Although I am late to the game in checking this out, I really found a lot to enjoy with Equilibrium. Taking place in a dark, dystopian and repressive future, Equilibrium as a sci fi action film checks a lot of boxes. The film looks great and was tightly directed. The cast is fantastic with some really great and talented British actors like Christian Bale, Sean Pertwee and Sean Bean. Equilibrium brings to mind classic dystopian science fiction like 1984 and Farenheit 451 and mixes it up with crazy Hong Kong/John Woo styled action scenes. Equilibrium does all of what it does really well and if you are a fan of science fiction or action, this flick will not disappoint. Equilibrium has both style and substance and as such is supercharged cerebral entertainment.

A strong film with plenty to recommend it, EQUILIBRIUM was released to the noise of "not another MATRIX rip-off" and similar sentiments. This instant decision is a little unfair, because – although obviously inspired by the Keanu Reeves blockbuster in places – EQUILIBRIUM is a decent and intelligent science fiction thriller with a pleasing change of pace. Once again we're in an Orwellian style future of grab greys and mundane apartment-block buildings, where emotion is suppressed and evil henchmen in motorbike helmets go around shooting little dogs. In this world we meet Christian Bale, a martial arts superhero who goes around murdering all those emotional and artistic folks.

Sure, it's an old story, but it works well here. CGI cityscapes aside, there are no fancy special effects robots or monsters; instead the basis is on good old-fashioned characters, and with a supporting cast that includes Sean Pertwee, Sean Bean, Taye Diggs, William Fichtner, and Emily Watson; you can't go wrong. Much of the story is predictable and there are a couple of sappy moments, but for the most part this is suspenseful, exciting stuff. A handful of violent, ultra-stylish action sequences (displaying originality, even in this day and age) add to the impact and help make the underlying dreariness rather enjoyable. Very entertaining viewing that deserves to be given a chance. A lot of this works thanks to Bale; once again, he's excellent in the part. I'd go so far as to say that this is actually better than THE MATRIX; whereas that film was all action, this one makes you think in a moral sense, and the action supports the story – rather than the action being the story.

In the 21st century, there was a massive world war. The Grammaton Clerics were created trained with martial art of gun kata to eliminate war by suppressing feelings. They are tasked to destroy art, literature, music and supporters of the old ways. John Preston (Christian Bale) and Errol Partridge (Sean Bean) destroy a stash of art and a band of rebels in the Nether region. They return to the city state Libria where citizens take daily injections of Prozium to suppress feelings. Vice-Counsel DuPont (Angus Macfadyen) is their superior. Preston is forced to kill Partridge finding him reading a book of poetry. Preston's wife had been executed for Sense Offence. He is given a new partner Brandt (Taye Diggs). He accidentally breaks his dose of Prozium. He arrests Mary O'Brien (Emily Watson) but he starts to regain his feelings. He destroys his Prozium allotment.

The ideas are worthy of the various young adult dystopian franchises that is prevalent today. They would have the lead be a young girl training to be a cleric. There are some fun concepts being thrown around. The design could do with more CG work. The action is Matrix inspired but at a lesser level. This feels like an interesting sci-fi idea but is not quite executed well enough.