Skip to main content

Jason versus The Equalizer

The Equalizer is one of my favourite TV shows of the 80s. It aired at the very grown-up time slot of 10 p.m. -- far too late for me to stay up and watch. Thankfully we had a VCR and I recorded the show and watched it first thing after school the next day.

The TV version was gritty and violent but had the corny trappings of episodic mainstream television. A big part of its success was the casting of veteran British actor Edward Woodward. So how does the big screen version starring Denzel Washington stack up to the original? Stick with me.

A man believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when he meets a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can't stand idly by.

This cinematic Equalizer sticks very close to its TV roots. It's gritty and violent yes, but still has all the corny trappings of the small screen version. However, this didn't annoy me one bit. In fact, it made this R-rated action flick more enduring, at least for this Basementite. Everything is wrapped up in a neat little bow, the bad guys die violently, and good people walk away more or less unscathed. Roll credits.

Much like the TV version, a lot of The Equalizer's success can be attributed to Robert McCall and the actor playing him. Although he puts a blue collar spin on the former special agent, Denzel Washington holds true to the character of man who atones for his past sins by doing what he does best -- helping people. McCall was always a regretful killing machine on the TV show, and he's that thoughtful bad ass here too. I dig me heroes like that. A lot.

I'm glad they cast a performer in his 50s. I buy an older dude having the skills it takes to wipe out oodles of mobsters a lot more than some punk in his 20s or 30s. It worked on TV, and it works here too.

As for the action? It's great. As a kick boxer in training, I found the hand-to-hand combat brutally realistic. And I appreciated how McCall picked his foes off one by one or in small groups. It was also great seeing power tools and gardening instruments put to effective use during the final showdown. 

What I appreciated the most was the depiction of a man coming to terms with who he is in this world. There's a life lesson among all the carnage. A small one to be sure, but it gives the flick some added weight.

And yeah, I love the set up for more Equalizer movies. The final scene was a nice tip of the hat to the TV show.

Gotta give The Equalizer a Good. It hit me right in the entertainment centre.
Labels:

Comments

  1. UnknownOctober 11, 2014 at 10:04 PM

    I loved the ending fight scene; very 1,000 Ways to Die! Denzel just plays this kind of character so well. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. We Came from the BasementOctober 11, 2014 at 10:50 PM

    Yeah, this flick did not let me down. Very awesome. Glad you dug it too!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

#CocktailHour: Slushtail

  Summer approaches, inspiring thoughts of sunshine, backyard parties, and having a tip and sip with friends.  With that in mind, I bring you this week sunny beverage. To make a slushtail, mix a can of frozen orange juice, a can of frozen lemonade (or limeade), a can of pineapple juice, a couple cups of black tea (or English Breakfast), and two cups of bourbon- such as Southern Comfort, in a pitcher.  When it's all nicely mixed, put it in the freezer until it's a nice slushy consistency. Scoop the slush into a cocktail glass, and pour in some Sprite or 7-Up.  Add a little umbrella for some frivolous fun, and a straw. Voila!  Ready to enjoy. This is a very refreshing drink.  The fruit juices, Sprite, and bourbon- when chilled makes for a great punch-like drink.  The bourbon doesn't overwhelm juices.   In fact, they are all nicely balanced in terms of flavors.  The sourness of the citrus fruits contrasts well with the slightly sweeter Southern Comfort.  It was refreshing enou
Post a Comment
Read more

Unlock your fate with The Puzzle

When my dad wasn't working, building stuff or being my dad, he was making puzzles. It was a guaranteed way for him to unwind. So it was with great interest that I sat down to watch Italian filmmaker Davide Melini's award-winning short The Puzzle. You see, the mother in the five-minute film likes to relax with puzzles just like my dad. Unfortunately, her good-for-nothing son keeps harassing her for money. Losing herself in her favourite passtime, the mother soon discovers that completing this puzzle might unlock a nightmare. The Puzzle has been an official selection at more European film festivals than you can shake a stick at, and was voted Third Best Italian Film at the Rome International Film Festival in 2008. Having watched it, I'm not surprised. It's a tight little film that hits you hard in the final few seconds. You can tell Melini cut his teeth as an assistant director for legendary Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. But enough chit chat on my part. See if yo
Post a Comment
Read more

The Animated Addict: "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)

If you're a 40 + white dude, like myself, you may remember a comic series called " The Adventures of Tintin ".  I know I remember them.  This series, dating back to 1929, got turned into a animated feature film by Steven Spielberg in 2011. After buying a model of ship called The Unicorn, teenaged journalist Tintin finds himself on adventure that will take him from the high seas, to the low deserts, and from the distant past to the present.  With his trusty dog, Snowy, by his side, Tintin uncovers a story connecting two men across the centuries.. . The story is really quite good.  It's well crafted, and high paced- with just enough slow moments to build and develop the world and the characters.  This is the sort of adventure story you'd find in the old serials of the 1930's and '40's.  In fact, it felt like it was the sort of tale that you'd find Indiana Jones undertaking.  I found myself swept up, and swept along as our hero swung from one e
Post a Comment
Read more