by Mr. Blunderson
Yes!
I have finally ended my silence! Although I have countless reviews yet to be published here, I have broken the seal-despite my drunken stupor-to say that I really, really, really, dig a little movie called Equilibrium.
Before I get into any detail, can I say that there is nothing that gets me more excited than hearing the words "in a dystopian future..." and also that two of my favorite books ever published (besides my own autobiography, but that is still unpublished for anyone who does not yet own a time machine capable of venturing into the future) are 1984 and Fahrenheit 451?
on to the review...
Simply said, if Fahrenheit 451 and 1984 ever gang banged The Matrix and the resulting offspring was put on celluloid, the result could not be far from Equilibrium. This is a cool movie and the only thing I could ask of it would be to give me more violence! More gun kata! Please sir, can I have some more?!
Similar to Guy Montag in 451, CHRISTIAN Bale plays a Grammaton Cleric, a master in the ways of gun kata (I'd go into that here but lets just say that every movie from here on out needs it) and trained to find rebels who have not been taking their doses of drugs that keep them from feeling emotion, something that has been deemed by Big Brother-I mean Father-to be as Lewis Black might say "the root of all Eeeeeeeeviiiiiiiiiiillllllll!"
Sure, that part isn't so similar to Guy Montag, but when Cleric Preston (Mr. Bale) finds rebels who are hiding books by Yeats, art by Da Vinci, or anything else that might make a person feel any type of emotion, the items are burned. Oh yeah... and of course the people are executed.
Feelings are really bad in this vision of the near future. I love that it is the opening movement of a Beethoven symphony (one that I one listened to in my time of need) that helps Preston turn a corner. Music, art, literature, all play a profound role in how we as humans connect with our emotions (or CAN if we allow them to) and I loved how that was played up here.
Once Cleric Preston turns the corner of experiencing emotion, it doesn't take a rocket scientists to figure out what is going to happen, but I for one enjoyed the ride. I would have liked to see more action, but even if this film had characters talking for an extra hour (beyond the 1 hour and 47 minute run time--including credits) there still would have been less yappity-yap-yap than the two Matrix sequels. And on that note I give this move an "Oh Hellz yess!" on the Mr. Blunderson scale.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
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1 comment:
Epic comment there sir. Epic indeed.
I have a couple of things to say in response, but first can I just say that after reading that review I wasn't joking about what a drunken stupor I was in, and it shows.
As far as your comments, I am going to have to watch the movie again.
However, I can't help but wonder if this film has an even darker view of humanity than it shows on the surface. Here is a movie that ends in revolution. This is the end to many movies with happy endings and parades and medals and such.
That is great for Hollywood, but sadly,in reality this state of affairs is often a sloppy bloody mess that will continue until one side is either eradicated or cries the inevitable "uncle!"
That's my only thought at this point. I'll go see the movie again so I can speak intelligently enough to either agree with you or offer more of my own ramblings. You might be right.
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