Amazon.co.uk Review
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 neighbours. 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/duelling 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
Special Features
- Production notes
- Interactive trailers
DVD Technical Information:
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Colour
- PAL
- Region Code: 2
- Subtitles: Englsih
- Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, English
- Running Time: 103 mins approx.
From the Back Cover
Two men. One battle. No compromise.
In the futuristic state of Libria, emotion is illegal and feeling is a crime punishable by death. Clerick John Preston (Christian Bale) is the top government agent responsible for destroying those who resist the rules. But forced to kill one of his fellow agents, he begins to question his loyalty. Now the man who has been trained to enforce the strict laws suddenly becomes the only person capable of overthrowing it.
