But the movie takes huge blows from the casting (excluding Timothy Hutton), the editing and direction in general. Not to mention the overall musical score.  The Gloomy Sunday track is creepy enough. But overdoing the rest of the score is just distracting and annoying- and not thrilling. It is a story that could have made more of an impact if it was told by somebody else. And it makes me wonder-would this be a better story just shot in one language, without the accents, subtitles – and most importantly, subtler actors?

Still, it might be an interesting experience for Timothy Hutton fans.

*

Other Posts on Timothy Hutton

Beautiful Girls starring Timothy Hutton, Matt Dillon, Uma Thurman, Natalie Portman and Mira Sorvino

The Absolute Timothy Hutton Trivia: 18 Facts About Leverage Star Timothy Hutton

City of Industry starring Harvey Keitel, Stephen Dorff and Timothy Hutton

The Killing Room starring Timothy Hutton

Ordinary People starring Timothy Hutton, Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore and Judd Hirsch

Serious Moonlight starring Timothy Hutton and Meg Ryan

Taps starring Timothy Hutton, Tom Cruise and Sean Penn

Leverage TV Series starring Timothy Hutton

The Ghost Writer starring Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan. Feat. Timothy Hutton

The Good Shepherd starring Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie. Feat. Timothy Hutton

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: David Kelly, Georgia MacKenzie, Lucía Jiménez, movies, mystery, sci fi, The Kovak Box, the kovak box movie, the kovak box timothy hutton, thriller, Timothy Hutton, timothy hutton movies, timothy hutton the kovak box

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