"Equals" Movie Review

Could you imagine living in a world where everyone was equal and emotions were nonexistent? What would change? Would society be better or worse? These are only a few questions that arise during a viewing of Equals. It's a rather thought-provoking film that makes one wonder just how much better - or worse - life would be if feelings and status didn't get in the way.

Our story centers around a young man named Silas who discovers he is sick with SOS, or Switched-On Syndrome, which means that he is beginning to display emotions and needs to be cured. This society which Silas is a part of has brainwashed these young people into believing that emotions are a sickness. It's shown that several people who are "Stage 3" have committed suicide out of fear that they were actually going to die if they allowed themselves to feel.

As Silas continues to feel more and more, he takes notice of a young woman named Nia. He becomes attached to her, finding any excuse he can to be near her. Soon, he realizes she has SOS as well and has feelings for him.

The acting is splendid and dramatic. Kristen Stewart continues to prove just how amazing of an actress she truly is with each role she takes on. Nicholas Hoult is not so incredible however, and I feel he was miscast. He did his best, though, and I give him credit for trying.

The story was emotional, tragic, and romantic. It did parallel somewhat with The Giver, however, I don't think they were trying to rip it off or anything like that. They did have different plots, after all.

The only problem the film really had was the pacing. It could be slow at times and sometimes it became hard to stay focused. A little more time in the editing room would have been beneficial, but it is still a good film either way.

In conclusion, I do recommend this film for anyone who loves romantic and dramatic films, however some patience is required for the first 20-30 minutes of the film. It's just a slight bit slower paced than the rest of the film. Afterwards, ask yourself - would a society where emotion is forbidden be worth it, or is emotion a requirement to truly live?