The podcast discusses the film 'Equilibrium' and its concept of Gun Kata, a dystopian future martial art. They analyze the presence and impact of emotions in different governments and societies, drawing parallels to historical events. They critique the movie's society and explore the role of art, architecture, and fashion in evoking emotions.
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Quick takeaways
The film Equilibrium fails to offer a coherent political commentary or critique any specific ideologies.
Gun Kata in Equilibrium is portrayed as an absurd and unrealistic martial art form.
Deep dives
Society without Emotion: The Dystopian Setting
In the podcast episode, the hosts discuss the premise of a dystopian society where emotions are strictly regulated and suppressed through the mandatory use of a drug called Proseum. The society, named Libria, aims to eliminate conflicts and create conformity by removing emotions. However, the hosts critique the lack of world-building and the unrealistic portrayal of a society without any form of emotional expression.
The Role of Art in an Emotionless Society
In this episode, the hosts highlight a scene where the protagonist, Christian Bale, discovers a hidden room filled with various artworks and objects from different eras. This includes the Mona Lisa, pin-up girls from the 1950s, and an Eiffel Tower keychain. They discuss how the film tries to convey that these objects still have a powerful impact even in a society devoid of emotions. Additionally, they compare this scene to a similar one in the film Children of Men, emphasizing the difference in depth and contextual understanding of art's significance between the two movies.
The Flaws in the Movie's Premise and World-building
The hosts critically analyze the film's premise, pointing out the lack of coherence and inconsistency throughout. They question the society's class structure, the feasibility of complete emotion suppression, and the absurdity of suppressing everyday emotions like boredom. They also raise doubts about the film's understanding of history, specifically the Third Reich and Soviet Union, as inspiration for the dystopian society. The hosts argue that Equilibrium fails to offer a coherent political commentary or effectively critique any specific ideologies.
Gun Kata: The Absurd Martial Art
A notable element discussed in the podcast is the concept of Gun Kata. The hosts mockingly explain Gun Kata as a martial art that combines precise gun movements with geometric calculations to maximize killing efficiency. They find it absurd and humorously point out the lack of realism and practicality in its execution throughout the film. The hosts highlight how Gun Kata becomes the protagonist's ultimate weapon, effortlessly defeating numerous opponents with static gun movements and exaggerated poses.
If society outlawed emotions, could we stop all war and conflict? This is the very, very stupid question at the heart of EQUILIBRIUM (2002), the dystopian extravaganza that introduced the world to the art of "gun kata."
Michael and Us is a podcast about political cinema and our crumbling world hosted by Will Sloan and Luke Savage.
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