Action-Adventure The Equalizer

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I thought the film was a lot of fun, but good god does it get more and more ridiculous as it goes on, and not necessarily in a bad way, but in that pleasant way that only partially hits you as you watch it, then causes you and your friends fits of laughter as you ponder it later.

Just the fact that you have entire government agencies meant to monitor and deal with things like organized crime and trafficking, etc, and all it takes is one white girl getting roughed up to... well, guess I shouldn't go into spoilers, but suffice it to say that the resolution was absolutely absurd in the best way.

Also, just the way he sort of starts to casually (and violently) solve everyone's problems, seemingly on his lunch break, was the best/silliest thing ever. The whole putting-back-the-rubber-mallet... Jesus, I love this movie.
 
Blackman said:
I thought this was really good.
Good action scenes. I thought it was paced fine. I liked the little "mini missions" he went on throughout the movie. Performances were cool. Yeah it's not the most original movie. I mean there are only so many ways to do a revenge flick.

THe only thing I didnt like was the very end:
[BLACKOUT]So he just goes around back to work/the neighborhood like it's business as usual? THey shouldve had him leave town, setting up a sequel, and isn't that what the original show was? Him driving town to town walking the earth fighting crime? Ive never seen it so I was wondering[/BLACKOUT]

This was WAY better than Man on Fire (which I always thought was really overrated)I had a great time watching this and am looking forward to the sequel.
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Definitely agree with you regarding the over rating of Man on Fire. This was a much better movie for me. I'm looking forward to the BR release now....
 
^I like Man On Fire, but I too feel its over-rated, parts of it are quite boring, I still found it much better than this however.
 
AVEITWITHJAMON said:
[BLACKOUT]It does set up a sequel technically, with him on the laptop answering someone who was asking for help and saying yes, and that person could have been in a different town, we dont know[/BLACKOUT].

Of my many problems with the movie, this wasnt really one of them.
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I get that it still sets up a sequel. It was obvious, but I still have a problem with [BLACKOUT]him going back to his life like everything was normal. [/BLACKOUT]

Still liked the movie a lot though
 
^Well, nothing really happened in the movie which meant he couldnt go back to his neighbourhood, nothing went on around there except the late night cafe part where the lights were out and the owner was in the back anyway. So no one from his area even saw that.

The only place he couldnt go back to was work and he didnt return there at the end of the movie after the he finishes the russians off so I just presumed he quit there and will get a job somewhere else.
 
Dude... what happens when one of his old coworkers sees him at the grocery store or something?

SpitCurl said:
I thought the film was a lot of fun, but good god does it get more and more ridiculous as it goes on, and not necessarily in a bad way, but in that pleasant way that only partially hits you as you watch it, then causes you and your friends fits of laughter as you ponder it later.
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I think I got it during the film. And while it's definitely funny, I also found it artful that they just off-camera'd what takes most action heroes 45 minutes of screen time to do. Taking down the Russian mob is a climactic scene from like 20 different films. For Equalizer? Cutscene.

Which kinda makes me wonder what makes this movie different that that's okay... because if John McClaine had just done the end of Die Hard II after Die Hard I, and had McClaine walking through an airport full of dead bodies during the end credits, we'd be a bit miffed. But Equalizer? We know *exactly* what happened to all those dead bodies. They got Equalized.

I think the film establishes this as a fundamental device when he replaces the hammer. We see him eye the guy, his tattoo, his licence plate... we know he can track down the guy and get him, and they'll never see him coming, and then suddenly we realize he's already done what we knew he was about to do and we silently ask... do we need to see it? Do we want to, really? And from there, that concept just keeps growing and growing until... well...

I think in the sequel he could get to some Batman-level disappearance/appearance stuff, and that, that would be truly silly, and I too would be laughing long after the film in that case.
 
DrCosmic said:
Dude... what happens when one of his old coworkers sees him at the grocery store or something?



I think I got it during the film. And while it's definitely funny, I also found it artful that they just off-camera'd what takes most action heroes 45 minutes of screen time to do. Taking down the Russian mob is a climactic scene from like 20 different films. For Equalizer? Cutscene.

Which kinda makes me wonder what makes this movie different that that's okay... because if John McClaine had just done the end of Die Hard II after Die Hard I, and had McClaine walking through an airport full of dead bodies during the end credits, we'd be a bit miffed. But Equalizer? We know *exactly* what happened to all those dead bodies. They got Equalized.

I think the film establishes this as a fundamental device when he replaces the hammer. We see him eye the guy, his tattoo, his licence plate... we know he can track down the guy and get him, and they'll never see him coming, and then suddenly we realize he's already done what we knew he was about to do and we silently ask... do we need to see it? Do we want to, really? And from there, that concept just keeps growing and growing until... well...

I think in the sequel he could get to some Batman-level disappearance/appearance stuff, and that, that would be truly silly, and I too would be laughing long after the film in that case.
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tumblr_inline_mjxp3h5K9b1qzjfyn_zps40f9d3f6.gif
 
DrCosmic said:
Dude... what happens when one of his old coworkers sees him at the grocery store or something?



I think I got it during the film. And while it's definitely funny, I also found it artful that they just off-camera'd what takes most action heroes 45 minutes of screen time to do. Taking down the Russian mob is a climactic scene from like 20 different films. For Equalizer? Cutscene.

Which kinda makes me wonder what makes this movie different that that's okay... because if John McClaine had just done the end of Die Hard II after Die Hard I, and had McClaine walking through an airport full of dead bodies during the end credits, we'd be a bit miffed. But Equalizer? We know *exactly* what happened to all those dead bodies. They got Equalized.

I think the film establishes this as a fundamental device when he replaces the hammer. We see him eye the guy, his tattoo, his licence plate... we know he can track down the guy and get him, and they'll never see him coming, and then suddenly we realize he's already done what we knew he was about to do and we silently ask... do we need to see it? Do we want to, really? And from there, that concept just keeps growing and growing until... well...

I think in the sequel he could get to some Batman-level disappearance/appearance stuff, and that, that would be truly silly, and I too would be laughing long after the film in that case.
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Honestly, we already got that with the way he vanished from the mobster's bedroom (among others). Even the way he just turns up in Moscow and then next scene back at home is sort of TDKR (obviously we know how he got to/from, but you'd think someone with his past couldn't just board a commercial flight without setting off some security trigger).

However, if we just accept (as my friend pointed out) that this is basically a race-swapped sequel to Nolan's batman trilogy, then it all makes sense. Denzel is totally Batman :) Master strategist, expert in martial arts, meticulous in his routines, vanishes like a ghost with ADHD and doesn't even use guns! The "friend" he visited? Totally a gender-swapped Alfred (plus her hubby, 'cause even gender-swapped Alfred gotta get hers).
 
DrCosmic said:
Dude... what happens when one of his old coworkers sees him at the grocery store or something?



I think I got it during the film. And while it's definitely funny, I also found it artful that they just off-camera'd what takes most action heroes 45 minutes of screen time to do. Taking down the Russian mob is a climactic scene from like 20 different films. For Equalizer? Cutscene.

Which kinda makes me wonder what makes this movie different that that's okay... because if John McClaine had just done the end of Die Hard II after Die Hard I, and had McClaine walking through an airport full of dead bodies during the end credits, we'd be a bit miffed. But Equalizer? We know *exactly* what happened to all those dead bodies. They got Equalized.

I think the film establishes this as a fundamental device when he replaces the hammer. We see him eye the guy, his tattoo, his licence plate... we know he can track down the guy and get him, and they'll never see him coming, and then suddenly we realize he's already done what we knew he was about to do and we silently ask... do we need to see it? Do we want to, really? And from there, that concept just keeps growing and growing until... well...

I think in the sequel he could get to some Batman-level disappearance/appearance stuff, and that, that would be truly silly, and I too would be laughing long after the film in that case.
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In the movie I got the impression his work place was quite far from his home, you never saw any of his work friends around his home or the late night cafe.
 
I saw it today and enjoyed it, I was a fan of the old series with Edward Woodward and while this departed some from it there were also plenty of touchstones, and in many ways you could see this as a prequel, The Equalizer Begins if you like.

This is the kind of film where you still need a proper movie star IMO, Denzel's presence and charisma that have made him a leading man for over 2 decades allow the viewer to empathize with, like and root for McCall. There are only a few actors that can carry a movie of this type with it's spaced out action and "one man show" structure.

There's no need to go over the plot, it's very basic, the reason it works like any tried and tested formula is in the execution, and Fuqua executes it pretty well, utilizing Denzel to the fullest and creating an element of dread for the hero ands a mystique around him that provides an interesting companion to his nice guy side. He also gives the highly skilled. elite killer McCall a formidable enemy in the sociopath Nikolai, played brilliantly by Marton Csokas.

I liked how Fuqua filtered in McCall helping a few other characters as the Russian mob close in on him, especially the stuff with Ralphie, but I admit I would have liked to see more scenes between McCall and Alina and I was surprised at how small Mortetz part was.

On the action front Fuqua delivers, particularly in the 2 big sequences. The showdown at the DIY center at the end reminded me more of an ultra violent MacGyver than The Equalizer, but it was a great action sequence.

The final scene of McCall answering the classic ad from the series on his laptop (it was in a newspaper in the 80's version) was a nice touch and sets things up for a sequel.

7.5/10
 
Just watched this and really enjoyed it. For me, I'm never really disappointed with any Denzel flick (except Book of Eli, that movie was absolute ****). Fuqua is quickly turning into one of my consistently favorite directors. He shocked me last year with Olympus has Fallen which I LOOVED and this one he reunites with his 'Training Day' partner Denzel. Can't go wrong with that.

This is a fun flick. Violent, but fun. I could see myself watching this over and over. Two things I was slightly disappointed with: 1) I wanted to see more of Chloe Moretz's character, I thought she'd have a more integral role in the film. 2) I was hoping for a more "one on one" showdown between Denzel and the lead antagonist. The way it ends is badass, but I would've liked a more physical final confrontation.

All in all, I'd give it a solid 8.5/10. I have a sweet spot for these type of badass revenge/vigilante type of stories so this movie was right up my alley. I hope they do a sequel asap.
 
They might as well send you a bag of actual bullsh**.
 
I enjoyed the film, though the last act went on for too long. In fact, I thought the movie was too long in general. And yes, I thought Chloe Moretz's role should've been bigger, instead of setting up the catalyst for Denzel to come back into the game and then disappear.
 
It was weird how that was done. I was starting to think she was gone for good and then she shows up on what could of been a deleted scene
 
It shouldve ended with Washington leaving the Russian's house.

It does seem weird that they'd pay good money to hire Moretz and then just put her in a role any teen actress couldve played.
 
I mean I don't know her salary or anything but they couldve gotten some other actress, pocketed that money and used it for something else
 
Kane52630 said:
Even Marton Csokas Kiwi Kevin Spacey.
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Csokas is a New Zealander? You learn sumthin' new every day. I loved that mutha-cussa' in this movie. Seriously, as good as Denzel was, having a villain that was written as an equal of the hero, and then hiring an actor that could take that ball and run with it was a big part of why I enjoyed this movie so much. I hope for more EQUALIZER level stuff from Csokas and a lot less... DOKTOR KAFKA. :wow:
 
Denzel left his fingerprints everywhere, that is unprofessional.
Beside that nitpick, I had plenty of fun watching the movie.
 
This was damn good. I never watched the show but I like the simple premise of a guy who just wants to help people and wrong some rights. I would not mind at all if they made another one.
 
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