BluRay版を購入
何度も何度も観た作品で 英語の発音がしっかりしているので 困らなかった
てかそもそも 台詞なんてあんまり重要じゃない
私が観たいのはガンカタのシーンだけなのだから!
この画質でリベリオンを観ることが出来るなんて!
リベリオン -反逆者- [DVD]
フォーマット | 色, ドルビー, ワイドスクリーン, DTS Stereo |
コントリビュータ | テイ・ディッグス, カート・ウィマー, ヤン・デ・ボン, クリスチャン・ベール, エミリー・ワトソン, ショーン・ビーン |
言語 | 日本語, 英語 |
稼働時間 | 1 時間 47 分 |
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商品の説明
商品紹介
【特典映像】
○ビハインド・ザ・シーン”Finding Equilibrium”
○オリジナル予告編
○日本版予告編集
○日本版TVスポット
○GUNインデックス(静止画)
○スタッフ&キャスト紹介(静止画)
○カート・ウイマー監督ほかによるコメンタリー(2種)
ほか
Amazonより
第三次世界大戦後、生き残った人間たちは人類の滅亡を防ぐために、感情を徹底的に抑制した世界を構築。本や美術品、音楽など感情を揺さぶる物は一切禁止、さらに感情を抑える薬の使用を義務づける。それでも出てくる反乱者は、“ガン=カタ”と呼ばれる戦闘術を習得した“クラリック”によって始末されていた。だがクラリックのプレストンは、ある女性との出会いから感情に目覚め、自分の任務や社会に対して疑問を抱き始める。
『ガタカ』や『華氏451』系の統制された未来社会のビジュアルも面白いし、ジョン・ウー映画の銃撃戦を発展させた華麗かつ斬新な二丁拳銃技や『座頭市』的日本刀での戦いなど、アクションも見事。良い意味でいろんな映画のイイとこ取りし、それをうまくまとめている。監督のオタク魂にニマニマしちゃう作品だ。(横森 文)
レビュー
製作: ヤン・デ・ボン 監督・脚本: カート・ウィマー スタントコーディネート・格闘シーン演出: ジム・ビッカーズ VFXスーパーバイザー: ティム・マクガバン 出演: クリスチャン・ベール/エミリー・ワトソン/テイ・ディックス/ショーン・ビーン
-- 内容(「CDジャーナル」データベースより)
登録情報
- アスペクト比 : 1.78:1
- メーカーにより製造中止になりました : いいえ
- 言語 : 日本語, 英語
- 梱包サイズ : 18.03 x 13.76 x 1.48 cm; 83 g
- EAN : 4900950237906
- 監督 : カート・ウィマー
- メディア形式 : 色, ドルビー, ワイドスクリーン, DTS Stereo
- 時間 : 1 時間 47 分
- 発売日 : 2003/10/24
- 出演 : クリスチャン・ベール, エミリー・ワトソン, テイ・ディッグス, ショーン・ビーン
- 字幕: : 日本語
- 言語 : 日本語 (Dolby Digital 5.1), 英語 (Dolby Digital 5.1)
- 販売元 : アミューズ・ビデオ
- 生産者 : ヤン・デ・ボン
- ASIN : B0000C4GMN
- ディスク枚数 : 1
- Amazon 売れ筋ランキング: - 25,710位DVD (DVDの売れ筋ランキングを見る)
- - 595位外国のSF映画
- - 2,103位外国のアクション映画
- カスタマーレビュー:
-
トップレビュー
上位レビュー、対象国: 日本
レビューのフィルタリング中に問題が発生しました。後でもう一度試してください。
2023年12月3日に日本でレビュー済み
ほんとはBlu-ray版が欲しいのですが英語版しかないのでDVDのレンタル落ちを購入するしかなかったという。
『ガンカタとはなにか』
を語る上でこれを見ずして何を語ろうか、という必須アテイムです。個人的にサイバーパンク好きなのでそういうものを物色している中で、ガンカタに出逢い購入した次第。ごりごりのサイバーパンクというよりはデストピア系ですが、個人的にそのあたりはゆるーく括ってますゆえw
少しでも気になったかたは安いうち購入することをお勧めします。
日本語版のDVDでストーリーをあまねく脳内INPUTしたならBD版を買おうかなと思ってたりします。やっぱしDVDとBDでは綺麗さが超ちがいますしね。
あまり設定などは深く検証せずに、ガンカタを楽しむべき作品でっす!!
『ガンカタとはなにか』
を語る上でこれを見ずして何を語ろうか、という必須アテイムです。個人的にサイバーパンク好きなのでそういうものを物色している中で、ガンカタに出逢い購入した次第。ごりごりのサイバーパンクというよりはデストピア系ですが、個人的にそのあたりはゆるーく括ってますゆえw
少しでも気になったかたは安いうち購入することをお勧めします。
日本語版のDVDでストーリーをあまねく脳内INPUTしたならBD版を買おうかなと思ってたりします。やっぱしDVDとBDでは綺麗さが超ちがいますしね。
あまり設定などは深く検証せずに、ガンカタを楽しむべき作品でっす!!
2021年11月23日に日本でレビュー済み
Amazonで購入
ガンカタが格好いいの一言、むしろそれを見るための作品といっても過言でなく言葉なんかわから無くても十分面白い。
2021年10月9日に日本でレビュー済み
Amazonで購入
リージョン1なので国内機再生可能ですが、英語オンリー英字幕無しなので内容が分かってればw問題ないモノです。
出演者の発音は聞き取りやすいので、それなりのヒアリングが出来ればそう苦労はしないですね。
海外版の良いところは画像の良さなのでBlu-rayをFHDディスプレイで観るには良いです。
オマケ映像も無いので9$位のヤツですね。
まぁガンカタを綺麗に観るのが目的なので無問題。
出演者の発音は聞き取りやすいので、それなりのヒアリングが出来ればそう苦労はしないですね。
海外版の良いところは画像の良さなのでBlu-rayをFHDディスプレイで観るには良いです。
オマケ映像も無いので9$位のヤツですね。
まぁガンカタを綺麗に観るのが目的なので無問題。
2024年1月22日に日本でレビュー済み
日本にまつわるモノが多く出てきます。
外から見ると、日本って、こんな感じの印象なのでしょうかね。
外から見ると、日本って、こんな感じの印象なのでしょうかね。
2019年8月29日に日本でレビュー済み
Amazonで購入
汚れも気にするほどではなかったので問題ありませんでした。
内容は…最高です。
ガン=カタに痺れます!
内容は…最高です。
ガン=カタに痺れます!
2018年12月3日に日本でレビュー済み
Amazonで購入
画質やストーリーとかはやはり昔の映画なんでテンポとかは昭和ですが、
この映画の魅力はそこじゃないんです!!
ガンカタでバシバシ倒していく爽快だぜー!!て所です。
銃好きの方は買ってみて損はないでしょうね。
この映画の魅力はそこじゃないんです!!
ガンカタでバシバシ倒していく爽快だぜー!!て所です。
銃好きの方は買ってみて損はないでしょうね。
2012年6月21日に日本でレビュー済み
Amazonで購入
This is an English review for non-Japanese speakers wishing to purchase the Japanese Blu-ray release of "Equilibrium".
To summarise quickly: This Japanese release is currently the best high-quality version of Equilibrium available. The price is a little steep compared to Amazon USA's prices, but it's still reasonable.
For some reason, the title of the movie has been changed to "Rebellion" on the Blu-ray box cover. However, the contents of the film are still the same.
Unlike the horrendously botched western releases, this version of Equilibrium is presented in the correct aspect ratio. I am not an expert on sound quality, but the HD audio of this release sounds absolutely great. The video is also crisp and clear.
This release also contains default Japanese subtitles for the main film (which can be toggled off), and an optional JP audio dub track. The menu titles are all in Japanese, but don't worry, they're really not that difficult to navigate for a non-Japanese speaker. Most of them are pretty self-explanatory anyway.
Finally, the Blu-ray also contains some behind-the-scenes extras and trailers. The documentaries are in English audio with JP subtitles.
If you've been dying to add this film to your movie collection, but were holding out because of the terrible western releases, buy this version.
To summarise quickly: This Japanese release is currently the best high-quality version of Equilibrium available. The price is a little steep compared to Amazon USA's prices, but it's still reasonable.
For some reason, the title of the movie has been changed to "Rebellion" on the Blu-ray box cover. However, the contents of the film are still the same.
Unlike the horrendously botched western releases, this version of Equilibrium is presented in the correct aspect ratio. I am not an expert on sound quality, but the HD audio of this release sounds absolutely great. The video is also crisp and clear.
This release also contains default Japanese subtitles for the main film (which can be toggled off), and an optional JP audio dub track. The menu titles are all in Japanese, but don't worry, they're really not that difficult to navigate for a non-Japanese speaker. Most of them are pretty self-explanatory anyway.
Finally, the Blu-ray also contains some behind-the-scenes extras and trailers. The documentaries are in English audio with JP subtitles.
If you've been dying to add this film to your movie collection, but were holding out because of the terrible western releases, buy this version.
他の国からのトップレビュー
michele romano
5つ星のうち5.0
molto consigliabile
2024年3月26日にイタリアでレビュー済みAmazonで購入
vedere per capire come và e andrà il mondo
Kouz1 UB
5つ星のうち5.0
EQUILIBRE PSYCHOLOGIQUE D'UNE ARME SE SOUVENANT D'ETRE HUMAIN !
2016年6月27日にフランスでレビュー済みAmazonで購入
Ce film avec son budget réduit est un chez d'oeuvre qui n'a rien d'un pseudo Matrix avec des scènes d'actions interminables, comme l'affiche essaye de le vendre ! Déjà l'histoire, se définissant dans un futur post-apo mais dans un pays inconnus qui pourrait être n'importe lequel se qui rend l'impression d'intégration au film plus fort, ça pourrait se passer en France voir le début avec la Joconde. Parle d'une société a la fois religieuse et pseudo Nazi (voir le symbole du partie) qui prône le fait de ne pas ressentir d'émotions pour mieux contrôler ses concitoyens en les obligeants a prendre une drogue qui inhibe toute volonté personnel. Et pour cela ils condamne toute formes d'émotions au travers des arts, la littérature ou encore la musique. Le concept de l'individualisme face a la collectivité est un catalyseur hyper répétitif au cinéma, mais ce film va plus loin que ça mais j'en parlerai en dernier. Sans abusé sur les scènes d'actions l'intro en moins de 1mn nous montres les capacités des "Ecclésiastique" comme on les appelles dans le film, capable de ressentir les sentiments des personnes qui ne prennent pas leurs drogues et qui font parties pour certains de la résistance. Les guerriers les plus doués sont formées pour devenir les meilleurs combattant possibles grace a un entrainement qui mélange art martiaux et utilisation des armes a feu, ce qui explique les tenus d'origines chinoise traditionnelles avec un tout petit côté futuriste. La découverte des sentiments par le personnage de C.Bale, a cause d'un incident sur sa dose journalière, se fait de plus en forte et de plus en plus tragique. Les décors sont d'une froideur représentant le monde cynique dans le lequel tout est censé être parfait alors pourquoi se battent les rebelles a l'extérieur de la ville, surnommer l'Enfer, pour protéger des oeuvres d'arts, des meubles et mêmes des animaux tous ça pour vivre comme des clochards ?! C'est ce que notre père de 2 enfants et veuf (pourquoi ?) va découvrir a ses dépends dans un flots d'émotions qui prennent une très grande valeur a ces yeux, quand on le voit regardé au travers d'une fenêtre ce monde soi-disant "parfait" disparaître comme une des plus belles chose qui l'est ressentie dans sa vie, mais ça c'est la fin du film (Désolé Spoil).
Sortie en 2002 ce film sous estimé par beaucoup et surtout incompris par d'autres, n'est pas une avalanche d'effets spéciaux et de scènes d'actions, et cela qu'elle soi réussit et impressionante (surtout a la fin) n'y change rien. Ce n'est pas un pseudo-Matrix, pour moi c'est le film qui as révélé Christian Bale, et je pense que son double jeu dans se film a dut incité certaines personnes pour le choix de l'acteur principal dans Batman Begins. 1er film d'un trilogie qui fera de l'acteur une star international et lui permettra de jouer aux côté des plus grands !
Sortie en 2002 ce film sous estimé par beaucoup et surtout incompris par d'autres, n'est pas une avalanche d'effets spéciaux et de scènes d'actions, et cela qu'elle soi réussit et impressionante (surtout a la fin) n'y change rien. Ce n'est pas un pseudo-Matrix, pour moi c'est le film qui as révélé Christian Bale, et je pense que son double jeu dans se film a dut incité certaines personnes pour le choix de l'acteur principal dans Batman Begins. 1er film d'un trilogie qui fera de l'acteur une star international et lui permettra de jouer aux côté des plus grands !
*lord Allan
5つ星のうち5.0
Great Film, wrong aspect ratio???
2012年6月10日にカナダでレビュー済みAmazonで購入
Buyer beware?
First off this is a great film. So I picked this BluRay copy to replace my original DVD copy from 2002. The picture and sound are great, as would be expected from BluRay, but I noticed something not right!! The aspect ratio of this movie is supposed to be 2.35:1, as it is on my DVD copy. Turns out this BluRay version fills my whole 16:9 screen with no black bars top and bottom like a 2.35:1 film does. So that means this version is actually around a 1.78.1 ratio. WTH??? Yes, upon comparing both my DVD and this one, the sides of the BluRay version are slightly cropped off. Why I ask??? It even states on the packaging that this disc is a 2.35:1 ratio, so why isn't it??? Fortunately, the aspect ratio blunder on this BluRay doesn't take away from the quality of the transfer. As I said great picture, great sound. (This seems to be common on a few other lower priced BluRay's that I have picked up). The slight side cropping doesn't ruin this great film, so I still give it 5 stars.
But if this is a problem for purists, stick with the original DVD or spend the extra a get the steel book. Hopefully that one will be done right.
First off this is a great film. So I picked this BluRay copy to replace my original DVD copy from 2002. The picture and sound are great, as would be expected from BluRay, but I noticed something not right!! The aspect ratio of this movie is supposed to be 2.35:1, as it is on my DVD copy. Turns out this BluRay version fills my whole 16:9 screen with no black bars top and bottom like a 2.35:1 film does. So that means this version is actually around a 1.78.1 ratio. WTH??? Yes, upon comparing both my DVD and this one, the sides of the BluRay version are slightly cropped off. Why I ask??? It even states on the packaging that this disc is a 2.35:1 ratio, so why isn't it??? Fortunately, the aspect ratio blunder on this BluRay doesn't take away from the quality of the transfer. As I said great picture, great sound. (This seems to be common on a few other lower priced BluRay's that I have picked up). The slight side cropping doesn't ruin this great film, so I still give it 5 stars.
But if this is a problem for purists, stick with the original DVD or spend the extra a get the steel book. Hopefully that one will be done right.
Thomas Smith
5つ星のうち5.0
Uses 4 established Sci Fi films to create a new twist, and it works!
2010年3月17日に英国でレビュー済みAmazonで購入
Equilibrium borrows from the following cult Sci Fi films (all excellent by the way), to create a new twist on Sci Fi Dystopia: The Matrix, Fahrenheit 451, 1984, THX1138 - are all heavily borrowed from in this film and with good effect.
The lead role is played by a smouldering Christian Bale as 'Gramaton Cleric' John Preston. Rather than portraying a liberator as in 'Terminator Salvation', Cleric Preston is a scowling, dressed in black ruthless killer with zero remorse for his actions. He operates in the upper priviledges of a terrifying state regime where the 'clerics' crush anyone that does not conform and conformity is achieved by having no feelings (emotion). To have feelings is a death sentance. This is the theme of the film, people who have feelings are refered to as 'sense offenders' and taken to a facility and condemmed to death in a horrible manner.
The overlord Big Brother figure is not a brother, but a 'father', (played by Sean Pertwee) and protected by 'Du Pont' (Angus Macfadyen). Sean Petwee 'father' has a most memorable soothing (if creepy) voice that is well casted for this role as a dictator. Sean Bean makes a brief appearance also, but he is there to set the scene for the film rather than play any major role in it so Sean Bean fans should not puchase this film expecting any significant disc time.
The manner of execution that takes place is a memorable. I am still thinking about a day after watching the film, not from the explicit visuals (there are none), but by the thought of how easily this system could be put in place in a few centuries through the fear or terrorism and the new definitions of terrorism.
I won't give away too much. The film basically focuses on Preston's guilt he experiences over what he is doing, and his exploration of this and why he is now questioning himself and others actions - this in itself is illegal and very dangerous to do.
The fight scenes are direct copies from the Sci Fi hit, 'The Matrix', just not pulled off as well. Sometimes they are impressive, often a bit silly as they are not in super-fast motion with 3D freeze frame rotation - but more so Kung-Fu style which doesn't quite work when bullets are going off left right and centre yet the fighters are not sped up to dodge the bullets! That is the films only real flaw.
On Blu Ray disc the picture quality is OK, but not stunning as in another recent post apocolyptic sci film adventure such as 'Children of Men'. The cost of the production is maybe not as high as other multi million dollar Hollywood epics then, and sometimes this shows with use of CG graphics in a few shots instead of a realistic 'set' being built which cheapens the production rather. There are also rather familiar present day cars that are simply 'futurised' a little too simply and, arguably, risk looking like something out of the 'Dr Who' spin off, 'Torchwood'. Yet the viewer should forgive this quite easily.
Christian Bale is certainly very cold, stark, and menacing looking which is what was needed for the role of John Preston, a softer gentler face such as Keanu Reeves would never have worked - and neither would a Rambo style muscle man. His face is perfect for the role.
Two scenes in the film are certainly brutal, but the violence is not gory or explicit. We aren't left with pools of blood and other horrors and the camera pans away and leaves our imagination to complete the shot. So instead, in places it is a sad and thought provoking film - in others comic book style and unrealistic and un-'feeling'. (pun intended).
There is no kissing and intimacy for anyone in this film, the love interest is never love, but a futile recognition and memory of what love was and what it can do. In this aspect the role of 'Mary' (played by Emily Watson) is clever. She is a hint of what could have been, yet 'John Preston' has betrayed her before they ever meet.
Equilibrium is certainly not going to be remembered as one of the best Sci Fi movies of all time, but it's a good film and worth watching if you like to experience questions of emotions, morality and anger over supression of the truth that limits freedom.
It's an entirely believable concept, and one can see that our own futures may in time, become like this. On that basis, this film is a good fantasy warning.
For that reason, I give it a 5/5 although the average establised Sci Fi fan would maybe rate it a 4.
Certainly recommended.
The lead role is played by a smouldering Christian Bale as 'Gramaton Cleric' John Preston. Rather than portraying a liberator as in 'Terminator Salvation', Cleric Preston is a scowling, dressed in black ruthless killer with zero remorse for his actions. He operates in the upper priviledges of a terrifying state regime where the 'clerics' crush anyone that does not conform and conformity is achieved by having no feelings (emotion). To have feelings is a death sentance. This is the theme of the film, people who have feelings are refered to as 'sense offenders' and taken to a facility and condemmed to death in a horrible manner.
The overlord Big Brother figure is not a brother, but a 'father', (played by Sean Pertwee) and protected by 'Du Pont' (Angus Macfadyen). Sean Petwee 'father' has a most memorable soothing (if creepy) voice that is well casted for this role as a dictator. Sean Bean makes a brief appearance also, but he is there to set the scene for the film rather than play any major role in it so Sean Bean fans should not puchase this film expecting any significant disc time.
The manner of execution that takes place is a memorable. I am still thinking about a day after watching the film, not from the explicit visuals (there are none), but by the thought of how easily this system could be put in place in a few centuries through the fear or terrorism and the new definitions of terrorism.
I won't give away too much. The film basically focuses on Preston's guilt he experiences over what he is doing, and his exploration of this and why he is now questioning himself and others actions - this in itself is illegal and very dangerous to do.
The fight scenes are direct copies from the Sci Fi hit, 'The Matrix', just not pulled off as well. Sometimes they are impressive, often a bit silly as they are not in super-fast motion with 3D freeze frame rotation - but more so Kung-Fu style which doesn't quite work when bullets are going off left right and centre yet the fighters are not sped up to dodge the bullets! That is the films only real flaw.
On Blu Ray disc the picture quality is OK, but not stunning as in another recent post apocolyptic sci film adventure such as 'Children of Men'. The cost of the production is maybe not as high as other multi million dollar Hollywood epics then, and sometimes this shows with use of CG graphics in a few shots instead of a realistic 'set' being built which cheapens the production rather. There are also rather familiar present day cars that are simply 'futurised' a little too simply and, arguably, risk looking like something out of the 'Dr Who' spin off, 'Torchwood'. Yet the viewer should forgive this quite easily.
Christian Bale is certainly very cold, stark, and menacing looking which is what was needed for the role of John Preston, a softer gentler face such as Keanu Reeves would never have worked - and neither would a Rambo style muscle man. His face is perfect for the role.
Two scenes in the film are certainly brutal, but the violence is not gory or explicit. We aren't left with pools of blood and other horrors and the camera pans away and leaves our imagination to complete the shot. So instead, in places it is a sad and thought provoking film - in others comic book style and unrealistic and un-'feeling'. (pun intended).
There is no kissing and intimacy for anyone in this film, the love interest is never love, but a futile recognition and memory of what love was and what it can do. In this aspect the role of 'Mary' (played by Emily Watson) is clever. She is a hint of what could have been, yet 'John Preston' has betrayed her before they ever meet.
Equilibrium is certainly not going to be remembered as one of the best Sci Fi movies of all time, but it's a good film and worth watching if you like to experience questions of emotions, morality and anger over supression of the truth that limits freedom.
It's an entirely believable concept, and one can see that our own futures may in time, become like this. On that basis, this film is a good fantasy warning.
For that reason, I give it a 5/5 although the average establised Sci Fi fan would maybe rate it a 4.
Certainly recommended.
Mike Siegfried
5つ星のうち5.0
Huh? Did we watch the same movie?
2005年8月30日にアメリカ合衆国でレビュー済みAmazonで購入
OK, I read a bunch of the reviews out of curiosity, while I was at the web site to buy the movie after my daughter sat me down and made me watch it. I am happy to see that so many reviewers liked the film. However, even in reading the positive reviews, I am often left wondering whether we both saw the same movie.
First, Equilibrium bears only a superficial resemblance to the Matrix, mostly, I suspect, because the Gun Kata sequences bear a superficial resemblance to the fight scenes in the Matrix. However, 1) the Matrix takes place in a "cyber-dimension" if you will. Neo can do extraordianry things because with the right programming anything is possible in a world where the laws of physics are just a series of zeros and ones. The fight scenes in Equilibrium, although extraordinary, supposedly take place in the real world without time dilation or other tricks, as someone else said, without the cheat codes on. More importantly 2) Matrix is a man against machine story more similar to Terminator (although stated vastly differently) than to the distopian universe of Equilibrium. In Matrix, the great danger comes from outside of humanity, from the machines. In Equilibrium, the danger is in humanity, in the struggle between the individual and the collective. Matrix is frightening, but only like, let's say, a vampire story is frightening. I can't bring myself to stay up nights worrying that my computer is going to turn on me, any more than I worry about werwolves. Distopia I understand, and, yes, I fear it very much. I doubt it will ever appear as portrayed in this film, but all the elements are there, and have appeared over and over again in the collectivist distopias of the real world, from the Soviet "worker's state" to the Third Reich. A matter of degree perhaps, but not much of a stretch. Thus, Equilibrium frightens me far, far more than the Matrix ever could, because it is possible. More trivially, 3) the fashion statements in the two films are not the same, although they use the same color scheme. In case nobody noticed, the clerics in Equilibrium dressed like priests. Which is why they are called clerics and are trained in a place called the monastery. The dictatorship in Equilibrium has obviously borrowed a lot of religious imagery from before the war. Note that I do not believe that the use of this imagery makes this an anti-religious film. There is nothing of christianity here except for the vestments, any more than the evil dictatorship is Khabalist because it calls itself the Tetragrammaton (which is YHWH, the unspoken name of God). I suspect "Father" made use of these symbols because they still had power, and their origin has been lost by the time of the movie. In any event, back to the point, the two movies do not remotely have the same dress code.
(If it makes any difference, I like the Matrix, but found its sequels, hmm, stupid is probably the right word. Between the first Matrix movie and Equilibrium, while the comparison is a bit like apples to oranges, I would take Equilibrium hands down.)
I also do not understand the constant comparisons to 1984. (OK, maybe I do. They are both distopias, and they both feature a Leader (Father, Big Brother) who seems to be electronically everywhere. So there are similarities) However, if there is one previous distopia to which Equilibrium can justly be compared, it is Bradbury's classic Fahrenheit 451. In both, the oppressor state targets specific cultural attributes and artifacts as much or more than the actual enemies of the state, believing that these objects in and of themselves are a threat. Thus books and puppy dogs are both in danger. More importantly, in Fahrenheit 451, and in Equilibrium, the dogs have their day. The state is unable to eliminate the threat, and, in the end, the oppressed outlast it and survive, though in slightly different ways. One must remember that 1984, brilliant as it was, had no remotely happy ending. It was, to paraphrase Orwell, a boot planted on the human face, FOREVER. That's what Orwell was warning us about, and why he is important. 1984 is a cautionary tale. Bradbury, and Equilibrium, choose to emphasize the resiliance of the human spirit even under grinding oppression. Despite the clerics, despite all the armed police, a resistance flourishes in the world of Equilibrium.
Of course Equilibrium is like other tales in its genre. Big deal. There ain't much new under the sun, as Solomon might say. I found it told in a startling, and very emotional, new way.
I generally am not interested in the names of actors. After seeing the movie, I still could not have told you it had Christian Bale and Sean Bean in it. When I was told it did, I could look back and say, yeah, that's Boromir and that's the guy from Reign of Fire, so it must be true. I still don't care. Whoever they were, they did a good job.
The fight scenes were impressive, but I've seen better. They were definitely novel. Gun and martial art deserve to be more closely related than they are always portrayed. But martial arts sequences are only props to a film. They can be as impressive as one likes, but without a plot I might as well go watch my son at the dojo. In this case, I liked the plot.
Or maybe that's the wrong word. I FELT the plot, which, I suppose, makes me a Sense Offender. I'm not even sure I can watch the thing again, because of the deep emotion it produces in me. I would be too apt to cry in frustration or scream in rage. That's what makes a great movie.
In conclusion, I can only say that the silliest scene was when Preston shot out a whole row of computer monitors and thus managed to "turn off" the presence of Father and begin the revolution. (As a computer tech, I am all too familiar with folks who think the computer is the monitor, and that box under the desk is merely the hard drive, but I didn't expect to see that in a movie. Of course, maybe in this world they did build the brains of the box right behind the screen. Who knows?) The best scene was immediately thereafter when you see Preston smiling and bloody. It is truly a s**t-eating grin. He FELT that one, alright. Oh, yeah. And so did I.
First, Equilibrium bears only a superficial resemblance to the Matrix, mostly, I suspect, because the Gun Kata sequences bear a superficial resemblance to the fight scenes in the Matrix. However, 1) the Matrix takes place in a "cyber-dimension" if you will. Neo can do extraordianry things because with the right programming anything is possible in a world where the laws of physics are just a series of zeros and ones. The fight scenes in Equilibrium, although extraordinary, supposedly take place in the real world without time dilation or other tricks, as someone else said, without the cheat codes on. More importantly 2) Matrix is a man against machine story more similar to Terminator (although stated vastly differently) than to the distopian universe of Equilibrium. In Matrix, the great danger comes from outside of humanity, from the machines. In Equilibrium, the danger is in humanity, in the struggle between the individual and the collective. Matrix is frightening, but only like, let's say, a vampire story is frightening. I can't bring myself to stay up nights worrying that my computer is going to turn on me, any more than I worry about werwolves. Distopia I understand, and, yes, I fear it very much. I doubt it will ever appear as portrayed in this film, but all the elements are there, and have appeared over and over again in the collectivist distopias of the real world, from the Soviet "worker's state" to the Third Reich. A matter of degree perhaps, but not much of a stretch. Thus, Equilibrium frightens me far, far more than the Matrix ever could, because it is possible. More trivially, 3) the fashion statements in the two films are not the same, although they use the same color scheme. In case nobody noticed, the clerics in Equilibrium dressed like priests. Which is why they are called clerics and are trained in a place called the monastery. The dictatorship in Equilibrium has obviously borrowed a lot of religious imagery from before the war. Note that I do not believe that the use of this imagery makes this an anti-religious film. There is nothing of christianity here except for the vestments, any more than the evil dictatorship is Khabalist because it calls itself the Tetragrammaton (which is YHWH, the unspoken name of God). I suspect "Father" made use of these symbols because they still had power, and their origin has been lost by the time of the movie. In any event, back to the point, the two movies do not remotely have the same dress code.
(If it makes any difference, I like the Matrix, but found its sequels, hmm, stupid is probably the right word. Between the first Matrix movie and Equilibrium, while the comparison is a bit like apples to oranges, I would take Equilibrium hands down.)
I also do not understand the constant comparisons to 1984. (OK, maybe I do. They are both distopias, and they both feature a Leader (Father, Big Brother) who seems to be electronically everywhere. So there are similarities) However, if there is one previous distopia to which Equilibrium can justly be compared, it is Bradbury's classic Fahrenheit 451. In both, the oppressor state targets specific cultural attributes and artifacts as much or more than the actual enemies of the state, believing that these objects in and of themselves are a threat. Thus books and puppy dogs are both in danger. More importantly, in Fahrenheit 451, and in Equilibrium, the dogs have their day. The state is unable to eliminate the threat, and, in the end, the oppressed outlast it and survive, though in slightly different ways. One must remember that 1984, brilliant as it was, had no remotely happy ending. It was, to paraphrase Orwell, a boot planted on the human face, FOREVER. That's what Orwell was warning us about, and why he is important. 1984 is a cautionary tale. Bradbury, and Equilibrium, choose to emphasize the resiliance of the human spirit even under grinding oppression. Despite the clerics, despite all the armed police, a resistance flourishes in the world of Equilibrium.
Of course Equilibrium is like other tales in its genre. Big deal. There ain't much new under the sun, as Solomon might say. I found it told in a startling, and very emotional, new way.
I generally am not interested in the names of actors. After seeing the movie, I still could not have told you it had Christian Bale and Sean Bean in it. When I was told it did, I could look back and say, yeah, that's Boromir and that's the guy from Reign of Fire, so it must be true. I still don't care. Whoever they were, they did a good job.
The fight scenes were impressive, but I've seen better. They were definitely novel. Gun and martial art deserve to be more closely related than they are always portrayed. But martial arts sequences are only props to a film. They can be as impressive as one likes, but without a plot I might as well go watch my son at the dojo. In this case, I liked the plot.
Or maybe that's the wrong word. I FELT the plot, which, I suppose, makes me a Sense Offender. I'm not even sure I can watch the thing again, because of the deep emotion it produces in me. I would be too apt to cry in frustration or scream in rage. That's what makes a great movie.
In conclusion, I can only say that the silliest scene was when Preston shot out a whole row of computer monitors and thus managed to "turn off" the presence of Father and begin the revolution. (As a computer tech, I am all too familiar with folks who think the computer is the monitor, and that box under the desk is merely the hard drive, but I didn't expect to see that in a movie. Of course, maybe in this world they did build the brains of the box right behind the screen. Who knows?) The best scene was immediately thereafter when you see Preston smiling and bloody. It is truly a s**t-eating grin. He FELT that one, alright. Oh, yeah. And so did I.