Movie: Equilibrium (SF, A)

I came across Equilibrium while working my way through the works of the great Sean Bean. How did I never hear of this movie before now?

Sometime in the future, the people of the earth are forced to take medications that squelch emotions. Violence and war have been eradicated, but so have kindness and love. Anything that might elicit an emotional response--like books, artwork, and perfume-- is illegal and will be destroyed on sight.

The world ruler is The Father, and his organization is the Tetragrammaton (which is actually the name of God, traditionally translated as Yahweh or Jehovah). The police force who hunt down sense violators (people who don't take their meds and do indulge their senses) are trained in a "monastery" and called "clergy." This type of language could be intended to criticize the church's stance on self-discipline, which many non-churchgoers see as restrictive or harmful, but I saw it as a sign of this future culture's hubris in believing it could out-create God's version of humanity. By taking over the language and structures of the church, and also by removing the part of people which affirms we are created in His image, this government essentially usurps the role of God and sets itself, and its regulations, above the natural desires of its people.

This govt. spends a lot of time spewing propoganda about how it is an improvement over the Old Way. For instance, a "clergyman" makes a pompous speech about how murder has been eliminated, and then shoots a sense violator. Of course, we the audience see this world as dangerous and unfit for human habitation.

Christian Bale's character, John Preston, is the highest-ranking member of the "clergy." When he begins to questions the life he has chosen, he finds himself an outlaw within the system he has worked so hard to maintain. This leads to opportunities for excellent Matrix-speed action while it continues to explore interesting sci-fi themes. Grade: A