The Book Of Eli

[SabreKai]

In a season of fictional post acpocalyptic movies The Book of Eli stands far above the rest (and that includes the Road). Some critisize the ending; I thought it quite appropriate.

Denzel Washington plays a man on a mission, his job, to deliver the last remaining Bible on the planet to some unknown place, West. Washington reaffirms his position among the best actors in the business.

Gary Oldman contributes an excellent performance as the leader of a bunch of predatory survivors; he desires the Bible to be used as it was in days of old to manipulate the masses, only this time for his personal benefit. A good guy is only as good as his advesary is bad, and Oldman is one believable bad son of a bitch.

Mila Kunis plays a fuckable young adopted daughter of Carnegie (Oldman) intrigued by Eli and the apparent goodness he emanates (if you can call a walking dispensor of death good).



See the movie.

http://thebookofeli.warnerbros.com/#/About

Thanks. I think I'll wait til it hits the Wally world DVD bins. I was a bit intrigued by the trailer but your description killed off all desire to waste the money. 

Sabre

[DAllen]

Saw The Road two weeks ago and The Book of Eli last week.  I've been reflecting on both of them and now feel Road comes out on top.  Both are survivalist movies, but Road was pure survival.  Washington's mission story was not well developed; kinda seems the Bible thing was thrown in there just to provide a mission, as in any mission would have sufficed.  Could of been a comic book, rather than the Bible.  As I understand it, the story was not written from a Christian perspective; I think it should have been as the movie would have been much more powerful.  It came across as a half-assed Christian-themed flick.  Of course, a strong Christian or Bible theme might have turned off many potential movie-goers.  Also, I thought Washington's Kung-Foo shit with the knife/sword thing was thrown in there just to provide some action.  Maybe it would have been better if God himself would have let loose a couple of thunder bolts to waste those dirt-bags?  Eli could have been a much better movie by further developing the religious story, IMO.  It just seemed kinda weak.  The scene where Washington and Lunis were saying grace - praying - was strong and should have been greatly expanded upon.  Still, both movies are worth seeing.  I'm planning to watch Road again.   BTW, I started a conversation with a guy while leaving Road.  He uses the book in one of his Literature classes at a university near Chicago.  May have more to do with the author, McCormick, as the book itself.               

[sc]

The Road is FAR above the book of eli.....it is in a completely different league...perhaps completely unique in the entire genre

The Book of Eli was rather predictable and plain....plot, characters...pretty standard....even to the "armored" cars and the "message of biblical hope.....what a load...

[jonny2mad]

how many bibles are there in the world how likely is it that there would only be one left ?

[sc]

In the novel "Lucifers Hammer" Jerry Pournelle shows what book is more likely to be a "bible" in the future........

it has a descriptive title......

"The Way Things Work"

may the dark ages commence

[DNVRLIZ]

I guess someone can now merge these. A new post was created on another thread.

[Deckard1973]

Anyone see this and want to go right out and buy cases of Chap Stick??

[Klopdx]

I saw Eli yesterday and enjoyed it.  Also, I've read The Road, and saw the movie.  They are very different, I think.  Both are good in their own right.  Book of Eli is far more "Hollywood", however.  The Road is more about the human condition; the breakdown of a family, and the bond between a father and son in particular.  It is also more realistic regarding post-apocalypse.  But, Eli, seems like it gives more insight into what things might be like in a slower crash scenario (although it asserts a fast crash).

[unrepentantcowboy]

I disagree about the Road being more realistic. Yes, Eli is Hollywood, but the scenario is actually closer to reality than the Road.

McCarthy is a product of isolation in a very dark place and total reliance on man-made stuff. He created a world where not a single plant or animal survives and people go around looking for leftover cans of food. It is absolutely bull shit that men would survive something that killed every plant and animal on the planet. The ultimate arrogance of man.

[johnnyboy41]

Anyone see this and want to go right out and buy cases of Chap Stick??

Chap stick being made of petrolium is a fantastic fire lighter meshed with cotton balls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb1cIjsyixU (External Embedding Disabled)

[ralfy]

"Fr. Barron's 'Book of Eli' review praised in National Catholic Register Blog"

http://www.wordonfire.org/News/Fr--Barron-s--Book-of-Eli--review-praised-in-Natio.aspx

"Fr. Barron comments on 'The Book of Eli' (SPOILERS)"

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/4Bt7M64Xn9w&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/4Bt7M64Xn9w&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0</a>

[Klopdx]

I disagree about the Road being more realistic. Yes, Eli is Hollywood, but the scenario is actually closer to reality than the Road.

McCarthy is a product of isolation in a very dark place and total reliance on man-made stuff. He created a world where not a single plant or animal survives and people go around looking for leftover cans of food. It is absolutely bull shit that men would survive something that killed every plant and animal on the planet. The ultimate arrogance of man.

I have to disagree with your disagreement.  The Road doesn't explicitly state it, but purports a nuclear war...

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/hbLgszfXTAY&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/hbLgszfXTAY&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0</a>

And, some people will survive nuclear winter, for at least a while, while virtually all vegetation dies as well (hint: 1:30 on especially)...

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/MJUeae_qE6A&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/MJUeae_qE6A&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0</a>

So, I do think The Road is perfectly "fast crash ala nuclear war" accurate.  And, Eli is definitely more Hollywood with motorcycle gangs, etc.  Again, I think Eli is more "slow crash" accurate.

[unrepentantcowboy]

Well I disagree with your disagreement....

Just kidding. Both movies are bull-shit. And I mean that.

While I admire McCarthy's skill as a writer, his claim to reality is badly skewed. An example: In Blood Meridian we are told that all the calamities are based on historical events. That may be true but all of that stuff didn't happen to a single person.

And I am telling you again, when all the cockroaches are dead, all of us are dead.

The guy is a paranoid recluse, totally dependent on man-made stuff and this appears in his writing. His book and his movie is science fiction, fiction being the operative word.