'The Equalizer' shoots for 'great' and lands on 'good.'

Rating: 7/10 (12 December 2014)

I was a fan of the old 80's 'The Equalizer,' and I knew this modern take was going to be different. So I went into it assuming it was going to be a stand-alone type and that I shouldn't hold it to the series. I was right. If you're a fan of the 80's series, don't watch this movie thinking you're going to talk a walk down memory lane. It just isn't there.
That said, it's not a bad movie. It tries to be 'great,' and it lands on 'good.' The first three quarters or so are 'build up,' and the story is OK, but there really isn't much there. It's hard to rely on story when the main character and his past are shrouded the entire time. The story we do know? Well, bad Russian guys are doing bad things. That's pretty much it. Not terribly creative or deep, really.
The first three quarters are slow with a bit of action inserted here and there, but it really picks up in the last quarter. Even then, it's only 'good' and the ending is somewhat anticlimactic.
Don't go out of your way to see this one, but if you're out of movies to watch, it's not a bad flick. It's just not a great flick. And if you haven't seen 'Man on Fire,' watch it instead for sure. Or hell, watch it again instead of this one. You'll certainly be more satisfied.
7/10