Product Description: THE MATRIX MEETS MINORITY REPORT
Amazon.com: A broad science fiction thriller in a classic vein, Equilibrium takes a respectable stab at a Fahrenheit 451-like cautionary fable. The story finds Earth's post-World War III humankind in a state of severe emotional repression: If no one feels anything, no one will be inspired by dark passions to attack their neighbors. Writer-director Kurt Wimmer's monochromatic, Metropolis-influenced cityscape provides an excellent backdrop to the heavy-handed mission of John Preston (Christian Bale), a top cop who busts "sense offenders" and crushes sentimental, sensual, and artistic relics from a bygone era. Predictably, Preston becomes intrigued by his victims and that which they die to cherish; he stops taking his mandatory, mood-flattening drug and is even aroused by a doomed prisoner (Emily Watson). Wimmer's wrongheaded martial arts/dueling guns motif is sheer silliness (a battle over a puppy doesn't help), but Equilibrium should be seen for Bale's moving performance as a man shocked back to human feeling. --Tom Keogh
Canadian Import vs. U.S. DVD release Comparison ^ Originally, I saw a review that stated that the Canadian release of Equilibrium removed the black bars and zoomed in on the picture. This is not so. Though both the U.S. DVD release and the Canadian release state 2.35:1, only the Canadian Import version delivers. The DVD does have black bars, but those black bars cut some of the image off. The Canadian release, by Alliance, removed the black bars and presents the whole picture, which looks pretty good. The sound is also excellent. Though both the picture and the sound can be improved upon, it's a nice addition to any sci-fi or action blu-ray library, if this is your type of genre. But again, the Canadian import includes more of the original image, not less of it.
Distopia Now ^ What can I say. FH 451 with 1984 and A Brave New World all in one plot with a back drop that equals Blade Runner...How anyone could not love this movie is beyond me.
Not original OAR! ^ Be aware that this is a Canadian import blu-ray and that Alliance has decided to yet again create 1.78:1 out of a movie that was 2.35:1. This means no black bars, but it also means edges of the image are missing and that it's been zoomed in. While I don't own this movie, I think that fans of this film (of which I am one) should consider holding off until a US release. Alliance regularly screws with the aspect ratio of their releases for some reason.
A Solid Sci-Fi Film & Amazing on Blu-Ray ^ I am not sure how I missed this movie but it completely flew under my radar. A girl I was seeing recommended this film and I ended up taking a chance and picking it up on Blu-Ray. I am so glad for the recommendation and that I took a chance on this. This movie did not disappoint at all. Great action sequences with highly choreographed and impressive gun battles.
This movie has a very interesting view on the future; a society that tries to strip away everything that makes us feeling human beings in an effort to quell emotion, that the society leaders claim, leads to violence, anarchy and inevitably - war. The movie lets you peer into a culture that squashes, with swift brutality, any and all things that spawn passion of any kind.
Christian Bale is very good in this and the little known supporting cast does an admirable job as well. This is an Alliance title released in Canada primarily and comes to us via import through Amazon. This studio also has current Blu-Ray titles like Kill Bill 1 & 2, From Dusk til Dawn, Blade 1 & 2 and Gosford Park; all of which are very respectable 1080p transfers with great picture quality and DTS Master HD sound tracks.
Though it does not say on the cover (cover mentions only a Dolby 5.1 and French 2.0 sound track) this Blu-Ray sports a very cool DTS Master HD soundtrack, which sounds fantastic. The picture is very clean and crisp in 1080p HD. The corporate cold and gray culture, which dominates this film, is occasionally met with some very rich colors that pose a nice contrast.
I was pleasantly surprised how good this was for a relatively unknown film. There are plenty of scenes of brutality and highly stylized graphic violence to wet your appetite for good action and entertainment. If you enjoy Sci-Fi action films this is a must have to add to your Blu Ray collection.
NEVER RECIEVED PRODUCT!!!! ^ I sent an email asking about my product because it had not arrived yet, never recieved a response. Amazon had to refund my money! Will not do business with again, was supposed to be a christmas present!
Anything Goes Trivia
Last Kiss
Megaton Man
Tony's Online Tips
Trevor
