Equalizer (2014)

Rethink/restart of the semi classic TV series has Denzel Washington playing Robert McCall, an ex-government agent, now living a quiet life in Boston reading books and working at a Home Depot like store. When a young woman who is working as a prostitute is beaten up by her Russian Mafia pimps for hitting a john McCall steps in an tries to buy her freedom. When that doesn't work he massacres everyone in the room. This sets off a war as the Russians try to find out who was behind it and kill them.

Dark brooding film with literary aspirations (What McCall is reading acts a thematic reference to the plot) is ultimately just an inflated version of the old Edward Woodward TV series. Granted this time out the action is bigger scale and bloodier, owing to the freedoms of the movies, but it's largely the same thing.

I know when this film was released last fall the film did good business and got mixed reviews. Some people didn't like the big shoot out at the end, other people hated it across the board, still others loved it and its mix of intelligence and big action. Going in I didn't know what to expect. What was I getting.

Sitting down one snowy afternoon in January with my Dad we were a bit taken back by the film.Much of the first quarter hour very little happens. We watch McCall go through his daily paces and interacts with various characters, all of which will become important later on. Its tough going until you realize that its being done to deepen your emotions for whats to come. You'll want McCall to kick ass  for what the baddies do-and he does, and it's great fun.

I really liked this film a great deal. To be honest I doubt I will ever watch the opening 25 minutes again, but once thats over with I'm good to go.

Was the film worth paying 13 bucks to see on a big screen? Probably not but I wouldn't mind plunking down the same amount for a DVD that I can watch repeatedly which curled up on the couch with some popcorn.

Definitely worth your time