The Equalizer ***

Antoine Fuqua directed this Thriller. Watch Preview. Cast: Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo. Rated R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, including some sexual references. Running time is two hours and eleven minutes.

A man (Washington) who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him meets a young girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, and has to help her.

Fans of the old TV show will be familiar with the basic premise of this film. But this version features a lot more action, blood and violence than any network TV program could. It starts slowly as we learn a little about the character but picks up speed as it moves toward the conclusion. Personally, I found this a little longer than it needed to be but I seem to feel that way a lot lately. The cast is good, although Pullman and Leo have virtually no screen time and Moretz is missing during all but the opening and closing portions of the film. In other words, this is Washington's film all the way although Csokas makes a perfectly reprehensible villain. Production values are good. This film ends with sequels clearly in mind and I imagine the only thing that will prevent them is low attendance for this premiere film. I saw this on a regular 2D screen as I couldn't imagine IMAX was going to add anything substantive. I doubt most women will care for this at all but male action fans will find a lot to like.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. Screen size is relatively unimportant. Theatres/Times. IMAX 2D Times.