Equilibrium

2002

Director: Kurt Wimmer

Distributors: Dimenstion Films

Key Elements: Message – Concept – Visuals

My Review:

I love dystopia stories. This is one.

Hints of Fahrenheit 451 and 1984 can be seen throughout this movie. But more than anything, it makes an argument for the importance of the arts to the human experience.

Stunningly choreographed fight scenes are the backbone of this movie. But by favorite moment is when John pulls the film off his window and gets his first view of a sunrise. It’s beautiful. And I love that, though the movie emphasizes human creativity, it also lets the creativity of God through creation play a role in awakening the heart.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• …we have created a new arm of the law: The Grammaton Cleric, whose sole task it is to seek out and eradicate the true source of man's inhumanity to man - his ability to feel.
• When we return from the Nether it always reminds me of why we do what we do.
  - It does?
• "But I, being poor, have only my dreams. I have spread my dreams under your feet. Tread softly because you tread on my dreams."
• I'll do what I can to see they go easy on you.
  - We both know they never "go easy".
  Then, I'm sorry.
  - No, you're not. You don't even know the meaning. It’s just a vestigial word for a feeling you've never felt.
• Let me ask you something. Why are you alive?
  - I'm alive... I live... to safeguard the continuity of this great society. To serve Libria.
  It's circular. You exist to continue your existence. What's the point?
  - What's the point of your existence?
  To feel. 'Cause you've never done it, you can never know it. But it's as vital as breath. And without it, without love, without anger, without sorrow, breath is just a clock... ticking.
• And you, Preston, the supposed savior of the resistance, are now its destroyer, and, along with them, you've given me yourself... calmly... coolly... entirely without incident.
  - Not without incident.

Stills: