Slashdot Mirror
Equilibrium
The_Hiro writes ""Farenheit 451 - meets - Brave New World - meets - Matrix" (minus the overdone wire work). Created on a limited budget, Equilibrium combines the best of sci-fi with the action genre. Unfortunately, the marketing droids at Dimension have neglected to promote the film (release date: Dec. 6th). Chud.com has a glowing review of the film and some pretty pictures. Check out the trailer also."
I watched the trailer
But its a film about tooth whitening? Sounds boring to me.
The Only Thing Stronger Than The System
Is The Man Who Will Overthrow It
Wow... It would be kinda hard to overthrow it otherwise.
Obligatory Internet Movie Database and MovieTickets links (although showtimes, if any, will undoubtedly only be posted closer to next Friday). The movie poster looks cool.
It seems cool, I'll try to see it if it ever plays anywhere in Colorado. From scanning the article, it seems cool, but the article has that fanboy edge to it that seems like it's going to give too much away if you actually *read* it.
...on trying to promote a sci-fi film anyways? just let the folks at slashdot know about it! instantaniously all your advertising to your target group is done for you
Jesus saves souls and redeems them for valuable cash prizes
Are you there god? It's me, Nine. As you know, people keep making Matrix-esque movies. And also, as you know, I'm a big movie fan. I like to see most movies just for the hell ooop...heck of it. Why, god, do people continue to make Matrix-like movies? Why? The first one was terrible. I tried to leave the theater when I was subjected to the first one, but unfortunately, I was riding with others and I couldn't get my hands on their keys. I really, really tried to enjoy it, but the acting, well, you know. Keanu Reeves was in it. Lawrence Fishburne. I know you never meant for them to be actors. I know that they were meant for other things... like workers in fish canneries, but still, they were in it. And the script. Well, the script actually made me cry. I laughed so hard I cried. It wasn't a good cry either, since part of why I was laughing is because I spent money on admission to hear lines that sounded like they were written by a second grader who ate too much paste. And the story, god. God, the story. Why is a re-hashed version of ancient Western Philosopy, a philosophy that's been around for thousands of years, considered innovative and fresh? Why god, hasn't anybody studied even basic philosophy enough to know that this story is actually ancient? And the plot. Oh god, you didn't spare me on the plot either, you vengeful being you. The plot barely made sense. But why should I tell you that... you're omnipotent. But, since you're omnipresent, you probably had to watch it too. I'm sorry god. I'm so sorry for everything I've done. Please, god, please smite down with terrible wrath and anger all who attempt to make Matrix knockoffs. Are you there god? It's me, Nine.
"In the near future, freedom is a thing of the past."
They should have called the movie "Palladium."
Personally, the idea of a film about a man who battles the system reminds me of the movie Rollerball ( the original, not last year's remake ). Those of you who have seen it may remember that the hero's boss wanted him to retire from the game because they feared that he would rise above the deadly game, which itself was meant to be an analogy to show everyone that no one was greater than the system. Hence in the end, the rules of the game were changed ( no time limit ) so that the game of rollerball was changed from a more violent soccer like game into a deathmatch.
Wh47 d1d j00 541, 31337 15n't t3h r0xor5 ne m0r3???
I'm not sure if anyone else noticed, but the premise of the beginning of this movie seems quite like in the book, "The Giver" by Louis Lowry. In the book, everyone has no real emotion, and has to conform into their spots in society, all emotions are kept by The Giver, i'm not going to go farther into the book, for fear of spoiling, but there definitly seems to be some similarities. Definitly a recomended book to check out
When i first read about it, i thought it was just another matrix/minority-report/apocolypic-genre rip-off film.
Now, after having seen the trailer and read the article, i can't say that i've change my mind much, but i'm probably more likely to see the film now.
It almost makes a person wonder -- how much of an influence does the internet have on the film industry? Does it make it easier to get crappy ideas on film, because there's an easier access now? If so, i've got this great idea for a horror flick or two....
Support FSF: Stop thinking with your wallet, and think with your imagination. (cc/non-commercial)
Sure another movie like the matrix, and yes the matrix popularized a bunch of types of special effects...
But really people...
The matrix was not the first time these things had been done. Check a little film history and get out and look at some less Hollywood movies once and a while. It does not make any of these movies better or worse, almost all movies build on previous work and copy some of the effects from previous movies. Get over it.
Considering how long ago and under what circumstances the classics of totalitarain sci-fi (1984, Brave new World, Animal Farm) were written, it can be seen that fears of the all-powerful state are in fact a product of the Fascist (1930s-1940s)and Cold War (1946-1992) eras.
With the fall of communism, fears of totalitarian states have eased, and at present, the most immediate threat in people's minds is of course terrorism. As President Bush's "National Security Strategy Of the United States" puts it: "(our biggest threat) is less from conquering states than from failing ones". Evidence that Americans, and hence the movie-going public, agrees with this assessment can be seen in the widespread acceptance of the PATRIOT act's intrusive extension of law-enforcement's powers. It seems Americans want more government, not less.
My point, however, is not a political one. Whatever one might think of present attitudes toward government, the fact remains that marketing is an objective science, and marketers need to react to present attitudes as they exist. Therefore, given today's pro-government climate of public opinion, it was a rational decision not to spend too much money promoting a movie that is at odds with present attitiudes.
WHY THE H*** THEY WON'T LET ME DOWNLOAD A HQ TRAILER TO MY HARDDRIVE!! I just don't get their logic. It's a commercial for them; something they put there because they want people to know about their product, yet they don't want me to see it in anything but shitty quality? I "only" have 256k (and there are still a lot of modem users out there!) and I don't get to see that trailer in all it's (potential) glory.
Bitch/moan++: even if I had 768k, I still wouldn't be able to see it if I didn't have IE... well SCREW THEM! If they don't even want me to see their trailer, I don't want to spend any money on their movie.
I see this as somewhat akin to gamespot's move to a pay-to-see-video business model. It surprises me that anybody has signed up, because all they (essentially) get is commercials for games. That's right! They pay to see commercials! It would be ironic if it wasn't such a damned tragedy that someone went ahead and actually bough into that.
________
Entranced by anime since late summer 2001 and loving it ^_^
This was my introduction into Hong Kong gangster films done by a master of the oeuvre. Must be one of my all-time favourites. The show-down gun-battle you mention is truly beautifully done.
A must-see for anyone who digs Tarantino (though, of course, he had a wide range of influences). Highly recommended, as is The Killer.
The key to this type of film is that they must be extremely character driven, and we have to care about the characters (note the plural) while at the same time be made unsure of the main character's direction. As you say, this genre tends to be relatively plotless, or plot figures less than the dialog and character development.
-- clvrmnky
Do these Goverment Agencies/Ultra-companies/Secret societies ALWAYS create the ultimate weapon then invariably decide to turn against him?
They try to arrest him with 3 people.
Yeah, like that Saturday Night Live skit where they show a clip of black-clad ninjas attacking two karate masters and then the ninjas are all sitting in their locker room at their hideout nursing their injuries and talking about how they could have done better.
"Why do we always attack one at a time?!"
"And when we do attack at the same time, let's try not to do a running attack directly opposite each other, because the guy always just moves out of the way and we clunk our heads together..."
Funny stuff.
why run from Vincenzo?
They've obviously never read the "how to be an evil genius" book.
I for one, will make damn sure to not make my daring last minute escape via a helicopter with its rope/chain ladder.
Neo, are you there? I want to rat out an unbeliever. An unbeliever in our midst. One who will never comprehend the Matrix, the question that haunts the believers.
;-) The religious theme went right on by him, but left the important question of existence (which i identify with existentialism -- existence precedes essense, and in the Matrix even existence was debatable).
Out of pretense, and in blasphemous contempt of The One, this unbeliever goes by the name "Nine." Please, thou who art The One, smite this heathen at your earliest opportunity. Disconnect the phone of NineNine first to prevent escape. Then grind the sucker up into that nutritious, gelatinous fluid that we all still need to consume since Liberation because we have absolutely no other source of food, having laid waste to Earth over a century ago in a bizarre Pyrrhic effort to "win."
(Anyone else notice this? If humans were powered by humans, and their heat powered the machines, wouldn't you run out of calories in a jiffy? Humans don't run on solar or nuclear power. Well, I suppose the machines could be doing some sort of protein synthesis, but if they had the energy to do that why not skip the whole "power plant" thing? And another thing...)
*
I do have a point! Movies like these normally require a healthy suspension of disbelief, and Matrix was remarkable because it really caused disbelief. It had certain plot and continuity problems, but not glaring enough to ruin the fun, and the sense of being transferred to a world with screwed-up tint control. It's pretty easy to pick apart, but there's a fine line between being insightful and irritating.
The philosophy was not new, but the packaging was. I had a little fun with my atheist friend who liked the movie by pointing out, "You realize that Neo was Christ, didn't you?"
The acting -- I thought everyone did fine, except for Reeves, who had mercifully few lines and mostly stood looking around stunned, until he become a gun-toting sunglass-wearing matrix rebel.
And the effects were great. We're getting tired of them now because of all the imitations and parodies (even Shrek!). But the Matrix set a new standard for viewer immersion. And the sum of its parts made it a good movie, one of my top ten futuristic movies along with Bladerunner and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
I can only hope this one is as good. Trailers are tough to read. FWIW I think Bradbury was better at coming up with ideas than writing about them. The script would have to be quite creative to make it work on the screen.
What does the matrix have to do with the Dao or natural way of the universe which should be followed? What does it have to do with reincarnation or karma? What does it have do with meditating and given up earthly desires to reach enlightenment?
The parallel between The Matrix drew from Eastern (more specifically, Vedic) philosophy is the belief that the world we think we live in is an illusion, which affects us only insofar as we believe it it. And of course, if one becomes enlightened - whether by meditating for many lifetimes or by the grace of a scriptwriter - one may gain mystical powers that will really impress the viewing public.
While The Matrix is vastly overrated IMHO, it does have its merits in that it made many people think.
Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is the War Room!
Actually, I believe that the very fact that this film even got made is what is significant. You mention that the last time that orwellian predictions were brought up on a regular basis was during the cold war. I doubt that this was because we could see the opression in Soviet nations, but more because these were the times when western society felt threatened and gave extra powers to their governments in order to stay safe. It is at times like these when those who can see the trend towards an orwellian society feel that they must voice words of caution about the dangers involved in absolute governement power. That is why we saw these movies and books in the cold war, and that is why we are seeing them again now.
Other then that the main character is in law enforcement, and it takes place in 'the future' I don't see much similarity at all. I guess you could say they were both fathers, but one still has his kids and the other does not. You could say they were both on drugs, but in MR drugs are looked down oppon, while in this they are required. They are hugely diffrent movies.
autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
He's been an animal.
He's been a girl.
And on December 6th,
Rob Schneider is: the Cleric
Watch him try to bring justice to an unfair world, all the while trying to make his way through blahdiddy blah blah blah.
Rated G, for high-adrenaline sexual innuendo and some drug references.
"I would say that 99 per cent of what my father has written about his own life is false." - L. Ron Hubbard Jr.
No wonder this film isn't getting any promotion. The idea of drugging a society into obedience probably sounds pretty reasonable to a population spooked by an isolated terrorist attack that killed almost three-quarters as many Americans as died of heart disease and cancer every day, 365 days a year.
Of course, you don't get as many votes by waging war on heart disease and cancer as you do by vaporizing foreigners with exotic bombs.
Yeah, I'm totally off-topic. The movie sounds cool. Mod me into oblivion. I was just feeling cranky and wanted to add to my PATRIOT Act dossier.
Proud member of the Weirdo-American community.