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| "The Book of Eli" |
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| The Book of Eli Directors: Albert Hughes and Allen Hughes Writer: Gary Whitta Cast: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson, and Jennifer Beals I am a big fan of Denzel Washington. The first time I saw him on film was in "Philadelphia," opposite Tom Hanks, and I was stunned by his performance and also by the chemistry that existed between he and Tom Hanks. I also really enjoyed his performances in "Crimson Tide," opposite Gene Hackman, "The Bone Collector," and "American Gangster," opposite Russell Crowe. I think the man is a talented and gifted performer, and, with the right director, his skill really shines. I really was not going to see this movie. I am not a big fan of the breakdown-in-society, post-apocalypse type of movie. I think that this type of story works much better with the printed word. But my manager gave me a twenty-dollar gift card for Xmas to AMC theatres, and so I thought I would spend some of it. Hence, on to "The Book of Eli." The movie opens with a dead man, lying on the ground, in a charcoal forest. The entire forest is dead; even the trees are burnt and charred. The ground is covered in cinders. A half-starved cat enters the scene and begins to smell and lick the dead man's toe. It appears that the feline has found a source of nourishment. The camera swings up an around to show another man, clad in black and wearing a gas mask, sitting, very still, on the ground. He has a bow mounted horizontally in front of him, and the string is pulled back and an arrow is in place. The man, so still he appears frozen, waits and waits. At the last instant, he releases the arrow, and the cat becomes dinner. This scene sets the tone for the entire film. As the story progresses, we learn that a war of some sort or another punched a hole in the atmosphere or the ozone layer or some sort of layer, and the surface of the earth burnt. Food and fresh, clean water are in short supply and are critical items. Everyday things, like soap, toothpaste, and shampoo are relegated to the status of luxuries. Napkins from Kentucky Fried Chicken, with the soap and moisturizer pre-applied, are a premium item, worth more than gold. The scenery has the usual array of broken highways, tumbling-down buildings, and rusting cars. It also has a dry and gritty feel. In addition to the setting, the people are dirty and gritty. They are unwashed, and a number have sores. Teeth are dirty and decaying. Hair is knotted and so filthy that it would make more sense to shave one's head then to try and wash it. A quick check for cannibalism is to ask a person to hold their hands out. If they shake, they are getting too much human protein in their diet. All in all, the picture that is painted is not very pretty, and humanity does not look very much like God's favorite child in this movie. This is the world in which Eli lives. We learn, as the story progresses, that he has received a spiritual message of some sort to take his book and go west. Where in the west? He isn't sure, but he is certain God will reveal his destination to him when he gets there. So Eli heads west. It appears that there is another man (Gary Oldman,) who heads a town, knows how to read, and wants Eli's book. He is the villain, and he wants the book solely for the power it will bring him. Mr. Oldman is a very convincing bad guy, displaying the right touch of menace. If he cannot get what he wants through subtlety and candor, he will take it by force. First, he offers Eli a bed for the night, hot food, water, and a young girl with which to share the bed. When that does not work, he hunts Eli down and shoots him to get the book. I won't reveal what he does with the book when he gets it; that would be a spoiler and some of you may be considering viewing this film. Suffice to say it is a rather interesting event in the movie. Now, Eli does manage to deliver the book to the west. I really don't want to spoil the plot, so I won't tell you anything more. But allow me to say that from the time the printed copy of the book is opened and Eli gets to his destination, there are some rather unusual and interesting plot twists that give this film a rather interesting flavor. Not, in my opinion, Mr. Washington's best work, but a fairly entertaining movie. Worth a watch if you are so inclined. |
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I have played a lot of MMOs ... a lot, and I have not bothered to see which one began first but this movie is strait out of the game Fallen Earth. Not just slightly alike ... exactly alike. The factions are all there, it takes place in the same area (some of the places they show in the movie are actually in the game such as the crumbling highway in the desert and the main town Eli finds himself in with the evil book guy is set up just the same as a town in the game), and also in Fallen Earth there is actually a quest that this entire movie is based off of (at least from my point of view) except in the game you are the person going out and killing people for these books.
Either we have a couple of authors that are linked at the mind ... or we have some fan fiction that made it to the big screen. (I would not doubt the second because before the game was even released people in beta were writing there own fan fiction, some good stuff too.)
Over all, it was a good movie and I left the theater wanting to up my scavenging skills on some broken down vehicles and up my HP with some canned dog food. Mmmm now that is some good eating! lol (That is from Fallen Earth ... I may be out there ... but I am not that far out there yet.