The Equalizer Movie - What We Know (Part 3)

Our Equalizer introduction continues with a look at Robert McCall's 'tools of the trade' as well as the soundtrack. As audiences prepare to see Director Antoine Fuqua's vision for the 1980's iconic television series The Equalizer, all this week we'll be taking a look back at the characters, episodes, and other aspects of the show that helped to define it.

Just like James Bond, the 'character bible' behind Robert McCall is filled with unique bits that separated him from the casual city vigilante or cop-on-the-edge figure. We'll continue with a discussion of McCall's 'tools of the trade' as well as the show's music, and see how some of it could fit into the film's storyline.

Walther PPK

A necessary part of any top spy's toolbox, this stylish weapon was always at McCall's side and probably recorded more kills than anyone in television. We don't know if Actor Denzel Washington will carry one in the movie version, but Edward Woodward seemed right at home brandishing his anytime a baddie got out of hand.

McCall's Weapons Room

Speaking of things that go boom, McCall keeps an entire collection of weapons housed in a room of his New York apartment, ready for action. From smoke bombs to sniper rifles and other wetworks armaments, the weapons room is like a slice of vigilante heaven. For the time, seeing an image like this was unheard of. Unfortunately, the movie version is rather...muted...as he enters a small coat closet to pack some gear.

Jaguar XJ6

One of the aspects that made Robert such a smooth operator was his selection of automobiles. The Jaguar XJ6 was at the time part seat of luxury and part rolling office. It also came complete with a carphone, the technology for which was just being introduced. Such forward thinking doesn't seem a part of the movie version, but who knows what sort of tech the new McCall will utilize.

McCall's Suits

Another element of McCall's persona revolved around the wearing of Bond-style classic suits with long trenchcoats. This style still resonates today and helps to keeps some of the other questionable fashion of the day in check. However, when it was time to bear down on the enemy, such as the end sequence in Beyond Control, Robert reverted to all-black attire complete with clip pockets. These styles suited Actor Edward Woodward quite well, contrasting the more urban style of his associates.

The Soundtrack
One of the best parts of the series was the inclusion of the soundtrack by Police drummer Stewart Copeland. Filled with intricate keyboards and syth drums, Copeland created a dark atmosphere that complimented the series' gritty nature. In many ways, Copeland's soundtrack re-established the importance that music could play in a weekly television show. His best work can be heard in the episodes Beyond Control, Shadow Play, and Trial By Ordeal, which we'll cover in more detail in our final post. The soundtrack for the movie is composed by Henry Gregson-Williams, best known for the Metal Gear Solid video games. If the music being played on the official site is any indication, we could have a great environment for Robert McCall to play in.

We'll wrap up our discussion by introducing the top Equalizer episodes you must watch before seeing the movie.

The Equalizer movie blasts its way into theaters on September 26th.

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