Cool Movie Alert..."The Equalizer" with Denzel Washington...

[SteyrAUG]

Ok, every time they take an 80s tv show and remake it as a film it usually turns out pretty bad, and while Denzel Washington has turned in some great parts...there is no guarantee there either.

But I feel the majority of this forum will warm up to this one.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455944/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_2

There is some decent gun stuff, but that isn't the reason most will like it. I'm not gonna say why, just trust me. It's already on DVD and netflix does have it. Worth a rental and a couple hours.

Most here probably won't even remember the 80s TV show and honestly it has little in common with that show except for drawing inspiration. It's a little bit "Man on Fire", a touch of "Taken" or maybe even "Eastern Promises" and if you are paying close attention a more sophisticated "Taxi Driver."

I don't want to raise expectations too high by saying it's as good as those films, but it's in good company.

There are of course some "highly unlikely" moments but that is part of the fun. Sometimes you just have to go with the "lone wolf samurai" taking out the entire clan by himself.

What I love personally about the film, besides Chloë Grace Moretz, is the clear distinction between good and evil with no fuzzy lines. Good people are good, even when they do things that aren't so good because they are controlled by bad people and the bad people are bad and treated accordingly.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

It was OK. I thought it had very little in reference to the 80s TV show, which I liked as a kid.

Man on Fire, to me, is the standard for that genre. Walken and Fanning just add complexity to a good action movie. A backstory for Creasy with out too much story baggage.

Walken's line: "A man can be an artist... in anything, food, whatever. It depends on how good he is at it. Creasey's art is death. He's about to paint his masterpiece."

New M4C Rule: No talking about any Liam Nesson movies. He is dead to me. We won't mention them, watch them, or even reference them.

Man on Fire, Point Break, Ronin, Way of the Gun and Heat. Watch them any day from any point.

Equalizer was good, I liked the stylized visuals of John Wick more though.

My God, I'm getting old. Denzel and Reeves are starting to the play the (hmm) 'experienced' killers that are out of 'early retirement'.

[MBtech]

I have yet to see it but Denzel is one of my favorite actors of all time, one of my favorites from back in the day is Glory

[austinN4]

Agree The Equalizer is worth a watch, but also agree Man On Fire is his best.

[Hmac]

"Equalizer" was disappointing to me. In the Denzel category, I put it even slightly below "Book of Eli". Denzel did a good job, but the writing was not great. OTOH, "Man on Fire" succeeds at all levels, IMHO. That was truly an excellent movie.

Just watched "John Wick" last night. It was pretty well choreographed, but I hate to have to suspend my disbelief that much.

[uffdaphil]

I expected a "fixer" plot like the original series, but this is an origins story. Which worked well showing the transition from aimlessness to purpose. A couple of over the top MacGyver moments where I'm going "just pick up the damn gun," but overall well done. I'd rate it in the middle of Denzel's movies which would be near the top of most lesser actors.

[JusticeM4]

It was ok. A little too long IMO. not a must-see in theaters but a good dvd/bluray rental.

I've yet to see John Wick but heard good things about it. Saw Taken 3 also--it wasn't bad. The reason I watch Taken is for the daughter Grace, not Liam.

[jmoney]

He had a SUUNTO!


I thought it was pretty good, even though I always feel like he is playing the same guy.

[PatrioticDisorder]

There are of course some "highly unlikely" moments but that is part of the fun. Sometimes you just have to go with the "lone wolf samurai" taking out the entire clan by himself.

The classic example of this is the movie Commando, easily one of my top 5 favorite movies as a child. Equalizer was definitely one of my favorite Denzel Washington movies, great actor but I kinda get sick of him playing the knight in shining armor, which is why Training Day is my favorite movie of his.

[Pi3]

I expected a "fixer" plot like the original series, but this is an origins story. Which worked well showing the transition from aimlessness to purpose. A couple of over the top MacGyver moments where I'm going "just pick up the damn gun," but overall well done. I'd rate it in the middle of Denzel's movies which would be near the top of most lesser actors.

I really liked the movie except for his refusal to use a firearm when that would have been the logical thing to do. The home depot ending was especially annoying. We should make a list of MacGyver type movies. Here's one: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1120843-hunted/