Cool Visions of the Future: Equilibrium

Equilibrium imagines a world where war has been eliminated by destroying the inspiration for it, emotions. Everyone in the world is required by law to take a drug called Prozium which eliminates emotion. Music, literature, and artwork are strictly regulated and if found to inspire emotion are destroyed. “Sense Offenders” are tried and executed.  Equilibrium take many common place elements of distopian science fiction and combines them. Like Brave New World the population is controlled through drugs and emotional manipulation. Like Fahrenheit 451 literature is destroyed on a large scale. Like 1984 there is an omnipresent reclusive ruler, know as “Father”as opposed to Big Brother. Finally like any self respecting bad future, there is an underground resistance movement fighting the system.

The story follows Cleric John Preston, (Christian Bale) a high ranking government officer responsible for finding and destroying Sense Offenders. He is a widower because his wife stopped taking Prozium and was executed by the state. He accidentally misses a dose and starts experiencing emotions for the first time. Inevitably he turns against the government and joins the resistance. Preston is forced to walk a narrow line to make sure his cover isn’t blown. The tension is palpable.  Though many element of Equilibrium are borrowed from other stories, this film creates a stunning world of tomorrow. The action scenes are amazing, employing “Gun Kata”. Gun Kata is based on the concept that when engaged in a gun fight an individual can memorize positions which will statistically cause them to be missed by fire, and simultaneously hit targets more frequently. Its not realistic but it creates some very intense matrix-esq fight scenes. The sets, costumes, and other visuals are vividly bland. The use of black, white, and grey symbolize how stark the world is without emotion.  Fascist architecture and industrial modern architecture create a great feeling of the oppression of the huge government. The sites used include Hitler’s Olympic stadium, and airport. Color and beauty starts to creep in as the characters break free of the control of Prozium. My favorite scene is when Preston in a frenzy rips the covering off his window to see the brilliant orange and gold colors of a sun rise, only to break into tears. The fascist government no matter how powerful, and monochromatic, cannot suppress the glory of nature, and the tenacity of the human spirit.

Equilibrium more than anything else is a great action movie. It could be viewed simply to see Christian Bale kick ass. Its exploration of humanity, however, make it more than a simple action movie. Like Demolition Man, and Brave New World it questions the cost of world peace and whether if its worth living if you cant feel anything.

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