The Book of Eli

[Brian in Mesa]

The Book of Eli

Release Date: January 15, 2010
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: Allen Hughes, Albert Hughes
Screenwriter: Gary Whitta, Anthony Peckham
Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
MPAA Rating: R (for some brutal violence and language)
Website: TheBookofElimovie.com

Starring: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson, Jennifer Beals, Evan Jones

Plot Summary: "The Book of Eli" revolves around a lone warrior (Washington) who must fight to bring society the knowledge that could be the key to its redemption. Oldman has been set to portray the despot of a small makeshift town who's determined to take possession of the book Eli's guarding.

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[Brian in Mesa]

Saw a preview for this before Ninja Assassin. Looks like a must-see.

 

[SpokaneCardfan]

Almost looks like Fallout 3 made into a movie

 

[Beaver]

Doesn't seem like the typical Denzel Washington role.

 

[Shane]

Doesn't seem like the typical Denzel Washington role.

It certainly isn't. But it looks good.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

It certainly isn't. But it looks good.

Looks really good!

http://www.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK//video/imdb/vi862650905/

 

[Chaplin]

Interesting movie, definitely well-made and the first hour is actually really good. There are a bunch of plot holes that develop, however, and the movie *seemed* short, like there was probably a bunch of stuff cut out.

 

[Shane]

Interesting movie, definitely well-made and the first hour is actually really good. There are a bunch of plot holes that develop, however, and the movie *seemed* short, like there was probably a bunch of stuff cut out.

Big group from work went and saw it last night at midnight and we all really liked it. Gary Oldman was fantastic and plays one of the better villains in all of Hollywood IMO. He is/was perfect for the role. I'll be damned if Mila Kunis isn't one of the most naturally beautiful women out there right now.

Spoiler

Not a single one of us had figured out that he was blind the whole time. That and the Bible in braille was a great plot twist.

We also were able to see it in some new format that claims to be better than IMAX. It was called Xtreme Digital or Digital XD for short. The screen was bigger than the IMAX screens I have seen in Vegas and the sound was also pumped up just like IMAX. Every chair in the theater was upholstered in a really soft leather too. Most comfortable I have ever seen. It made for a great viewing experience. Cost was 13.00 almsot 3 bucks cheaper than the 15.95 for IMAX.

 

[O]

Oldman is at his best when he play a wacko villian, one of the best.
I have to go see this.

 

[Chaplin]

The more I think about it, the more I can't really recommend the movie.

Gary Oldman's character wasn't established well at all, and like I said, there are so many plot holes, I'm surprised the studio didn't recognize it. Just a lot of problems.

I can't help thinking a "Director's Cut" will be an hour and a half longer, there seemed to be that much missing.

 

[Gaddabout]

Felt like the acting and directing kept a weak script afloat here just long enough to get people to the end of the story. The payoff wasn't big. I wanted to go back and re-write a bunch of scenes with some meatier dialogue. It's sad that Denzel Washington was silent in his best dramatic scenes. He had very little to say period. There were openings there to really unfold a better story but the script was flat-lining at critical moments.

Wish I had rented this one and seen Up in the Air instead.

 

[Brian]

Is it possible that some people here (just throwing it out there) missed the ton of biblical references throughout the movie?

Without out spoiling it: the nickname for the prison? etc. etc.

There were alot of them. Freakin fantastic movie.

 

[Chaplin]

Is it possible that some people here (just throwing it out there) missed the ton of biblical references throughout the movie?

Without out spoiling it: the nickname for the prison? etc. etc.

There were alot of them. Freakin fantastic movie.

There were too many. After awhile, you start to think, "All right! Enough already!"

Just one of the plot questions:

Spoiler

If nobody can read anymore, why does Carnegie need the book so badly? Couldn't he have just picked up "Where the Wild Things Are" and proclaim that it has the meaning of life? A meaning of life he can just make up on his own? Seems to be the kind of thing he'd have no problem doing.

 

[ActingWild]

There were too many. After awhile, you start to think, "All right! Enough already!"

Just one of the plot questions:

Spoiler

If nobody can read anymore, why does Carnegie need the book so badly? Couldn't he have just picked up "Where the Wild Things Are" and proclaim that it has the meaning of life? A meaning of life he can just make up on his own? Seems to be the kind of thing he'd have no problem doing.

We liked the movie but it wasn't my favorite by any stretch of the imagination.

Spoiler

I think the reason why his getting his hand on the bible was so important was probably because his thought process was along the lines of, the bible has been the most influential book in history. Its words instill hope and undying in loyalty and sacrifice in those who follow it. With its words, he'd be their messiah and they would line up to follow whatever he said to do. After all, throughout history the church has wielded a lot of power and been able to get away with some awful things especially when those preaching it weren't always practicing it. I think he envisioned himself as their medieval church...doing whatever he wanted and people loving, tithing and doing whatever he said they should do to get into heaven.

 

[Chaplin]

We liked the movie but it wasn't my favorite by any stretch of the imagination.

Spoiler

I think the reason why his getting his hand on the bible was so important was probably because his thought process was along the lines of, the bible has been the most influential book in history. Its words instill hope and undying in loyalty and sacrifice in those who follow it. With its words, he'd be their messiah and they would line up to follow whatever he said to do. After all, throughout history the church has wielded a lot of power and been able to get away with some awful things especially when those preaching it weren't always practicing it. I think he envisioned himself as their medieval church...doing whatever he wanted and people loving, tithing and doing whatever he said they should do to get into heaven.

Spoiler

I understand his reasons perfectly. The question is, did he need the book for that when he could just convince the sheep he was the messiah without it. He seemed to be the leader already, and again, if nobody understood what the bible is/was in the first place, couldn't he just have made one up and created his own doctrine himself?

 

[Shane]

Spoiler

I understand his reasons perfectly. The question is, did he need the book for that when he could just convince the sheep he was the messiah without it. He seemed to be the leader already, and again, if nobody understood what the bible is/was in the first place, couldn't he just have made one up and created his own doctrine himself?

Spoiler

Its all about wording Chap. IMO. Its easy to say a guy who is the leader can just make it up, preach it and go. But the words in the bible are written and presented in a way that he himself could just not come up with. Wouldn't mean as much ir be as powerful a tool. To me he knew this was a shortfall of his and needed the book to make up for it. JMO.

 

[Gaddabout]

Is it possible that some people here (just throwing it out there) missed the ton of biblical references throughout the movie?

Without out spoiling it: the nickname for the prison? etc. etc.

There were alot of them. Freakin fantastic movie.

Spoiler

I was annoyed with a lot of them, but especially the version of the Bible they considered so valuable: The New King James Version. Of all the versions out there today, it's least used and nothing like the KJV, which has an entirely different set of source materials than the ones we use today. It would be like finding video of the last NBA team -- and it's of the Clippers.

It would've had more metaphorical impact if it had been, say, a Gutenberg Bible, which has a monumental place in history -- and not just spiritual -- one totally relevant to the plight of man in the movie's timeline.

The other problem I had is they had the Torah this whole time -- the OT. Why even bother quoting from the NKJV of the OT? The Torah is a more accurate source of the OT. He could've started with Matthew.

This script needed another writer to flesh out some of these details and plot holes.

 

[Gee!]

I heard it was a movie of people just walking around for 2 hours..

 

[ActingWild]

Spoiler

I understand his reasons perfectly. The question is, did he need the book for that when he could just convince the sheep he was the messiah without it. He seemed to be the leader already, and again, if nobody understood what the bible is/was in the first place, couldn't he just have made one up and created his own doctrine himself?

Spoiler

Perhaps. He may have even already tried in fact. However, his words/religion (or Where the Wild Things Are ) hadn't been able to have the same impact as the words in the bible had throughout history. He obviously had power but not the devotion and loyalty of everyone...plus, he could expand his empire through it. While he may be in charge in his town because he controlled the water, other towns may not have followed him if they had their own water supply.

Anyway, I think he knew the history behind the bible and the church and saw how easily the church had been able to manipulate and control people by using what it preached to its advantage. So long as he had those words, which had already proven could be wielded by the corrupt to control, then he might end up controlling what was left of the world.

 

[Chaplin]

Spoiler

Perhaps. He may have even already tried in fact. However, his words/religion (or Where the Wild Things Are ) hadn't been able to have the same impact as the words in the bible had throughout history. He obviously had power but not the devotion and loyalty of everyone...plus, he could expand his empire through it. While he may be in charge in his town because he controlled the water, other towns may not have followed him if they had their own water supply.

Anyway, I think he knew the history behind the bible and the church and saw how easily the church had been able to manipulate and control people by using what it preached to its advantage. So long as he had those words, which had already proven could be wielded by the corrupt to control, then he might end up controlling what was left of the world.

Good explanation, but pretty weak when taken in context with the rest of the film, IMO.

 

[ActingWild]

Good explanation, but pretty weak when taken in context with the rest of the film, IMO.

Spoiler

Well, he HAD been exposed to the apocalypse...so his thinking twinkies could control the world might have made just as much sense to him. Although, they did burn all the bibles because it was believed that it caused the end of the world in the first place, so it I could see how he could draw that conclusion...but that's just my opinion...which my opinion and 50 cents will get you half a dollar.

 

[Louis]

Spoiler

When the Bible was first put into print what was the literacy rate of the average citizen? Probably pretty damn low. A quick seaerch of wikipedia shows that in France illiteracy was nearly 70% nearly 300 years ago. So it's not far fetched to believe that a bunch of people that can't read would fall pray to the construed power of the message.

Not to mention that the main tough guy was beginning to feel like Denzel was protected by something and even reached a point that he didn't attempt to kill Denzel in the first gun battle. It took Oldman to prove that he's just a man.

Which version of the book it is I don't think truly mattered. It was all religious texts that were being destroyed. And of course as the end scenes showed there were already version of the Torah and Quran.

I enjoyed the movie. Denzel is always great to see in pretty much anything. Mila Kunis looked pretty fashionable in this role. Couple this movie with Forgetting Sarah Marshall and she is wiping away those shades of Jackie I have engrained in my memory.

 

[nashman]

Saw this over the weekend and was pretty good. Entertaining and that is what makes a movie enjoyable for me, that and pretty much like most movies with Denzel, one of the best actors out there imo!

 

[dodie53]

good movie!

nice twist

 

[Southpaw]

Is it worth a Netflix viewing?