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Movies / Upcoming / Equilibrium
Equilibrium

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Equilibrium (2002)

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Reviews Counted:81

Fresh:29

Rotten:52

Average Rating:4.7/10

Consensus: Equilibrium is a reheated mishmash of other sci-fi movies.

Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

US Box Office: $1,050,459

Synopsis: Director Kurt Wimmer (ULTRAVIOLET) injects style into this sci-fi/action film that channels the visual energy of THE MATRIX and invokes the politics of BRAVE NEW WORLD. In a futuristic society... Director Kurt Wimmer (ULTRAVIOLET) injects style into this sci-fi/action film that channels the visual energy of THE MATRIX and invokes the politics of BRAVE NEW WORLD. In a futuristic society where the government requires citizens to stay tranquil and submissive by taking a psychological drug, people no longer have emotions. Because of this, there are no more wars, but there is also no literature, music, or art of any kind. But when an enforcement agent (Christian Bale, THE DARK KNIGHT) realizes that peaceful oblivion may not be the answer, he thinks about overthrowing his oppressors. EQUILIBRIUM’s cast also includes Sean Bean (THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING), Taye Diggs (CHICAGO), William Fichtner (PRISON BREAK), and Emily Watson (RED DRAGON). [More]

Starring: Christian Bale, Sean Bean, Taye Diggs, William Fichtner

Starring: Christian Bale, Sean Bean, Taye Diggs, William Fichtner, Emily Watson, Angus MacFadyen

Director: Kurt Wimmer

Director: Kurt Wimmer
Screenwriter: Kurt Wimmer
Studio: Dimension Films

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Reviews for Equilibrium

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61 - 80 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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Equilibrium the movie, as opposed to the manifesto, is really, really stupid.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
12/06/02
Stephen Hunter
Stephen Hunter
Washington Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Think Fahrenheit 451 meets The Matrix meets John Woo meets George Orwell, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect from Equilibrium.

Full Review Source: Fantastica Daily | comment Comment
12/06/02
Staci Layne Wilson
Staci Layne Wilson
Fantastica Daily

It's the funniest American comedy since Graffiti Bridge.

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
12/06/02
Walter Chaw
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

The premise is overshadowed by the uberviolence of the Clericks as this becomes just another kung-fu sci-fi movie with silly action sequences.

Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com | comment Comment
12/06/02
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com

... a preachy parable stylized with a touch of John Woo bullet ballet.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
12/05/02
Sean Axmaker
Sean Axmaker
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

With too much emphasis on the stylishly shot fight and action sequences rather than the sci-fi or even human elements, the film is all flash and little substance, even when it pretends to be interested in the latter.

Full Review Source: Screen It! | comment Comment
12/05/02
Jim Judy
Jim Judy
Screen It!

Fails as a dystopian movie, as a retooling of Fahrenheit 451, and even as a rip-off of The Matrix.

Full Review Source: Film Blather | comment Comment
12/05/02
Eugene Novikov
Eugene Novikov
Film Blather

A moderately entertaining cautionary tale.

Full Review Source: USA Today | comment Comment
12/05/02
Claudia Puig
Claudia Puig
USA Today
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A science-fiction pastiche so lacking in originality that if you stripped away its inspirations there would be precious little left.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
12/05/02
Manohla Dargis
Manohla Dargis
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

What it lacks in originality it makes up for in intelligence and B-grade stylishness.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
12/05/02
Gary Dowell
Gary Dowell
Dallas Morning News

The self-serious Equilibrium makes its point too well; a movie, like life, isn't much fun without the highs and lows.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
12/05/02
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

If there was a solitary new idea or actual emotion in Equilibrium, the Prozium must have rendered me oblivious.

Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | comment Comment
12/05/02
Terry Lawson
Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press

Someone should have arrested Wimmer for being a common-sense offender when he first typed the script.

Full Review Source: Charlotte Observer | comment Comment
12/05/02
Lawrence Toppman
Lawrence Toppman
Charlotte Observer

There is something charming in the way it bravely invites derision, like the boy in the high school play who can't remember his lines and decides to milk an awkward situation for laughs instead.

Full Review Source: Contra Costa Times | comment Comment
12/05/02
Mary F. Pols
Mary F. Pols
Contra Costa Times

An atrocious hodgepodge of dystopian-future clichés from wannabe auteur Kurt Wimmer.

Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
12/05/02
Steve Schneider
Steve Schneider
Orlando Weekly

Wimmer's narrative sloppiness makes one think he's popped a few too many pills, since Equilibrium often feels like a sense offense itself.

Full Review Source: Reel.com | comment Comment
12/05/02
Tor Thorsen
Tor Thorsen
Reel.com

An unsophisticated sci-fi drama that takes itself all too seriously.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
12/05/02
Dennis Harvey
Dennis Harvey
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Silly stuff, all mixed up together like a term paper from a kid who can't quite distinguish one sci-fi work from another.

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
12/05/02
Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel

`Matrix'-style massacres erupt throughout...but the movie has a tougher time balancing its violence with Kafka-inspired philosophy.

Full Review Source: Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) | comment Comment
12/05/02
Josh Larsen
Josh Larsen
Sun Publications (Chicago, IL)

The fun here is not so much in the solid if stolid performances from Bale and co-stars Taye Diggs and Emily Watson ... or in Wimmer’s overpolished plot devices as it is in the production values.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
12/05/02
Ron Stringer
Ron Stringer
L.A. Weekly
 
 
61 - 80 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
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