I found the movie enjoyable, I think the ratings are not off as the OP suggests. So not eveyone sees this movie as a cinematic masterpiece with perfect action scenes and flawless acting of each role. If you have not see the film, there are spoilers in my post.
There are parallels in the Equalizer to The Punisher and The Professional, all similar movies. If you are looking for a good guy with his heart on his chest, this film is for you. Is everything in the movie factual or believable, not really. This is a movie, it is inteded to entertain us, but I think it has a powerful message. The message is that the heartless cold blodded killers are not going to win,. Because when human compassion combines with calculating exact justice the corrupt and unikeable characters are in for a rude awakening. The politicians and corrupt law enforcement on the take are also taken down in an email, something a little different from The Punisher and The Professional.
I would say the film starts off slow, but how else do you show McCall as a Home Store employee who is obsessive compulsive ?McCall is struggling at night to forget his past, and the loss of his wife and so instead of sleep, he enjoys tea and reading at the diner. He is fine in his new life, seemingly calm and collective during the day at the Home Store. At night his past is looming large on his conscience and he appears unable to sleep peacefully with the things he has done and what he has lost.
What triggers the past to surface and bring the elite skills back to life, are thoughless criminals mistreating victims. Victims he has an interest in are not to be mistreated or taken advantage of. The Restaurant seem is our first look at how McCall sees a situation, how he surveys the room, his adversaries and the time and methods that will take them out. The end of the movie I thought was a clever use of items found in a home store. My wife and I were guessing as to what he will use next to take out the Russian hit men. I like the music track and the sprinkler creating a indoor rain storm effect, A wet and dripping McCall comes out of the dark to eliminate the Russian who is a self proclaimed invincable killer with no regard or compassion for human life. The ending has a nice twist too where he is answering a call for help from an innocent victim. Thus providing an open door for a sequel. The Teen prostitute has transformed thanks to McCall, and is making better choices and being who he thinks she can be.
Steve McQueen was the man. Bruce Willis makes more movies I like than I dislike.
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