Guardians hits the spot
| Friday October 3, 2014 10:19
This is arguably one blockbuster that I didn’t see coming, went to the big screen with little expectation, simply because The Equalizer trailer is not mind blowing. However the movie is totally sensational, one gets stunned when watching Denzel play the tittle character. The mellow trailer might have been a strategy, not to reveal much about the movie to avoid leaks and other issues such as piracy, when the product hits the market. The movie is an adaptation from the 80’s television series The Equalizer in which a retired intelligence officer with a mysterious past devotes his time to helping defenseless people in trouble.
The film has the potential to be a Hollywood hit because it boasts of award winning actors and director. Denzel Washington (McCall) plays the no nonsense bad boy who restores balance, whilst Marton Csokas (Teddy) is the villain who will stop at nothing to eliminate the threat, The film was directed by one of Hollywood’s best directors, Movies he has directed include, Training Day, Shooter and Olympus Has Fallen starring Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg and Morgan Freeman respectively. Fuqua’s movies always have a trademark, thus his movies always contain politically driven elements and themes that add a kick to a film. The Equalizer is no exception.
The Equalizer is entertaining and explosive. Thie movie fulfills one’s desire for action, because it is filled with action, including gun fights, and martial arts. Action scenes include McCall (Washington) wiping out the whole Russian gang in approximately 28 seconds using wine openers, and knives. The Equalizer is also alluring in that, it has a corruption element to it, which includes, dirty police officers and drug lords/mobs. As previously mentioned before in the review of LUCY, that Mafia gangs or mobs always add that necessary flair to a movie with their intolerant behavior. One should also appreciate the fact that (Teddy) Marton Csokas plays his role of a Russian enforcer superbly well. He is the type of villain one would want to see in an action movie. We have previously had a taste of Csokas’s acting skill in action movies like xXx and Bourne Supremacy released in 2002 and 2004 co-starring Vin Diesel and Matt Damon respectively. Meanwhile Denzel Washington (McCall) also delivered perfectly in his role as usual. When watching The Equalizer some of the actors who come to mind are Liam Neeson, Steven Segal and Jet Li, for reasons that these action figures in movies use what is at their disposal from the environment to defeat the enemy.
The stunts pulled are fresh and thrilling, and these include fighting a man with wine openers, and using a drill machine as a weapon. Surprisingly encounters between the two leading actors Denzel Washington and Marton Csokas brings a soft hilarious element to the movie.
In this movie the director and screen writer Richard Wenk alongside Denzel Washington who was the producer, created an eventful storyline, in which a retired black government operative (Robert McCall) who lives in Boston made a promise to his deceased wife, when she was alive that he would leave his old habits behind. He however is compelled to act when Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young prostitute he has befriended, is hospitalized after being brutally beaten by her pimp, Slavi (David Meunier). McCall tries to convince Slavi to release Teri by paying him, but Slavi refuses and McCall kills him, unaware he’s a member of the Russian mafia.
In retaliation, the mob kingpin back in Russia sends his enforcer, Teddy (Marton Csokas), to Boston to eliminate McCall. After evading several assassination attempts, McCall visits fellow retired operatives, for assistance, and through their help, he manages to gather intelligence on Vladimir Pushkin (mob leader)’s activities. McCall then fights fire with fire as the only way out of the situation is to hunt down the snake and cut its head. At the end McCall is inspired to continue using his skills to help people in desperate need and puts an online ad, identifying himself as The Equalizer. He soon receives another plea for help and sets off to answer it.
The Equalizer has done the unthinkable, bulldozing its way to the top of the chart, with only a week in theatres. This movie has amassed $34 million, just from September 26, and it is well on course to smash way beyond its $55 million budget. The Equalizer finished the weekend sitting pretty at number one, and this goes to show that this movie is too good, and is being well received. The movie is a must see. I rate it 10/10 because the experience is absolutely fantastic.