We watched the 2002 movie "Equilibrium" on Sci-fi channel the other night. While it's not the best sci-fi movie I've ever seen, I enjoyed it - apart from some of the over-long action sequences involving a fictional martial arts gun skill called "Gun Kata".
The storyline, by Kurt Wimmers, is set in a 21st century world, after a 3rd world war has left utter devastation in its wake. Those who then assumed power had decided that a fourth war would wipe out life on Earth entirely. They determined that the way to avoid that would be to supress all human emotion and passion in humans. A totalitarian-type state emerges. The population is completely controlled, forced to dose regularly on a drug which prevents them from feeling any emotion. A ruling class of "clerics", highly trained in martial arts, with a chief known as "Father" has the job of supressing resistance from the few humans who have managed to escape the drug regime and retained their emotions. These unfortunates, when caught, are ritually incinerated alive.
Finally, it's a fight between good and evil (isn't it always?) An original good intention, to prevent war, had turned into an almost bigger evil than war itself.
I was particularly interested in the basic premise, because I'd had the same fundamental idea in my own, one and only attempt to write a short story, "Regions of the Homewind" (here). In my story's world the banishing of strong emotion to protect the human species had taken on a different, and more kindly, complexion.
A quote from "Equilibrium"
Christian Bale played the leading part of Cleric John Preston with some style, I thought. I took a look at his natal chart. This is a 12 noon version as his time of birth is unknown.
No wonder he was able to play a person with no emotion so well - he has no planets in Water signs (the emotional signs) in his natal chart. He has Sun and two personal planets in Aquarius, a sign said by some astrologers to be cool, aloof, and fairly emotionless. OOOokay, says this Aquarian blogger! Also, I'm noting that the Moon's apogee (Black Moon Lilith) the point at which Moon is farthest from the Earth, falls close to Bale's natal Sun. I don't know how significant that might be, but, bearing in mind that the Moon represents, among other things, our mother and our emotions, a news story involving Bale recently, recorded at Wikipedia might be relevant:
There have been other angry outbursts on sets of his films too.
Bale himself has said,"If everyone really knew what a jerk I am in real life, I wouldn't be so adored in the slightest."
He has aggressive Mars in Aries (strong in its own sign) and square his natal Sun - a constant challenge to his "self". His natal Moon could be in either late Aries or early Taurus - I'd guess Taurus - it's in conflicting Earthy element to his Airy Sun, whereas Aries would make for a more harmonious inner/outer self (Moon/Sun) . There seems to be some underlying conflict in his nature, if news stories are anything to go by.
There is a nice Grand Trine in Air signs in Bale's chart. It links Uranus, Saturn and Mercury - a harmonious circuit indicating easy intellect, though with unpredictable thought patterns and a hard Saturnian edge to his attitudes.
The storyline, by Kurt Wimmers, is set in a 21st century world, after a 3rd world war has left utter devastation in its wake. Those who then assumed power had decided that a fourth war would wipe out life on Earth entirely. They determined that the way to avoid that would be to supress all human emotion and passion in humans. A totalitarian-type state emerges. The population is completely controlled, forced to dose regularly on a drug which prevents them from feeling any emotion. A ruling class of "clerics", highly trained in martial arts, with a chief known as "Father" has the job of supressing resistance from the few humans who have managed to escape the drug regime and retained their emotions. These unfortunates, when caught, are ritually incinerated alive.
Finally, it's a fight between good and evil (isn't it always?) An original good intention, to prevent war, had turned into an almost bigger evil than war itself.
I was particularly interested in the basic premise, because I'd had the same fundamental idea in my own, one and only attempt to write a short story, "Regions of the Homewind" (here). In my story's world the banishing of strong emotion to protect the human species had taken on a different, and more kindly, complexion.
A quote from "Equilibrium"
Mary: Let me ask you something.
[Grabs his hand]
Mary: Why are you alive?
John Preston: [Breaks free] I'm alive... I live... to safeguard the continuity of this great society. To serve Libria.
Mary: It's circular. You exist to continue your existence. What's the point?
John Preston: What's the point of your existence?
Mary: To feel. 'Cause you've never done it, you can never know it. But it's as vital as breath. And without it, without love, without anger, without sorrow, breath is just a clock... ticking.
Christian Bale played the leading part of Cleric John Preston with some style, I thought. I took a look at his natal chart. This is a 12 noon version as his time of birth is unknown.
No wonder he was able to play a person with no emotion so well - he has no planets in Water signs (the emotional signs) in his natal chart. He has Sun and two personal planets in Aquarius, a sign said by some astrologers to be cool, aloof, and fairly emotionless. OOOokay, says this Aquarian blogger! Also, I'm noting that the Moon's apogee (Black Moon Lilith) the point at which Moon is farthest from the Earth, falls close to Bale's natal Sun. I don't know how significant that might be, but, bearing in mind that the Moon represents, among other things, our mother and our emotions, a news story involving Bale recently, recorded at Wikipedia might be relevant:On 22 July 2008, Bale attended a London police station by appointment and was arrested in connection with an alleged assault on his mother, Jenny, and sister, Sharon, who called the authorities. After being held for more than four hours, he was released on bail, pending further investigation. He denied the allegations and on 14 August, 2008 British police declared that they would take no further action against him. The charges were dismissed for lack of evidence.
There have been other angry outbursts on sets of his films too.
Bale himself has said,"If everyone really knew what a jerk I am in real life, I wouldn't be so adored in the slightest."
He has aggressive Mars in Aries (strong in its own sign) and square his natal Sun - a constant challenge to his "self". His natal Moon could be in either late Aries or early Taurus - I'd guess Taurus - it's in conflicting Earthy element to his Airy Sun, whereas Aries would make for a more harmonious inner/outer self (Moon/Sun) . There seems to be some underlying conflict in his nature, if news stories are anything to go by.
There is a nice Grand Trine in Air signs in Bale's chart. It links Uranus, Saturn and Mercury - a harmonious circuit indicating easy intellect, though with unpredictable thought patterns and a hard Saturnian edge to his attitudes.
4 comments:
Marvellous story, T, I love well written sci-fi! Carry on, please.
XO
WWW
I think it was Einstein who said something like: I don't know what weapons World War Three will be fought with, but world War Four will be fought with sticks and stones.
WWW ~~~ Thank you! You are too kind!
AN ~~~ Yep - and I guess he was right on the money. :-(
Post a Comment