To me this is just one of those films that pull me in and completely shut off my brain. Sure, afterwards I recognize its severe lack of logic and the impossible premise. But when I go into this one, I feel so entertained by Preston's vengeance on the suppressive society - I'm going along with him.
So I'd call it a feel-good movie!

It is probably rated highly because there are no fewer than three scenes that are exceptional.
The scene where he cries to the classical music, two of the fighting scenes were really well choreographed (while strangely, some of them were not choreographed well at all!) and the scene where he shoots his friend.
Probably more, but I remember distinctly being impressed by certain scenes, and a movie is a series of different scenes. This one had some great ones.

That's why your a good example of "people without taste"
Who am I to question God? I am one of his creators, for without people God does not exist!

everyone has their opinion but i think the movie sucks.

Because it's awesome!

Because it was completely ludicrous yet so enjoyable.
Because it was such a soap opera B Film yet the actors involved gave A game performances.
Because it mixed a number of dreary, dystopic novels (1984, Fahrenheit 451, Brave New World) in an interesting way.

"Coz he's Batman!"

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Because its a really, REALLY good sci-fi action film
IMDB's Overrated:
"I didn't like it, but everybody else liked it, so it makes me really mad."

This is an amazing movie that's the reason its so highly regarded. In fact its underrated!
http://www.yourhiddengems.com/movies.html

Because it actually is a great film with a real point. A 9/10 from me easily.
He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither ~ B. Franklin

because people are stupid.

What does it have to do with you what films people like. Then again If we look at your post history you make the same thread over and over again.
I think you are just attention seeking.

Overrated by 0.5 at least, I gave it a 6

I think this film really resonate with changes the audience wants to see in the contemporary world, which I assume was it's goal and is the goal of any good subversive speculative fiction. Throw in some futuristic stuff and a new world and some violence and the overthrow of a corrupt system and you really get to what people resonate with. Now that is precisely why subversive writing was historically a capital offense it can energize people or change them in some way. Hard to really do that any other way and it's also hard to fake. This is like the Matrix or V is for Vendetta that way.

Because it's awesome

Well dunno wait, duh!!!! It's cuz it's beep AWSOME!

Although I like the movie, in that I find it entertaining and you want to know how it ends, it 's full of contradictions.
What 's the point of the regime giving speeches to convince their people when they don't have any emotions and have all emotions turned off by Prozium ?
The weakest point is indeed the medicine (almost) everyone takes voluntarily.
How would you convince a whole society to take a drug on a daily basis ?
By convincing thaem that violence is bad ?
The only way to do that would be by letting people feel disgust but as all emotions have been anihilated this is not possible

Because it is FUN FUN FUN!!! The action scenes are great, Christian Bale is perfection, and there's even a puppy! I just finished watching it for the umpteenth time, and I still love it. I can just smell the testosterone in the air. LOL
Did you ever ride a roller coaster, then feel queasy afterwards? Did that make you dislike roller coasters or stop riding them?? Of course not. So even though the movie has faults, that doesn't make it any less fun. And isn't that why we watch movies in the first place??
"What's that? Bag o' tricks?" Glory
"No. Bag o' knives." Willow

This movie use to be scored really low, But Christian Bale became a huge star and batman fanatics and what not, started the bias march to make anything he's been in, "AMAZING". Same thing with Johnny Depp, Christopher Nolan, etc.

Why do people go to a movie like this and expect a documentary. About 90% of films have plot holes. The romantic comedy genre has 100% plot holes. But this film is SCIENCE FICTION.. and people compare it to another SCIENCE FICTION movie The Matrix or a SCIENCE FICTION book, 1984.
I personally like this movie and was lucky enough to see it in the theaters. It is a very stylized film but none of the characters were cartoony. I had the very dynamic Emily Watson and Christian Bale, plus the oft overlooked Sean Bean. If you cannot make the imaginative leap of the basic principle of the movie that it is the future and emotions are outlaw and kept in check by a drug, then you aren't going to like it. But then you accept the Matrix assumption as well as 1984.
Listen, you don't have to like it, but for pete's sake why pick it apart because you don't think the future could ever be like that?
But to answer alexis question as to why this film is so highly rated, because it was a pleasant surprise for many of us and many of us, the 130,000+ people who bother to rate the film, found it remarkable. We watch movie to be entertain and this was highly entertaining. And no one got together to bump this movie up, people rate what they film
And as you know, not all films are made for all people.. some I found garbage have won Academies (English Patient comes to mind). I also think people rate films that they like high, because they probably feel that no only can they watch it again, but would recommend it to friends, family and strangers and isn't that what the rating system is all about. Recommendation?

Because it's very intelligently thought-out and extremely well acted and has amazing fight scenes and effects. I described it to my husband recently as very 1984-like, except way less depressing.

This movie is so much better then the matrix. Thats the problem, people like you who think the matrix is a good movie coming through and talking down on movies you dont understand. This movie had depth and heart, and a solid point to it. I hear people talk about "gun-kata" being a silly name or concept, or about why psychologically this society couldnt happen, ect ect. There is a fine line between being a worthwhile critic of a movie, and picking a movie apart for no reason other then "you didnt get it".
To anyone looking for info, its a great movie, watch for yourself and see.

Entertaining and Enthralling , i enjoyed the development and complexity of the John Preston character ( well acted by Christian Bale ( im a Bale fan , one of the best actors under 40 )).
I enjoyed and still enjoy 'Equilibrium' as much , maybe even more than 'The Matrix' , both movies deserve high scores imho . Not alot of Sci-Fi movies serve up intriguing and entertaining plots without throwing us into space, giving us aliens or injecting some kind of time travel theme .
I also liked the score , it was complementary to the overall feel of the movie .