Equilibrium

Been watching this flick for a bit now and had a bit of an epiphany. Good sci-fi is rarely what the masses categorize it as. It's not aliens, it's not advanced technology, it's the science and it's not the fiction. It's always been about the humanity. The best sci-fi has always been about looking at the world through new eyes and seeing what it is to be right here, grounded in ourselves. The sci-fi part is just a vehicle for delivering the overall message of preserving and appreciating everything that makes us who we are, no matter how bad it can be at times.

I'm sure there are a lot of delivery methods for that core idea, but the freedom that sci-fi allows us is what gives it the depth, I think. It frees us to imagine a world in which the things we should cherish above all else are taken away. That's sort of what I'm enjoying about this movie, in the same way I enjoy books like Fahrenheit 451, 1984, and A Brave New World. I know it's a common theme throughout all of them, so maybe I should be pissed at everyone stealing from everyone. In reality, I think it just gets to me because everyone, myself included, are so willing to let go of those things. So willing to set them aside for "the greater good".

Anyway, good movie. It kinda sucks it hit around the time of the Matrix phenomenon. Christian Bale is a far better actor the Keanu Reaves and the plot definitely comes closer to more old school sci-fi.