User reviews

Equals is set in a futuristic world where, inexplicably, people have decided to "do away with emotions." Of course this phrase never has any real meaning, since any kind of inclination to do anything can be counted as an emotion. So really it's a sci-fi setting to explore the practice of the suppression of emotions. A problem which has never existed.

OK, before I trash the movie too much: the acting is fine, the set design and look are very good, and the world-building is excellent. But what is the story here? Two people who aren't supposed to fall in love do so anyway. Call me a cynic but I need more than that.

Compare and contrast Equals with The Lobster, another sci- fi/dystopian movie about suppressing emotions. Rather, The Lobster compares the societal demand that people form couples, regardless of how dysfunctional they are, against an underground movement of people who insist that being single should not be cause for rejection by society (though the rebels go too far the other way, adopting the "no emotional connections" attitude that fits with Equals). Somehow The Lobster manages to fit an interesting and funny story into the world. Equals? It gives us practically nothing.

Perhaps this is just a distillation of the concept of Forbidden Love. I really expected more.

We shan't be fooled - original ideas, concepts and scripts come by very rarely these days. Over the years I've come to accept that we shall not blatantly blame the creative team for the lack of some originality whether it is on similar premise, plot points, slight clichés, or visual styles. But when the final product is just a lazy mash up all the above, ripped off of arguably better previous films, as well as famed English literature at its most obvious, is just harder to swallow. If you ever watched Kurt Wimmer's Equilibrium and Michael Bay's the Island you have most certainly watched Doremus' Equals.

Pretentiously disguising the outright obvious rehash of ideas of a dystopian society where the inhabitants are deprived of different forms of freedom for the sake of a Utopian perfect society, with slower pacing, contemplating set up shots and heartfelt-advertising- like cinematography, we are left with a most forgetful film that never once introduces a single differentiating or provocative element.

Throughout my entire first watching of the film I was left with the impression that this movie takes place in the same universe as Equilibrium. Same plot line. Same history. So instead of feeling like this movie is a copycat, I went with the idea that it is just another story line from the same time-line. This makes it easier to watch. That being said, this movie is basically just a string of recognizable ideas. I would never describe it as original, or surprising. It seemed like the love child of many different well-known stories. The movie was brilliantly filmed, however. And the main actors did a fantastic job. It was fun to watch from beginning to end; compelling, interesting, and emotionally moving. It is worth a watch.

Most people will find this rather boring and to be fair, I did at first but as you watch it, it pulls you in with its dystopian view of the quite possible future of mankind and the futility and pointlessness of existence in this robotic westworld and is so well pulled off that you cannot stop to admire how bleak but poignant the story is.

I do not like Kristen Stewart as an actress to be honest as I find she evokes no emotion and has one forward gear but nothing else but paradoxically she is actually perfect for this role as is her equally strange lover Nicholas Hoult who I am also not that fond of but both play their parts well.

This is one of those films you start to hate as you watch but as it winds its way to the end, you just cannot stop but admire how well the story plays out and although a lot of the reviewers seem to hate the ending, I love it when we do not get the usual Hollywood formula ending and we get a true to life or thought provoking denouement that actually left me with a tear in my eye (just a little one though - anyone see the Bears game last night? >;o)), so this goes from a 4 out of 10 first half to a very solid 7/10 overall for me.

PS. "The Bears game" reference is the scene in Planes, Trains and Automobiles pillow scene for those that are wondering - 10 stars if you got it, you are obviously a movie fan like me!

This is SUCH a tired theme... sterile emotionless future society, yet two people are different, fall in love, and fight the system... When George Orwell did it in "1984" it was still reasonably fresh, but that was almost 70 years ago.

"Equals" stars Nicholas Hoult (the creepy kid from "About a Boy" grown up, and even creepier) and Kristen Stewart (known catatonic) really have no chemistry and the movie gives them no reason to be together except they're both "different."

Watching on DVD, I saw a lot of visual "banding" issues, and the audio was largely, well, inaudible. And this universe is all touchscreens and barcode scanners that constantly ping and whoo, which becomes really grating even 10 minutes in... ick.

Instead of this, I'd suggest "Gattaca" -- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119177/ -- That was 20 years ago, and the premise was already getting threadbare by then, but at least there are some interesting stakes and twists and performances from Jude Law, Alan Arkin, Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke.

Or maybe "The Island" -- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399201/ -- yes, Michael Bay, so plenty o' 'splosions, but at least it's a decent premise and has lots of good twists.

Even good old "Logan's Run" -- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074812/ -- handles this material in a more interesting manner -- it's pretty cheesy in terms of effects and costumes (it was 40 years ago so cut it some slack), but much more fun.

The commentary on the disc tries to position the film as some great love story that just happens to be set in this cliché future, but there's almost nothing there. Skip it, or at least lower your expectations.

I'll tell you what you need to know: if you like movies like this, you'll like this one. Maybe a whole lot. It's a science fiction movie with heart, that doesn't rely on explosions and death rays and warp speed travel, and it sheds light on things that are happening in our society today. The acting is very, very good. There is genuine chemistry between the leads, and they were both born to play these parts. The movie makes you think and feel. It's smart and it's deep. It's internally consistent. The soundtrack works. You can learn from it. There aren't anywhere near enough movies like this being made these days.

Some people hated this movie. A lot of times, I think people that hate a movie like this are people who don't like the fact that their own shortcomings are being exposed.

For me, when the movie ended, I experienced body-wide chills, and my eyes filled with tears. I loved it. I subtract a point because, from time to time, it moves a bit slower than it might need to. It's not quite an all time science fiction masterpiece, but it's close. It'll move you. You'll remember it. It'll give you something to talk about. It's a date movie you can both enjoy.

If you like movies like this, you know who you are, and you can't possibly miss this movie. You won't. You're too smart for that.

I think this is a movie where you either love it or hate it. I loved it needless to say. The film itself is quite slow and for the first portion of the movie very dull to look at which reflects just how perfect the society they live in is. Once the colors start showing up and the music kicks in though you're hooked. The story is one we've all seen before, but it still was done well and seems fresh in this movie. The romance is slow at first but then goes full force as you watch two people experience love for the first time in their lives.

Even if you hated this movie you have to admit that its beautiful to look at and the music really helps set the tone.

Halfway through it on TV. Nicholas Hoult is gorgeous to look at, and the production design is chic. Fun to see Dark Shadows star David Selby again after all these years. Kristen Stewart has a flat monotone voice in every film...she is so boring here and in everything else I have ever struggled through with her.

The only point of light is Guy Pearce, who is incredibly charismatic and so far has only had one brief scene which perked me up. I was about to change the channel but have stuck with it but if Guy doesn't come back soon, I'm done.

1984 and Brave New World sans the intelligence of Orwell and Huxley. Style over substance, as always....

This film tells the story of a futuristic world where people have no emotions, and any display of emotions is a disorder treated by death. Two individuals find themselves feeling for each other, and they have to do everything they can to avoid their fate.

"Equals" is very visually stunning. The sets are really beautifully minimialistic. The lighting is great as well, I love how the cold colour lighting complements the atmosphere of the film. The wardrobe is great as well, the white colour scheme really works, everyone looks so stylish and smart in the film. The whole atmosphere of the film is very well thought out and effectively presented to the viewers, immersing me into this strange futuristic world. The story is very engaging too. I just love "Equals". I am blown away by it, it is my clear favourite film in this genre.

Yes, of course, obviously, for the casual observer, Equilibrium comes to mind.

But beyond that simplistic, surface veneer comparison, this is an entirely different experience. If anything, the minimalistic yet compellingly powerful treatment of this production and much of its core theme is more closely in sync with the classic film GATTACCA, somewhat intersecting with Code 46.

No, there is no blazing CGI, militaristic action scenes, and other such glitzy eye candy features. If that sort of content is the desired ingredients for attraction, this production will seem "slow", and probably won't resonate with your usual requirements for entertainment.

But that's not the point of this film, far from it.

Many of the other reviewers here go into considerable detail on the aesthetic content of the production and plot particulars, so no need to repeat such again.

I might offer, though, that Kristen Stewart was surprisingly on point as Nia. If anything, I might have been a bit skeptical going in with her as a lead character, but her performance was considerably more than expected.

This is a film that will stick with you for some time to come, not because of blaring action scenes or uniquely original story concepts, but because of what it makes you feel, and perhaps give some thought and contemplation to.

A very solid 7 out of 10 for me.

Not my favorite Kristen Stewart movie but that being said it still well worth the watch. Love these futuristic films. I love Kristen Stewart

I selected movie on internet without much expectation According to summary it supposed to be sci fiction movie As movie opens up, I felt more and more this is the issue in current society. Even though we living in emotion free world, yet not everyone allows themselves to feel them. It forces the emotionless in the movie, but we sometimes force emotionless by ourselves based on circumstances, SO's socially status, family issue and so on. Also when someone feels too much emotions, we consider that person weak other than sensitive human being. I myself tried to many times not to show emotions in front of not only in work places but also family and friends cause it can be too much to someone. This movie is brilliantly made and hope many people watches it and get little more emotional about the movie and themselves for good.

Equals is a Science fiction love story set in a dystopian future, where the citizens are de-sensitised from showing emotions and love. If you're wanting guns, aliens and corny one-liners then this movie is definitely not for you. If, on the other hand you like more sedate and intellectual sci-fi, then I strongly recommend 'Equals'. Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult play the lead roles with fine support from Guy Pearce and Jacki Weaver. The chemistry between the lead roles is spot on, the music score is great, the direction and screenplay by Drake Doremus are both excellent. Ignore the naysayers watch it, like me you might be greatly surprised

The stark, white, clinical setting of this film gives it a cool dystopian feeling. Kristin Stewart is fantastic. It's the kind of film that makes you think. I would have ranked it a 7 or 8 but I wasn't in love with the way it ended. The ending didn't ruin it for me, but I did feel it could have been better.

I really struggled to stay awake with this one. I get what the message is, but it's too dragged out and dull. The idea is good, although already done in other films. It's well acted, although Kristen's mostly just doing the same sad face as in throughout Twilight. I couldn't understand a load of dialogue as they were speaking so dully. And the music score is dull.

The views as shown in the movie are clean, organised and everything is digital. It has similarities with The Island and Passengers.

However those two movies are brilliant.

The acting in Equals is top notch. The topic is interesting. However the script writing lacks depth, character building and creating believability between the friendship bonds seen in the movie.

The main characters can't meet each other in the bathroom because they are being watched but they can freely meet in other places. It makes no sense. The way it ended is even adding more doubt and is not logical.

It's a good watch on a rainy day but overall I wouldn't recommend the movie.

I think I have to watch Gattaca again. I remember having issues with that, but maybe the second time around and especially after watching this rather mediocre attempt/stab at a society that is not allowed to feel anything, I may look at it with a different perspective. Having said, it's not all bad here. It is by the numbers and it works for what it is I reckon, but that might not be enough for some.

Having said that, the actors try their best to shine in this dystopian landscape which isn't that easy. Still predictable, even without some notions and inserts, this will not surprise too many viewers. It flows along nicely though and at least doesn't fail its goals