Book of Eli

Saturday I saw the movie Book of Eli starring Denzel Washington. I was impressed. I gotta say, I saw a preview for it about a month ago, and immediately dismissed it. I thought it looked stupid. But the girl I've gone out with a few times wanted to see it, so I asked her if she wanted to go see it with me Saturday night.

The movie takes place after a nuclear war, 30 years after actually. They called it "the flash" because of how bright it was, and many who were alive then are blind because of it, even if they escaped the bombs and radiation.

Denzel's character, Eli, explains that a year after "the flash" people began to emerge from the bunkers they had survived in, searching for resources. Water was now the most expensive resource. Many resorted to cannibalism to survive. It was very much anarchy.

Eli also explained that people burned Bibles after the flash. They apparently blamed religion for the war, as many do, even though much simpler explanations like greed and revenge usually are the cause, masked in religion. Eli found the last one. Now he travels west, protecting the book by killing.

It really was a great movie. Not only was the acting superb, but the plot was good and the movie really moved. It didn't really drag anywhere. The action was cool, and the videography was excellent. I highly recommend it to anyone.

There is the F-bomb in it a few times, but not excessively (many movies use it for the sake of using it). The action was great. It may be much for some, but just for a comparison, its not as bas as Gladiator (which I love).

The movie also had some great themes to it. Obviously you know I'm going to like him having a quest, fighting for something he thought was worth dying for. These themes are deep in my own heart.

There are more themes to, but reveal a little more about the movie (though I will try not to ruin it), so I'll let you decide if you want to read on.









































*SPOILER ALERT*
He explains to the girl that the Holy Spirit (not called by name) led him to the book, and told him to go west. He is looking for the right place to share it. This made for an interesting thing, of him not getting hurt when first confronted by the bad guys.

There is also an interesting scene where he laments that he read the book every day, but failed to do what it says. He tries to change at the end of the movie.

The bad guy also has an interesting lesson. He rules a town through fear, reminding me of many old westerns were a cattle baron "owns" the town. He seeks the Bible so that he can use it to manipulate people into doing what he wants willingly. As he says, it will give him the right words. He uses all his power in attempt to get the book, and it costs him. A warning to all who seek to hold power over others and oppress them.