Fun fact: some martial arts experts are trained to enter mushin, or "no mind", which is a state of total focus in which all mental distractions are turned off. Preston would absolutely be trained in this given his experience and the general opinion of emotions. Basically when the polygraph flatlines, it's Preston entering Mushin and steeling himself for the fight. Ironically, he achieved what Libria had wanted since the beginning: total emotional control. Except he did it without drugs!
perfectly said, he proved them wrong in a sense, just like he learned with the resistance: without control, emotions are pure caos, but the difference is, when we want to, we can feel them. Controlling your emotions is not abolishing them. Don't repress your feelings, instead, learn how to deal with them in order to take control.
Preston's training essentially made him be able to naturally enter a state of equilibrium on his own. So it makes sense that he can switch on and switch off as necessary. He was considered a prodigy in Gun Kata which means his natural talent in addition to his training elevated him to the top.
There was one thing I thought was really clever, but wasn’t mentioned: The writers chose the term _“sense offender”_ because of how close it was to _“sex offender”._ The idea was to show how “sense offenders” in Libria are considered as low and reviled as we consider sex offenders in real-life. Just a single word change drew a parallel that helped audiences understand the mindset of Libria.
Keeping on a 1984 type theme, words and word play are very important for an oppressive regime. Language is the most important thing for the freedom of humans, yet it is also our biggest enemy. Censorship isn't as important to an oppressor as is conditioning and tricking you to censor yourself, thus leading you to make your own decision to follow your oppressor
@@CNep99 Also, Kurt Wimmer was afraid the "EC-10" thing would be cut out because it was him taking a none-too subtle dig at the MPAA and other ratings systems and their outdated socially conservative,puritanical reasoning for rating films,games and books the way they do but was pleasantly surprised it was left in.
7:20 - you forgot to mention that the song playing is Beethoven's 9th symphony. A stunning and eminently appropriate metaphor and even a bit of foreshadowing - this is the first movement of the symphony, filled with tension and a roller coaster of ups and downs. But the end of the symphony is a rousing chorus - an Ode to Joy! - portending how the movie will end with Preston's fully realized sense and control of emotion. That's worth a few extra wins.
How did no one notice that when Preston kills Ned, he quotes Yates "Tread softly, as you tread upon my dreams" and Father references this when he says "Be careful Preston, you're treading on my dreams" as the fight begins. Great subtle reference.
I know this is 3 years late, but I always thought that it meant they were watching him and grooming him to feel. The bosses identified him as someone who was very loyal but had a very high potential to feel. The way I see the film is that they wanted to make him the ultimate weapon against feeling but failed to understand how a man like Preston could end up championing the feeling folk.
One of my all time favs. Even went as a Cleric for Halloween 2 years in a row in Highschool lol (08-09). Everyone thought it was from the Matrix...alas. One of my favourite moments is at the end when he turns off his emotions in order to defeat Father and his goons. I always felt that Preston realized that in order for everyone else to get the chance to feel and experience life, he had to give up that joy he discovered and emotionless was the only way to complete his mission.
@@killercookie6195 Why do you say that like it's the worst thing in the world? Pretty sure you don't understand the feeling. You are completely biased towards having music because it has been a factor in all movies since forever. If it would have been the other way around, you would have said the same thing about it like I did. So in short, if you need music to enjoy a movie, it's not a movie is it? I'm certain you haven't watched a movie without sound and only having great ambience either.
Also, tell a dystopian future story that's at least semi-believable. "Bitchy 16-year-old girl starts a revolution, but the main conflict is choosing between two sets of washboard abs" is honestly too far-fetched for me to sustain my disbelief.
@@ciscobriones5904 Not to argue or discredit you for assholes sake, but I kind of like it as one movie. I dont know why but sometimes stories (at least to me) are 10x better when we are left wondering or arent given much more lore into the story that would be provided with a second movie. It gives me more to think about or to imagine for myself when the origins, the future, and the state of the civilization itself after the movie are shrouded in the depths of my imagination. I believe this movie is really underrated and is a gem for anyone who wants to not only see more Matrix style badass good guy action scenes, but a story that lets you feel for somebody who cannot feel themself.
as funny as it looks as a detail, it is on totally wrong place. should be near Taye's corpse (head, to be precise), and with much more blood around it. But A+ for effort. XD
I remember watching this movie for the first time. I was overwhelmed and mesmerised by the cinematography, Bale’s acting, the perfect timing, the details, and the story. Easily one of my favourites.
I remember watching this once when I was 14. I walked in on my brother and his girlfriend watching it while our families were on holiday together, and I walked in on the puppy scene. My brother gave me the very brief context of "they live in a world without emotions, Bale's not taking his medicine" and I was immediately hooked. Such a good film, and the fight scenes are AMAZING.
@ Procreation, logically, is essential to the continuation of the species. If not physical fertilization, artificial eliminates some risks and allow for a better species to form. Raising children and families are necessary for cognitive development. Families also allow for lower costs on government programs, and with proper regulation can improve educational outcomes. thank you for your question- The Tetragrammaton Council.
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@@srusty05 Laboratory conditions can hardly make a better species because they remove all the conditions necessary for proper development. Its all about survival of the fittest. Selection may work in the beginning but ultimately, in sterile conditions nothing truly stronger will be made or maintained. Domestication leads to implosion. Its like comparing poodles to shepherds and wolves. Humans are meant to be feral and savage. We are destroying ourselves with modernity. Equilibrium shows it perfectly. Preston was a little too emotional, fighting against the state he's so blindly supposed to serve when they marched into his apartment. Seems like some emotion is allowed... he even slept with his wife, his daughter fed the most compassionate animal throughout the movie and it was all known. That's why its all weird... the whole grammaton society mantra and its strictness.
These days, it's called an "Oh SHIT" moment ..... wonder where they got the phrase from.. ;-) Also, The crowing monologue, badguy reveal.....seeing the polygraph flatline, realising what that means, and then 2 short, innocuous lines of dialogue later...... The editing in this whole movie just seems microsecond perfect, we are fed the entire set up, drip by perfect drip.
It was cut out here but when Bales vitals flatlines the guy doing the reading gets off an "oh shit" before Bale says "not without incident" and goes nuts with the shooting.
Surely one of the best ".....oh yes!" moments in any film. I was so drawn into it by this point. I thought that it might not turn out good for Preston. It was such a 'gotcha' by the baddies... and then "No, not without incident" - love it love it love it!
I love that you actually have a "sum up" moment at the end of your videos, it changes your videos from being just a "knock-off" of Cinema Sins to be it's own thing.
7:10 Good heavens, I get emotional hearing that music. I cannot even imagine how someone who's never felt anything before would react to it. I'm surprised he didn't fall to his knees with tears in his eyes.
I wonder what your thoughts are on Ultraviolet, the next film from the same director as Equilibrium, having a ton of high-tech stylized, graphic violence, being remarkably bloodier, and a also including bunch more color variety and spatial imagination. SPOILER ALERT: Don't expect the plot to hold up or be very inventive.
I absolutely loved this film growing up. After having seen The Matrix and being blown away, I was searching for more intense anime-tier action movies, but nothing could really deliver. I think the first time I stumbled upon it was on a premium cable channel one day when I was a teenager living with my parents. After moving out, I couldn't afford cable in the dorms so I had to rely on buying a ton of DVDs and watching on my laptop. I remember stumbling upon it one day on a discount DVD shelf and brought it home immediately. Although my tastes have changed (maybe for the worst), Equilibrium remained my top most favorite film for a very long time. Too bad Wimmer's follow-up (Ultraviolet) did really live up.
Yes, please, absolutely go through the MGS series! I would love to hear what you pick up on throughout the core of the franchise, in particular Snake Eater!
Equilibrium, the movie i used to love so much, while everyone else was hating on it (when it came out) Finally, it can only now get the much deserved love and praise. The internet had to happen for that, cuz everyone else in the town i lived hated it ;p There is finally equilibrium between the haters and the lovers :)
Prince of Egypt would be good. It was SKG's first movie, and it was huge. There's a song called "When You Believe" which there's a version of online with about 26 different languages singing different lines. It's stunning...(digs around) Here it is!! th-cam.com/video/MDqs73ExrbI/w-d-xo.html
I stumbled upon Equilibrium one day and after I watched it, I asked my friends if they knew that movie. Nobody did. This blew my mind why they didn't know such awesomeness.
Only watched it recently. Loved it so much, then watched it again. Subtle brilliance in this film, from acting to script to cinematography. Saw it more as a psychological thriller than science fiction. The prozium capsules and constant lecturing by Father show the ways people can be brainwashed. John Preston's awakening is mesmerising, every scene is impactful. Such as the man dying in his arms, the music, the dog being rescued, and the effect of Mary's incineration. He is transitioning to being a real person from being a cold blooded killer that he was. Loved the end, fight sequences are excellent, and I was so glad when shot Dupont!
I love this movie. Christian Bale acting skills did help a lot, imagine someone like Sam Worthington starring. Also gun-kata is sick!! RIP Bean though, again.
I NEED to make three suggestions for winnable movies: "Song of the Sea" an Irish movie about Celtic folklore "Kirikou and the sorceress" a French movie about Guinean folklore "Like crazy" an Italian movie about two women who escape from a mental institution in search of happiness (heartbreaking)
The way several scenes build tension is outstanding. Examples like the pause in an utterly black room between forcing entry and the gunfire; Preston's apartment being searched as they get closer to where he stashed the unused doses; and the lie detector flatlining, cutting to the technician's face just long enough to register the horror, before Preston erupts from the chair.
I loved how awesome Bale was at conveying depth of emotion in varying degrees, while barely changing his facial expression. That is some seriously good acting chops!
Hugely underrated movie. The Matrix crossed with Nineteen Eighty-Four was a top class idea, but so many people either forget or just plain don't know about this film.
This movie has been my favorite "3am and I can't sleep" movie for years. I found it on tbs and I loved it ever since. Christian Bale is an always a win actor for me.
Listening to Beethoven 9th is perfect for this movie. The subtle crescendo has brought me to tears as well when I heard the symphony played live first. That peace the music does punch you in the feels.
I stumbled on this movie by accident while zapping through the TV at night and was mesmerized! I'm so glad I found it! The actors, the story, the look, the action - it's everything I love combined into one helluva underrated movie! I'm happy to see others enjoy it too!
I thought this movie was absolutely awesome as a dystopian sci-fi thriller and the gun-kata was so cool that it didn't matter whether or not anybody found it "plausible." Very underrated and well worth the watch.
When I first time saw this movie, I was young and naive to see all the flaws in the movie and I only saw it's amazing acting, cool stunts, captivating atmosphere and it's message. I'm truly blessed to be able to watch it at that time. Now when I'm older, more cynical(probably the most important factor) and seen tons of other high quality movies like this, I must confess: If I would see this movie today, I would get mildly annoyed by nitpicking all the small details, but I would probably still recognize all the beauty it projects to the viewers. Equilibrium is truly an amazing piece of art that is not hindered by it's oversights.
The first Matrix movie and Equilibrium i'd consider equals but part 2 & 3 bring the Matrix down in quality imo so i'd have to agree with you in light of that.
@@airiakizuki5592 I would sort of agree with that, the first Matrix movies was way better than 2 and 3, but I still think Equilibrium is a more profound and subtle movie. As for Neo and Preston as characters to root for, there is no comparison: the scene when he cries while listening Beethoven is still one of my preferite scenes ever and the reason why I still listen to Beethoven to this day.
Equilibrium tells the Hero's Journey in a MASTERFUL way, and doesn't take the traditional approach. The steps attributed to Campbell are interspersed with steps of the Heroine's Journey (as the Monomyth was applied and interpreted to folktales with female protagonists). I picked it apart in my own blog, and understanding that Wimmer took Heroine's Journey steps and reinterpreted them back to a male hero... I've never seen that before. Ever. Drop me a reply if you'd like links.
@@Skerdy I always hated this "Neo= anagram of One= Jesus" thingy from "Matrix" and say whatever the hell you want... but scenes of "Woah", "i know kung- fu", slow motion bullets casing porn, and this bland, motionless stares just killed it for me- i mean Arnold from first "Terminator" was more emotional and had better comebacks than whole cast of "Matrix" put together. I`m feeling Wachowskis` Hand in it, but nontheless... "Equilibrium" has same goofy combat with shitty stunts(i am much bigger fan of realisitc combat... but that is my opinion only) that give the movie it`s style, while also, sort of asking some pretty good questions about our nature, is there a cure for it, should there be a cure, or should we be allowed to do what we want? And without going into too much of fantasy land with magic, like "Matrix" did... yeah, i know we`d do without less motorcycle helmets, or wierd gun combat, but oh fuken well... I know it is kinda asking "do you like more Pizza or Lasagne?", and it is all coming down to personal tastes, but since what we watch and what we like is TASTE based, hence my opinion is i would always watch "Equilibrium" over "Matrix"- if anything, just to see William Fichtner :) that guy can save movie... Remember that shitty fucking movie called "Drive Angry"? It wa worthy of watching just because there was an Accountant in it :D I love how people go bannanas when i tell them i don`t like "Matrix" XD, and how same people go INSANE, when i also mention that, excluding "Desperado", i don`t like Tarantino movies, like "Kill Bill". There was this two factions in my Middle School- one loved "Matrix", other "Lord of the Rings"... but while first ones started wearing sun glasses, other just loved the movie, without putting on pointy ears or fake beards, and just laughed at the "Matrix" lovers XD
I saw this movie some years ago, maybe five, and was incredibly shocked that such a good movie could be swept under the rug. To this day I haven't met one person who had seen it. Easily the most *underrated* film I know about, and it makes me wonder what other gems have been forgotten and lost.
@@sleepingbackbone7581 not at all. just seems a good movie, wouldn't call any aspect of it groundbreaking, except maybe the action. It's dystopian for sure, but it never feels preachy, it's one of those few movies you can enjoy without being made to think too much. Could it have been better if it made us think? sure, depending what we had to think about, but to an extent I'm glad it focused on the eye-candy type fight sequences. I grew up in a household that loved B-movies, so the cheesiness didn't bug me all that much. As mentioned in the video, the movie feels like a video game, and myself being a huge gamer can appreciate the thrill of being able to let my thumbs rest yet still experience the thrill of poorly-written-for-the-sake-of-action type movies.
I LOVE this movie... The moment when Preston first HEARS the music gets me every time. Also his frustration with the people he tries to save, "Damn you!"
I love this movie. It’s so dark. Watch it quietly with good head phones or speakers. The ambiance, the world it builds. The vibe. It’s so dark and cold yet warm. Leaves me with lots of questions.
I found Equilibrium from a music video of Here by Vast made by Kristin Harris - loved it so much, I went out and bought the DVD to see what the film it was taking footage from was about. I don't really do best-this or favourite-that, but if asked I will happily say that Equilibrium is my favourite movie of all time. I think you nailed most of my thoughts about it, but also added a few more points I need to go back and appreciate! Great video.
Happened similarly to me - only it was V.A.S.T Touched video by SkyDude. Till this day the song makes me feel the stuff that happens in the music video/film.
Wait, how the hell did you not mention the subtle smile at the very end, a split second before the credits roll? That was the crowning moment of the entire movie - until then, all we've seen from the protagonist is anguish. And then right at the end, literally in the last moment, the slightest of smiles appears. I'd also have to disagree massively with the notion that it's The Matrix with no subtly - I'd say it's the opposite. It has a whole lot more subtle moments of emotion and humanity. In The Matrix, the action is awesome and cool... and that's kinda it. In Equilibrium, every action sequence has major narrative and emotional significance. I think ultimately the great triumph of Equilibrium is that it managed to make an entertaining action movie... that happens to be shot like something far more artistic. I mean is there a single shot in the whole damn thing that isn't perfectly framed and lit? Is there a single scene in which there isn't something subtle and important (like the rebel leader being the first one to stand up and clap - rendering himself conspicuous by his very act of subterfuge)? Oh, and Brandt wasn't on the drug. He never was. He was always feeling. He was always in league with "father". That's kinda the entire point - that on both sides of the conflict, rebel and government, people are feeling. It's everyone ELSE who is numb - in order for Preston to join the fight, he has to feel. He has to pay the price. And what are you talking about, flawless hero? Preston isn't a flawless hero. He willingly watched his own wife being burned to death, personally authorised the destruction of priceless art and history, and spends most of the movie with no idea what's going on. He's a broken husk of a man until the end; his own children are more human than he is. He doesn't "win every fight" - he loses every fight, when you really think about it, until he figures out who he's really supposed to be fighting.
I think the Mary Sue argument has less to do with him having flaws -- which I agree, he does -- and more to do with the fact that he's unbeatable. Half of the conflicts in the movie are ultimately solved by Preston dancing around and shooting people with Desert Eagles, and the other half kind of just work themselves out to his convenience.
@@logancox6548 Well yeah, I mean there's no physical danger to him in a lot of scenes... but my point is - he's allowed to be so good in fights, because he's actually defeating himself in most of those fights. He loses. He does a whole lot of stuff that ultimately proves to be completely against his own best interests and goals. None of the conflicts are really "solved", he just creates new problems each time, and kills a bunch of people for the sake of expediency. Given the nature of the film, I don't think you can separate the action from the narrative - I think every single action sequence serves a very specific narrative purpose, and feeds character development. He's unbeatable... because the person he's really fighting is himself, from start to finish.
I'd say that Preston is more a paragon than a Mary Sue, but a paragon in one very specific area. Kicking butt and taking names. He's an invincible killing machine sure, but that's what they made him into. He was their creation, their weapon, finally turned against them.
id be more inclined to say that this film and the matrix both have the same amount of heart and energy but were portrayed completely opposite. where as 95% of this movie is all the emotion and energy and its being stacked in layed sometimes 4 layers deep in meaning like the boy helping the sister. and its kept just out of sight and mind because of the 5% gun pay and action that keep you too preoccupied to look. but the matrix puts all its 95% of love and yadayada , right at the surface and even explained it for you in big words to give you a chance to keep up with its insanely complex and convoluted premise . but it works. it only feels less impactful than this film because . its told and shown to you as if part of the film and not layers to keep you looking for more puzzle pieces.
I too think that Omars Epps character was never on the drug to begin with. He shows more emotion throughout the movie than Preston does even when he's off the drug. In fact none of the main characters in the movie are on the drug, they are all feeling. And when he says "A high price, I pay it glady" at the end when he kills the guy pretending to be father. He's commenting about his willingness to kill those who abuse their emotions and caused this whole situation to being with, bringing the whole story ark full circle.
I love everything about this movie! and I saw it in theaters on accident. My dad came to visit me before I graduated from A School (military), and we decided to go to the movies during the short time we had together. Unfortunately, most things we wanted to see was already playing and we came at a weird hour. We shoulda checked the times, but we didn't. Anyways, we asked the ticket counter person If Equillibrium was good as it was the only thing on soon. With a glimmer in his eye, he nodded. So we bought our tickets and went to see the show. I was floored. Not knowing what to expect and having this glorious action movie. Stunned. And watching it 2 decades later... I still love everything about this movie.
great video. I also totally agree with the Fitchner comment. I want him in more stuff. if you've never seen Drive Angry with him and nick cage, it's a fun movie and Fitchner is incredible in it.
I stumbled onto this in some random collection, and I agree that it is brilliant. It's better than 1980 and far more subtle than The Matrix. It is easy to suspend disbelief for most of it, and the entire story makes sense. Not perfect, but for a lesser known movie it's very well done.
It's worth mentioning that this movie made an *enormous* impact in Japan. There are tons of anime and Japanese video games that reference Equilibrium. Devil May Cry 3 has a whole gun kata cutscene between Dante and Lady. The signature battle in Madoka Magica Rebellion is a shot-for-shot remake of Preston vs. Father. Just yesterday, the movie Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: The Battle of Unato literally begins with the main character gunning down a horde of zombies in a pitch-black room just like how John Preston makes his entrance in this movie.
9:05 Another fun fact- They set the squibs to be activated automatically by the gun being fired, instead of manually by someone watching it, making it much more immediate.
One of my favorite movies ever, forever! The movie thatmade me actually enjoy gun fights,and, personally, I'd read 1984 and watch Matrix over and over and over. Of course it's awesome when something is brand new and cool, but ideas thaf have been used before CAN be "refurbished" into something similar and slightly different and amazing. 1984 has been done thousands of times in differents ways and medias, but this movie is one that, for me, brought somehing new, the appreciation for a movie photography and fight choreographies. Plus, Sean, Bale and Taye, c'mon! ❤
The Metal Gear games have cutscenes that usually add up to be longer than most movies - even the extended Lotr movies. It's not that I don't want my favorite video game series getting an EGA treatment, it's that it's going to be an undertaking.
for the last fight against Brandt, i always found it amusing that in response to being told to 'mind the uniform' Preston cut the uniform twice, giving Brandt just enough time to realise he had cut it before he killed him.
I loved this movie for being a goofy action movie, then on re watching it I noticed all the little details that really made it one of my all time favorites.
You should do The Social Network. I saw you mentioned a scene from the movie on your Twitter, so maybe you’re already working on it, but it would be great!
Also, William Fichtner was the perfect actor for his role. Sean Bean was great, Christian Bale was great, but the performance from Fichtner was just incredible! I wasn't watching an actor in a film, I was watching a character in a story.
OK, a couple comments: 1. I love this movie, and it lit up my day to see that you did this one. You pointed out things I had missed before. 2. The scene of seeing the sunrise properly for the first time was just so good. 3. Was it really a series of unforseen events that led Preston to go off of the dose? I think it could be argued that the whole thing was planned from the start by Father. They knew he had the potential to understand feeling more than others, and they implanted those who were part of the secret cabal at the top around him from the start. They wanted to make him the agent provocateur, purge the resistance, and then dispose of him. They just underestimated his ability to maintain control (see the next point). 4. This, to me, is one of the best dystopian stories, because it doesn't make the missing thing critically important. Any other story makes what the government has taken away (color, memory, etc) worth trading everything for and the most glorious thing in the world. Instead, Equilibrium talks about how emotion without control is destruction, and that those who lead should be able to act without it when needed. Preston's victory comes about because Father and his henchmen expect his total emotional collapse when his failure is made manifest. Instead, they find a man who is ready to turn off those feelings for the sake of saving people. It's not emotion or lack of emotion that wins, but the ability to control emotion that saves the day.
Yeah the winner-take-all thing (usually in favor of the shitty dystopian society) is something I've always disliked. The most interesting part about dystopians stories is the things that we like that they have continued to keep, or things that we've wanted that they have achieved, but are being more devious about. For example, the no sickness kinda thing in Brave New World. But in this story, the so-called good guys know there is merit to at least part of the dystopian society, such as having a good leader that is capable of feeling, but is able to put that aside when it is needed in order to make tough decisions. It's more tipping the scales through a sort of compromise (ok it was a war in this story) instead of just taking the entire scale. I think that's a good message.
I unironically love this movie. This was the first movie that showed me how much energy Christian Bale invests in his roles. He goes all in every time, and I love it. One of the best working today
9:40 that's.... kindof the point - from the movies side - they are trained to stand in ircles around people - they do not think, they do as they are trained, so they will never stop standing in circles around people
No comment on the globe? 2:37 It shows the earth after a major war that seems to have shifted the South American plate along with other major changes to the land area. If WWIII was that bad it gives an even better reason why this crazy system was put in place. Just how much of civilisation even survives outside Libria? Beautiful movie and vastly underrated, much like Dredd.
![เป็นไปได้ไหม - WanMai [Performance Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Eh5hItD4Mr0/mqdefault.jpg)
![ILLSLICK X YOUNGOHM - We're The same [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yUJNkobYR0E/mqdefault.jpg)
Fun fact: some martial arts experts are trained to enter mushin, or "no mind", which is a state of total focus in which all mental distractions are turned off. Preston would absolutely be trained in this given his experience and the general opinion of emotions. Basically when the polygraph flatlines, it's Preston entering Mushin and steeling himself for the fight. Ironically, he achieved what Libria had wanted since the beginning: total emotional control. Except he did it without drugs!
perfectly said, he proved them wrong in a sense, just like he learned with the resistance: without control, emotions are pure caos, but the difference is, when we want to, we can feel them. Controlling your emotions is not abolishing them. Don't repress your feelings, instead, learn how to deal with them in order to take control.
Preston's training essentially made him be able to naturally enter a state of equilibrium on his own. So it makes sense that he can switch on and switch off as necessary. He was considered a prodigy in Gun Kata which means his natural talent in addition to his training elevated him to the top.
Immature as I am, I love it when the technician monitoring Preston's EEG curses when he flat lines.
We watched this in high school when reading 1984 because our teacher said this was a better 1984 movie than the 1984 movie
cool teacher!
Thats cool, but unfortunately this movie has a happy ending.
1984 isnt so happy.
@@pedinhuh16 idk a world being plunged back into war and chaos is a good ending
Very cool teacher.
Your teacher was right. This is 1984 on steroids!! The 1984 movie was boring!
I'm glad _someone_ got around to reviewing one of the most underrated films of all time.
Equilibrium walked so John Wick could run
On point 2 years later dude
in a sense this could be exactly the movie where jhon wick kills babayega.
There was one thing I thought was really clever, but wasn’t mentioned:
The writers chose the term _“sense offender”_ because of how close it was to _“sex offender”._ The idea was to show how “sense offenders” in Libria are considered as low and reviled as we consider sex offenders in real-life. Just a single word change drew a parallel that helped audiences understand the mindset of Libria.
also compare it to 1984... "thought crime"... here it's the other half of the human equation being controlled... "sense crime".
nice call
Keeping on a 1984 type theme, words and word play are very important for an oppressive regime. Language is the most important thing for the freedom of humans, yet it is also our biggest enemy. Censorship isn't as important to an oppressor as is conditioning and tricking you to censor yourself, thus leading you to make your own decision to follow your oppressor
@@CNep99 You can see a lot of that around the world rn
@@CNep99 Also, Kurt Wimmer was afraid the "EC-10" thing would be cut out because it was him taking a none-too subtle dig at the MPAA and other ratings systems and their outdated socially conservative,puritanical reasoning for rating films,games and books the way they do but was pleasantly surprised it was left in.
7:20 - you forgot to mention that the song playing is Beethoven's 9th symphony. A stunning and eminently appropriate metaphor and even a bit of foreshadowing - this is the first movement of the symphony, filled with tension and a roller coaster of ups and downs. But the end of the symphony is a rousing chorus - an Ode to Joy! - portending how the movie will end with Preston's fully realized sense and control of emotion.
That's worth a few extra wins.
Everytime I hear Taye Diggs say: "Mind the uniform, Cleric. I plan on wearing it a long time." I think: "Yeah, you can be buried in it."
Well, he DID literally wear it until the end of his life, so...
Best Scene: Preston getting hit with the emotion from listening to Beethoven.
My favorite as well. Bought the music right after. That scene lingers with me still, years after seeing the movie for the first time.
very emotional
Yeah best scene unforgettable.
@@mrcasey69 it's almost like it's making you feel it for the first time, does that a bunch of times
Yeah that's definitely one them⭐💯
How did no one notice that when Preston kills Ned, he quotes Yates "Tread softly, as you tread upon my dreams" and Father references this when he says "Be careful Preston, you're treading on my dreams" as the fight begins. Great subtle reference.
I know this is 3 years late, but I always thought that it meant they were watching him and grooming him to feel. The bosses identified him as someone who was very loyal but had a very high potential to feel. The way I see the film is that they wanted to make him the ultimate weapon against feeling but failed to understand how a man like Preston could end up championing the feeling folk.
One of my all time favs. Even went as a Cleric for Halloween 2 years in a row in Highschool lol (08-09). Everyone thought it was from the Matrix...alas. One of my favourite moments is at the end when he turns off his emotions in order to defeat Father and his goons. I always felt that Preston realized that in order for everyone else to get the chance to feel and experience life, he had to give up that joy he discovered and emotionless was the only way to complete his mission.
One thing I loved is that I didn't notice any music until that scene when Preston himself discovers music
Movies should not have music at all imo. When you think about it, having music on makes it boring and less immersive tbh.
@@nopoint30 I don't think I've ever read something that I disagree with more....
Moki - Rocket League because star wars would be so much better without music
@@killercookie6195 Why do you say that like it's the worst thing in the world? Pretty sure you don't understand the feeling.
You are completely biased towards having music because it has been a factor in all movies since forever. If it would have been the other way around, you would have said the same thing about it like I did. So in short, if you need music to enjoy a movie, it's not a movie is it? I'm certain you haven't watched a movie without sound and only having great ambience either.
@@theRok29 Dude. Star wars is garbage With music, why would it not be without?
I LOVE this film and Christian Bale ever since i saw it years ago.
Agreement!
This movie is an awesome gem
This movie did what Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner couldn't
Tell a story in one installment
More money in trilogies, see The Hobbit. Actually don't, just read it; far, far preferable.
Oh I'm well aware of how big a story it is
Also, tell a dystopian future story that's at least semi-believable. "Bitchy 16-year-old girl starts a revolution, but the main conflict is choosing between two sets of washboard abs" is honestly too far-fetched for me to sustain my disbelief.
yeah it was great! i kinda wish they made a 2nd..10 years after the events of the first
@@ciscobriones5904 Not to argue or discredit you for assholes sake, but I kind of like it as one movie. I dont know why but sometimes stories (at least to me) are 10x better when we are left wondering or arent given much more lore into the story that would be provided with a second movie. It gives me more to think about or to imagine for myself when the origins, the future, and the state of the civilization itself after the movie are shrouded in the depths of my imagination. I believe this movie is really underrated and is a gem for anyone who wants to not only see more Matrix style badass good guy action scenes, but a story that lets you feel for somebody who cannot feel themself.
16:08 I LOVE this movie and have probably seen it around 10 or so times. I've never EVER noticed Taye's face-slice on the floor before.
as funny as it looks as a detail, it is on totally wrong place. should be near Taye's corpse (head, to be precise), and with much more blood around it. But A+ for effort. XD
Sleeping Backbone if u pay close attention you can see a blood trail like they slide it around while the gun kata fight took place
me neither, watched this film many times in my teens and I have never seen the face.
@@sleepingbackbone7581 I think they just used a paper cut out on the floor.
I remember watching this movie for the first time. I was overwhelmed and mesmerised by the cinematography, Bale’s acting, the perfect timing, the details, and the story. Easily one of my favourites.
CinemaWins, the equilibrium has shifted out of balance. The only way to correct this is to review Treasure Planet.
yes please
I second that
Good....gravy.....yess....
Yes!
And Atlantis: The Lost Empire!
I remember watching this once when I was 14. I walked in on my brother and his girlfriend watching it while our families were on holiday together, and I walked in on the puppy scene. My brother gave me the very brief context of "they live in a world without emotions, Bale's not taking his medicine" and I was immediately hooked. Such a good film, and the fight scenes are AMAZING.
I thought this story was going someone else entirely 😂
Equilibrium has always been on my best movies list.
@ Procreation, logically, is essential to the continuation of the species. If not physical fertilization, artificial eliminates some risks and allow for a better species to form. Raising children and families are necessary for cognitive development. Families also allow for lower costs on government programs, and with proper regulation can improve educational outcomes. thank you for your question- The Tetragrammaton Council.
@@srusty05 Laboratory conditions can hardly make a better species because they remove all the conditions necessary for proper development. Its all about survival of the fittest. Selection may work in the beginning but ultimately, in sterile conditions nothing truly stronger will be made or maintained. Domestication leads to implosion. Its like comparing poodles to shepherds and wolves. Humans are meant to be feral and savage. We are destroying ourselves with modernity. Equilibrium shows it perfectly. Preston was a little too emotional, fighting against the state he's so blindly supposed to serve when they marched into his apartment. Seems like some emotion is allowed... he even slept with his wife, his daughter fed the most compassionate animal throughout the movie and it was all known. That's why its all weird... the whole grammaton society mantra and its strictness.
Christian Bale's reactions to emotion are some of my favourite scenes of all times in movies.
equilibrium is one of my all time favorite movies.
Same here
This, and Serenity.
Me too!
Excalibur is mine
I LOVE Equilibrium. One of my top 10 all time favorite movies.
Christian Bale has, to my mind, been 'always a win' since Empire of the Sun.
He's my favourite actor, nearly flawless, almost on par with Gary Oldman
Except for Batman, yup, I agree
Since Reign of Fire
"No, not without incident"
Love that bit
and then badassery ensues...
These days, it's called an "Oh SHIT" moment ..... wonder where they got the phrase from.. ;-)
Also, The crowing monologue, badguy reveal.....seeing the polygraph flatline, realising what that means, and then 2 short, innocuous lines of dialogue later......
The editing in this whole movie just seems microsecond perfect, we are fed the entire set up, drip by perfect drip.
It was cut out here but when Bales vitals flatlines the guy doing the reading gets off an "oh shit" before Bale says "not without incident" and goes nuts with the shooting.
@@Rikard_Nilsson Y
Surely one of the best ".....oh yes!" moments in any film. I was so drawn into it by this point. I thought that it might not turn out good for Preston. It was such a 'gotcha' by the baddies... and then "No, not without incident" - love it love it love it!
I love that you actually have a "sum up" moment at the end of your videos, it changes your videos from being just a "knock-off" of Cinema Sins to be it's own thing.
7:10 Good heavens, I get emotional hearing that music. I cannot even imagine how someone who's never felt anything before would react to it. I'm surprised he didn't fall to his knees with tears in his eyes.
*Happy shrieking about Equilibrium showing up on this channel*
I wonder what your thoughts are on Ultraviolet, the next film from the same director as Equilibrium, having a ton of high-tech stylized, graphic violence, being remarkably bloodier, and a also including bunch more color variety and spatial imagination.
SPOILER ALERT:
Don't expect the plot to hold up or be very inventive.
You took the words, or in tjis case the happy shriek, out of my mouth. Love this movie.
@@janstankiewicz9816 I've actually never seen it. :X
@@janstankiewicz9816 Ultraviolet was weak compared to Equilibrium.
I KNOW!
I absolutely loved this film growing up. After having seen The Matrix and being blown away, I was searching for more intense anime-tier action movies, but nothing could really deliver. I think the first time I stumbled upon it was on a premium cable channel one day when I was a teenager living with my parents. After moving out, I couldn't afford cable in the dorms so I had to rely on buying a ton of DVDs and watching on my laptop. I remember stumbling upon it one day on a discount DVD shelf and brought it home immediately. Although my tastes have changed (maybe for the worst), Equilibrium remained my top most favorite film for a very long time.
Too bad Wimmer's follow-up (Ultraviolet) did really live up.
Yes, please, absolutely go through the MGS series! I would love to hear what you pick up on throughout the core of the franchise, in particular Snake Eater!
I don't see him delving into video games.
@@joshmciver4847 Maybe a separate channel
@@joshmciver4847 I CAN DREAM!
Equilibrium, the movie i used to love so much, while everyone else was hating on it (when it came out) Finally, it can only now get the much deserved love and praise. The internet had to happen for that, cuz everyone else in the town i lived hated it ;p
There is finally equilibrium between the haters and the lovers :)
fuck yeah! cheers to that!
This is one of CB greatest movies. He was such a badass in this masterpiece. It was just a piece of great art.
Frfr ⭐🎯⭐💯
Could we maybe get The Iron Giant or The Prince of Egypt next?
Incredibles 2 is next
@@rwooosh5072 after Incredibles 2 then.
@@stonetimekeeper I want Prince of Egypt too :( and every 2D Dreamworks movie honestly
Prince of Egypt would be good. It was SKG's first movie, and it was huge.
There's a song called "When You Believe" which there's a version of online with about 26 different languages singing different lines. It's stunning...(digs around)
Here it is!! th-cam.com/video/MDqs73ExrbI/w-d-xo.html
Iron Giant? *I love Iron Giant!*
I stumbled upon Equilibrium one day and after I watched it, I asked my friends if they knew that movie. Nobody did. This blew my mind why they didn't know such awesomeness.
3:56 - OMG, never noticed this!!!
16:09 - OMG... this too... Taye's Face!
Ya, noticed it but didn't realize the coloration was intentional. I thought it was just an error in post production.
There's a lot I didn't notice, stuff that I did that I chalked up to "bad acting or directing" I need to rewatch it.
Noticed the face after my 3rd or 4th watch.
@@xmichaud rewatch it, its a fucking masterpiece!
Seen this movie plenty of times and I just watched it again today and it was the first time I noticed his face on the ground😂
When I was a teenager, I watched this movie about 3 times every day for a whole month. Absolutely love it.
Only watched it recently. Loved it so much, then watched it again. Subtle brilliance in this film, from acting to script to cinematography. Saw it more as a psychological thriller than science fiction. The prozium capsules and constant lecturing by Father show the ways people can be brainwashed. John Preston's awakening is mesmerising, every scene is impactful. Such as the man dying in his arms, the music, the dog being rescued, and the effect of Mary's incineration. He is transitioning to being a real person from being a cold blooded killer that he was. Loved the end, fight sequences are excellent, and I was so glad when shot Dupont!
Everything GREAT About Metal gear, Heck yeahhh
Honestly, by the time he got to Metal Gear Rising, he'd probably overlord the win counter with all the awesome shit.
About Metal Gear, huh?
Psycho Mantis?
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
@Cyanide RULES OF NATURE
I love this movie. Christian Bale acting skills did help a lot, imagine someone like Sam Worthington starring. Also gun-kata is sick!! RIP Bean though, again.
I NEED to make three suggestions for winnable movies:
"Song of the Sea" an Irish movie about Celtic folklore
"Kirikou and the sorceress" a French movie about Guinean folklore
"Like crazy" an Italian movie about two women who escape from a mental institution in search of happiness (heartbreaking)
Kirikou. DO KIRIKOU!!!!!
Yes !!! Kirikou !! good idea !!
The way several scenes build tension is outstanding. Examples like the pause in an utterly black room between forcing entry and the gunfire; Preston's apartment being searched as they get closer to where he stashed the unused doses; and the lie detector flatlining, cutting to the technician's face just long enough to register the horror, before Preston erupts from the chair.
The guy running the test understood what it meant when everything flatlined.
Yes, and in that deep voice "It was at this moment he knew, he fucked up"
@@FallenPasha And yet, he's the one left alive.
@@hekkoCZ Rationally speaking, he wasn't in the way of the objective and was irrelevant. Killing him would have no effect on the mission.
@@hekkoCZ Because he said "Oh shit" when it flatlined which indicated to Preston he was emotional.
@@Sol3UK I don't think you have to be emotional to care about badic survival. It's more that he was irrelevant and harmless.
I loved how awesome Bale was at conveying depth of emotion in varying degrees, while barely changing his facial expression. That is some seriously good acting chops!
Hugely underrated movie. The Matrix crossed with Nineteen Eighty-Four was a top class idea, but so many people either forget or just plain don't know about this film.
One of my all time favorite movies, so you glad you did a review of it.
It's really good but I have to admit it's Kurt wimmers one hit wonder
Definitely was! I watched it like 3 times so far. The ending moment of the scene close to the end with the flat line and reaction was just incredible.
This movie has been my favorite "3am and I can't sleep" movie for years. I found it on tbs and I loved it ever since. Christian Bale is an always a win actor for me.
I love that "Father" is now Alfred on Gotham a series about young Bruce Wayne who Bale played the Nolan trilogy
Yes, it is Six degrees of Batman!
Batman is always a win lol
Please do Atlantis the lost empire or treasure planet next!
Attempt #11, I think
Yes, *please*. Even Atlantis: Milo's Return
Please no
Yo Egad treasure planet would be amazing that movie is great and doesn't get nearly the credit it deserves.
Listening to Beethoven 9th is perfect for this movie. The subtle crescendo has brought me to tears as well when I heard the symphony played live first. That peace the music does punch you in the feels.
I stumbled on this movie by accident while zapping through the TV at night and was mesmerized! I'm so glad I found it! The actors, the story, the look, the action - it's everything I love combined into one helluva underrated movie!
I'm happy to see others enjoy it too!
I thought this movie was absolutely awesome as a dystopian sci-fi thriller and the gun-kata was so cool that it didn't matter whether or not anybody found it "plausible." Very underrated and well worth the watch.
When I first time saw this movie, I was young and naive to see all the flaws in the movie and I only saw it's amazing acting, cool stunts, captivating atmosphere and it's message. I'm truly blessed to be able to watch it at that time.
Now when I'm older, more cynical(probably the most important factor) and seen tons of other high quality movies like this, I must confess: If I would see this movie today, I would get mildly annoyed by nitpicking all the small details, but I would probably still recognize all the beauty it projects to the viewers.
Equilibrium is truly an amazing piece of art that is not hindered by it's oversights.
Truth to be told, I've always prefered Equilibrium to Matrix.
The first Matrix movie and Equilibrium i'd consider equals but part 2 & 3 bring the Matrix down in quality imo so i'd have to agree with you in light of that.
@@airiakizuki5592 I would sort of agree with that, the first Matrix movies was way better than 2 and 3, but I still think Equilibrium is a more profound and subtle movie. As for Neo and Preston as characters to root for, there is no comparison: the scene when he cries while listening Beethoven is still one of my preferite scenes ever and the reason why I still listen to Beethoven to this day.
Equilibrium tells the Hero's Journey in a MASTERFUL way, and doesn't take the traditional approach. The steps attributed to Campbell are interspersed with steps of the Heroine's Journey (as the Monomyth was applied and interpreted to folktales with female protagonists). I picked it apart in my own blog, and understanding that Wimmer took Heroine's Journey steps and reinterpreted them back to a male hero... I've never seen that before. Ever.
Drop me a reply if you'd like links.
@@Skerdy I always hated this "Neo= anagram of One= Jesus" thingy from "Matrix" and say whatever the hell you want... but scenes of "Woah", "i know kung- fu", slow motion bullets casing porn, and this bland, motionless stares just killed it for me- i mean Arnold from first "Terminator" was more emotional and had better comebacks than whole cast of "Matrix" put together. I`m feeling Wachowskis` Hand in it, but nontheless...
"Equilibrium" has same goofy combat with shitty stunts(i am much bigger fan of realisitc combat... but that is my opinion only) that give the movie it`s style, while also, sort of asking some pretty good questions about our nature, is there a cure for it, should there be a cure, or should we be allowed to do what we want? And without going into too much of fantasy land with magic, like "Matrix" did... yeah, i know we`d do without less motorcycle helmets, or wierd gun combat, but oh fuken well...
I know it is kinda asking "do you like more Pizza or Lasagne?", and it is all coming down to personal tastes, but since what we watch and what we like is TASTE based, hence my opinion is i would always watch "Equilibrium" over "Matrix"- if anything, just to see William Fichtner :) that guy can save movie... Remember that shitty fucking movie called "Drive Angry"? It wa worthy of watching just because there was an Accountant in it :D
I love how people go bannanas when i tell them i don`t like "Matrix" XD, and how same people go INSANE, when i also mention that, excluding "Desperado", i don`t like Tarantino movies, like "Kill Bill". There was this two factions in my Middle School- one loved "Matrix", other "Lord of the Rings"... but while first ones started wearing sun glasses, other just loved the movie, without putting on pointy ears or fake beards, and just laughed at the "Matrix" lovers XD
@@jaklumen Yes. I would love some links. Thank you in advance.
I saw this movie some years ago, maybe five, and was incredibly shocked that such a good movie could be swept under the rug. To this day I haven't met one person who had seen it. Easily the most *underrated* film I know about, and it makes me wonder what other gems have been forgotten and lost.
It even features Sean Bean in one of his iconic, dead-before-act-2 roles.
@@jayschmidt4844 damn...I smell sarcasm here. :D
But yes, you're right. Poor Sean dies in this one too.
@@sleepingbackbone7581 not at all. just seems a good movie, wouldn't call any aspect of it groundbreaking, except maybe the action. It's dystopian for sure, but it never feels preachy, it's one of those few movies you can enjoy without being made to think too much. Could it have been better if it made us think? sure, depending what we had to think about, but to an extent I'm glad it focused on the eye-candy type fight sequences. I grew up in a household that loved B-movies, so the cheesiness didn't bug me all that much. As mentioned in the video, the movie feels like a video game, and myself being a huge gamer can appreciate the thrill of being able to let my thumbs rest yet still experience the thrill of poorly-written-for-the-sake-of-action type movies.
when i was a kid this was my favorite movie, it still is on of my favorites, the idea of gun kata still seems an original concept :D
I LOVE this movie... The moment when Preston first HEARS the music gets me every time. Also his frustration with the people he tries to save, "Damn you!"
While it's not a movie I want to watch all the time, Equilibrium has been in my top 5 since I first saw it.
14:22 You missed where he threw the two magazines for later in the gk fight :O
I also thought Matrix comparisons were unfair, because these fight scenes didn't invoke ideas that physics was optional for the characters.
for me, comparison was meant in the way of unusual and rich coreography. not physics. :)
@@sleepingbackbone7581 Either way, Equilibrium definitely was a different flavor of action from The Matrix.
@@johnsteiner3417 oh, by all means.
@@sleepingbackbone7581 also the general costume design
I love this movie. It’s so dark. Watch it quietly with good head phones or speakers. The ambiance, the world it builds. The vibe. It’s so dark and cold yet warm. Leaves me with lots of questions.
I found Equilibrium from a music video of Here by Vast made by Kristin Harris - loved it so much, I went out and bought the DVD to see what the film it was taking footage from was about. I don't really do best-this or favourite-that, but if asked I will happily say that Equilibrium is my favourite movie of all time. I think you nailed most of my thoughts about it, but also added a few more points I need to go back and appreciate! Great video.
Happened similarly to me - only it was V.A.S.T Touched video by SkyDude. Till this day the song makes me feel the stuff that happens in the music video/film.
@@sippy_cup5342what is the reference
What did they say
Wait, how the hell did you not mention the subtle smile at the very end, a split second before the credits roll? That was the crowning moment of the entire movie - until then, all we've seen from the protagonist is anguish. And then right at the end, literally in the last moment, the slightest of smiles appears.
I'd also have to disagree massively with the notion that it's The Matrix with no subtly - I'd say it's the opposite. It has a whole lot more subtle moments of emotion and humanity. In The Matrix, the action is awesome and cool... and that's kinda it. In Equilibrium, every action sequence has major narrative and emotional significance.
I think ultimately the great triumph of Equilibrium is that it managed to make an entertaining action movie... that happens to be shot like something far more artistic. I mean is there a single shot in the whole damn thing that isn't perfectly framed and lit? Is there a single scene in which there isn't something subtle and important (like the rebel leader being the first one to stand up and clap - rendering himself conspicuous by his very act of subterfuge)?
Oh, and Brandt wasn't on the drug. He never was. He was always feeling. He was always in league with "father". That's kinda the entire point - that on both sides of the conflict, rebel and government, people are feeling. It's everyone ELSE who is numb - in order for Preston to join the fight, he has to feel. He has to pay the price.
And what are you talking about, flawless hero? Preston isn't a flawless hero. He willingly watched his own wife being burned to death, personally authorised the destruction of priceless art and history, and spends most of the movie with no idea what's going on. He's a broken husk of a man until the end; his own children are more human than he is. He doesn't "win every fight" - he loses every fight, when you really think about it, until he figures out who he's really supposed to be fighting.
I think the Mary Sue argument has less to do with him having flaws -- which I agree, he does -- and more to do with the fact that he's unbeatable. Half of the conflicts in the movie are ultimately solved by Preston dancing around and shooting people with Desert Eagles, and the other half kind of just work themselves out to his convenience.
@@logancox6548 Well yeah, I mean there's no physical danger to him in a lot of scenes... but my point is - he's allowed to be so good in fights, because he's actually defeating himself in most of those fights. He loses. He does a whole lot of stuff that ultimately proves to be completely against his own best interests and goals.
None of the conflicts are really "solved", he just creates new problems each time, and kills a bunch of people for the sake of expediency.
Given the nature of the film, I don't think you can separate the action from the narrative - I think every single action sequence serves a very specific narrative purpose, and feeds character development. He's unbeatable... because the person he's really fighting is himself, from start to finish.
I'd say that Preston is more a paragon than a Mary Sue, but a paragon in one very specific area. Kicking butt and taking names. He's an invincible killing machine sure, but that's what they made him into. He was their creation, their weapon, finally turned against them.
id be more inclined to say that this film and the matrix both have the same amount of heart and energy but were portrayed completely opposite.
where as 95% of this movie is all the emotion and energy and its being stacked in layed sometimes 4 layers deep in meaning like the boy helping the sister.
and its kept just out of sight and mind because of the 5% gun pay and action that keep you too preoccupied to look.
but the matrix puts all its 95% of love and yadayada , right at the surface and even explained it for you in big words to give you a chance to keep up with its insanely complex and convoluted premise . but it works.
it only feels less impactful than this film because . its told and shown to you as if part of the film and not
layers to keep you looking for more puzzle pieces.
I too think that Omars Epps character was never on the drug to begin with. He shows more emotion throughout the movie than Preston does even when he's off the drug. In fact none of the main characters in the movie are on the drug, they are all feeling. And when he says "A high price, I pay it glady" at the end when he kills the guy pretending to be father. He's commenting about his willingness to kill those who abuse their emotions and caused this whole situation to being with, bringing the whole story ark full circle.
I always loved the gun fights in this movie they are among some of the best right up there with john woo in style
I really hate to be a bother, but could we get EGA Kubo & the Two Strings? I feel like it's a movie you would absolutely adore.
Equilibrium. I continue to love it for "every reason you expressed" in this video. I can't help but love you for this. Thank you very much.
Kid Icarus was my favorite NES game back in the day, so props for the name!
I love everything about this movie! and I saw it in theaters on accident. My dad came to visit me before I graduated from A School (military), and we decided to go to the movies during the short time we had together. Unfortunately, most things we wanted to see was already playing and we came at a weird hour. We shoulda checked the times, but we didn't. Anyways, we asked the ticket counter person If Equillibrium was good as it was the only thing on soon. With a glimmer in his eye, he nodded. So we bought our tickets and went to see the show. I was floored. Not knowing what to expect and having this glorious action movie. Stunned. And watching it 2 decades later... I still love everything about this movie.
I didn't realize this film was considered "underrated" i loved this film since it game out.
This movie is highly underrated.
YES
How is 7.5/10 on IMDb underrated?
@@andiran23 How about underexposed?
@@MuffinMcFluffin Yeah, that seems fair. It's not that well-known, even if it has a small cult following
andiran23 The critics were the ones that underrated this movie big time. 33 metascore is ridiculous
great video. I also totally agree with the Fitchner comment. I want him in more stuff. if you've never seen Drive Angry with him and nick cage, it's a fun movie and Fitchner is incredible in it.
I got this movie as a "buy two DVDs get one free" in an old blockbuster, this was FREE, and I love it. Great acting, great story, low budget but GREAT
I stumbled onto this in some random collection, and I agree that it is brilliant. It's better than 1980 and far more subtle than The Matrix. It is easy to suspend disbelief for most of it, and the entire story makes sense.
Not perfect, but for a lesser known movie it's very well done.
I have always been fascinated by this film. You've pointed out some things I hadn't considered. Thank you for your review. Keep up the good work.
I found this movie in a bargain bin at Walmart. When I watched it, I immediately fell in love with it.
I absolutely LOVE this movie!!! I have watched it countless times and never get tired of the sword and gun fights.
I loved this movie, but you pointed out things I missed that make me appreciate it even more.
It's worth mentioning that this movie made an *enormous* impact in Japan. There are tons of anime and Japanese video games that reference Equilibrium. Devil May Cry 3 has a whole gun kata cutscene between Dante and Lady. The signature battle in Madoka Magica Rebellion is a shot-for-shot remake of Preston vs. Father. Just yesterday, the movie Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: The Battle of Unato literally begins with the main character gunning down a horde of zombies in a pitch-black room just like how John Preston makes his entrance in this movie.
9:05 Another fun fact- They set the squibs to be activated automatically by the gun being fired, instead of manually by someone watching it, making it much more immediate.
One of my favorite movies ever, forever! The movie thatmade me actually enjoy gun fights,and, personally, I'd read 1984 and watch Matrix over and over and over. Of course it's awesome when something is brand new and cool, but ideas thaf have been used before CAN be "refurbished" into something similar and slightly different and amazing. 1984 has been done thousands of times in differents ways and medias, but this movie is one that, for me, brought somehing new, the appreciation for a movie photography and fight choreographies. Plus, Sean, Bale and Taye, c'mon! ❤
The Metal Gear games have cutscenes that usually add up to be longer than most movies - even the extended Lotr movies. It's not that I don't want my favorite video game series getting an EGA treatment, it's that it's going to be an undertaking.
Rainbows a G 36-kills four more guys-this video is never going to make any money-totally worth it
You sir are a master of the universe
for the last fight against Brandt, i always found it amusing that in response to being told to 'mind the uniform' Preston cut the uniform twice, giving Brandt just enough time to realise he had cut it before he killed him.
It's sad this movie didn't get popular as good as it was.
2000 me is geeking out again when I first saw this movie, cause wish fulfillment is the only fulfillment worth living for ;)
I loved this movie for being a goofy action movie, then on re watching it I noticed all the little details that really made it one of my all time favorites.
Can you do Everything Great About Ferris Bueller’s Day Off please
This video should be rated E-C-10 for emotional content.
Tell me...how do you feel?
And the W.B. Yeats.
"Tread softly, because you tread on my dreams...."
You should do The Social Network. I saw you mentioned a scene from the movie on your Twitter, so maybe you’re already working on it, but it would be great!
Yeah this is a favourite, definitely in my top 10 post apocalyptic films
MGS everything great about videos?????? Yes please and if there isn't 10 wins for Yoji Shinkawa's art alone we riot
Also, William Fichtner was the perfect actor for his role. Sean Bean was great, Christian Bale was great, but the performance from Fichtner was just incredible! I wasn't watching an actor in a film, I was watching a character in a story.
Thank you for the coverage of this film. I introduced many people to this and agree it never got the love it deserved.
OK, a couple comments:
1. I love this movie, and it lit up my day to see that you did this one. You pointed out things I had missed before.
2. The scene of seeing the sunrise properly for the first time was just so good.
3. Was it really a series of unforseen events that led Preston to go off of the dose? I think it could be argued that the whole thing was planned from the start by Father. They knew he had the potential to understand feeling more than others, and they implanted those who were part of the secret cabal at the top around him from the start. They wanted to make him the agent provocateur, purge the resistance, and then dispose of him. They just underestimated his ability to maintain control (see the next point).
4. This, to me, is one of the best dystopian stories, because it doesn't make the missing thing critically important. Any other story makes what the government has taken away (color, memory, etc) worth trading everything for and the most glorious thing in the world. Instead, Equilibrium talks about how emotion without control is destruction, and that those who lead should be able to act without it when needed.
Preston's victory comes about because Father and his henchmen expect his total emotional collapse when his failure is made manifest. Instead, they find a man who is ready to turn off those feelings for the sake of saving people. It's not emotion or lack of emotion that wins, but the ability to control emotion that saves the day.
great comment! love that deeper recognition. this film deserves so much more love n praise.
Yeah the winner-take-all thing (usually in favor of the shitty dystopian society) is something I've always disliked. The most interesting part about dystopians stories is the things that we like that they have continued to keep, or things that we've wanted that they have achieved, but are being more devious about. For example, the no sickness kinda thing in Brave New World. But in this story, the so-called good guys know there is merit to at least part of the dystopian society, such as having a good leader that is capable of feeling, but is able to put that aside when it is needed in order to make tough decisions. It's more tipping the scales through a sort of compromise (ok it was a war in this story) instead of just taking the entire scale. I think that's a good message.
If you want my humble opinion on whether or not you should do videos on MGS: Yes. Oh god, yes! A hundred times yes!!
I unironically love this movie. This was the first movie that showed me how much energy Christian Bale invests in his roles. He goes all in every time, and I love it. One of the best working today
9:40
that's.... kindof the point - from the movies side - they are trained to stand in ircles around people - they do not think, they do as they are trained, so they will never stop standing in circles around people
Always one of my favorites movies, super underrated. Great upload
You should absolutely do a EVG about the MGS series, I Know I'd watch it...tbh I'd watch you play through all of them on stream
Without a doubt, the most underrated film in cinema history...PERIOD!🏆🏆🏆🏆
One of the best and most underrated movies ever! Straight up with 1984!
Easily one of my top 10 films of all time.... love how you highlight the subtle details
No comment on the globe? 2:37 It shows the earth after a major war that seems to have shifted the South American plate along with other major changes to the land area. If WWIII was that bad it gives an even better reason why this crazy system was put in place. Just how much of civilisation even survives outside Libria?
Beautiful movie and vastly underrated, much like Dredd.