The Book of Eli
This review was getting long enough that I decided to split it into two pieces. The first, found below, is more of a technical review (as technical as I get anyway). The second piece looks deeper into themes of the movie which can only be discussed in full after having seen the film.
The Book of Eli is a very hard movie to review because there are many things that, if talked about, would ruin the experience the movie brings to the screen. So, if you plan on seeing it you can read this post with no problems. The second post will have spoilers.
The movie opens with a very telling scene. A dead man lies on the ground and a cat has come to feed on him. The cat does not look like the variety people have for pets. It isn’t fluffy or cuddly. Then we see another man hiding out with a bow, hunting. He lets fly an arrow which skewers the cat. His next meal.
This scene sets The Book of Eli up very well. The people in this world are in a situation where they must use dead men as bait and eat cats, something most Americans would not think of doing since they are pets to us. It is obviously a time of great need and desperation. The next scene gives us a sweeping view of the world the characters inhabit. Desolate and bare. Destroyed.
But the idea of seeing what people would be like if civilization was yanked away from them has always intrigued me. The post apocalyptic genre is one that explores this so it is one that I am always curious about.
The visuals in this movie are stunning. The world is well imagined. The stark bareness of it really paints a picture that pulled me in. The coloring has a drained look to it. Things look drab and dirty, just as you would think they might after a global catastrophe. This backdrop gives our characters a great place to inhabit.
The characters are mostly good. Denzel Washington brings life to Eli in a way that only he could. Gary Oldman plays a wonderful villain (Carnegie), as he usually does. His motivation seemed a bit off to me but I think it fit with what the movie was trying to do. The other main character played by Mila Kunis (Solara) is well acted but a little to “pretty” for the world she lives in. Her character would be more believable if she fit in with the world more. Only minor gripes here. Nothing to avoid the movie over at all.
The story of the movie seems simple enough. Eli is transporting a book to an unknown location and Carnegie wants that book believing it will give him the power solidify his rule. We have two opposing sides so a fight breaks out. Simple enough right? On the surface, yes, but there is so much more going on underneath that I can’t talk about without spoiling the movie.
The movie had a nice slow and steady pace. It didn’t feel rushed as some movies do. It took its time and told the story. With many movies moving toward a more fast paced, fast dialogued approach it was nice for the slower pace.
Is this movie for everyone? I would say no. It is a very grim and gruesome movie. Things in the world are not in a good state and the people in it are in an even worse one. Some event has occurred (we don’t get too much information about it) that has wiped out civilization as we know it. Desolate landscapes make up the majority of screen time. People are acting on their very base instincts. But I think this is a great backdrop for the themes of the movie.
One of the main themes dealt with in the movie is faith. Eli is trusting God in his mission. He doesn’t know exactly where he is headed but he trusts that God will get him there. This becomes an even more important and accentuated theme as the movie progresses. I think the movie also deals with the effects of sin, the importance of missions, and the importance of God’s Word.
But, like any good story, it wouldn’t be finished without the ending. And what an ending it is! I wanted to watch the movie again. And that is saying something.
Stunning visuals, powerful themes, and a great ending make this movie one to consider. It delivers the strongest Christian message of any movie I have seen other than The Passion. I would strongly recommend it if the level of violence and language weren’t high.
Note to Parents: As I mentioned before, this movie is grim and gruesome and not a good movie for kids to watch even though some of the truths put forth are important for kids to know. The truths can be taught without the violent and crude content. A moderate amount of heavy language exists and an implied rape and an attempted rape occur. There is nothing explicit but it is, just because of what it is, disturbing.
