No way! I loved Christian Bale in this role. I also thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I was happy when Preston stopped taking that mind altering medicine and began to turn human again.

There certainly was a few surprises in this movie

somewhere in between.

Bale was fine.

I like this film.

While the "gun-kata" discipline was interesting and the action scenes (well, most of them, anyway) were slick, there's a cerebral aspect and a cool pace to it that is quite provocative and engaging for me.

So, nah, no need to compare with The Matrix - Equilibrium stands on its own.

The flashy fight scenes were fun but Matrix was seen as revolutionary at its time for using multiple cameras to create the rotating perspective. Two decades on and with cgi in most films it's become a staple. Still, the Matrix is an enjoyable movie.

As for concept, a totalitarian regime where emotions are banned isn't quite as original as humans being plugged into a computer program/virtual reality. That seemed to strike a chord with people. I remember people debating how they know if their reality is really real. :)

Poor man's Matrix.

not as good as the Matrix, but far better than the matrix trilogy.. the sequels ruined the dreamlike compactness of the original and overexplained and expanded the concept too much with too many nonsense characters, concepts and such... zero mystery and nothing left to the imagination...

What I like about Equilibrium is what makes it different from the Matrix, it's a far more sensual film... the emotional scenes are well earned and you really feel Preston's awakening... also, it is arguably already happening given how we are medicating ourselves and our children to alter our states of mind and be more agreeable, servile, productive and such... it's not inconceivable that these anti-depressents and stimulants could become mandatory... or that a new class of drug close to the one in Equilibrium would be...

Hmmm, I never considered the possible commentary on society drugging themselves to the point that they feel nothing or stop being human. Interesting take.

I'm a tad older, so this movie also has a "Logan's Run" feel to this Aldous Huxley-like "Brave New World." Instead of a laundry list of drugs to fit conditions/emotions, one drug rules everyone...if they take it. The original "Fahrenheit 451" comes to mind here, though "sense criminals" get lit up along with their paraphernalia. There's no missing "The Matrix" and associated "wire-fu," though I did wonder where The Underground got all the guns they needed when the TV signal ended. Oh well, it's no better or worse than an undated "The Magnificent Seven," and I hear "Escape To Victory" is getting the redo treatment.