At the Movies with Fatwayne

Can you ever remember a movie that starred Denzel Washington that was a stinker? I can’t. Even if the movie wasn’t “up to par,” Denzel always does his magic and makes it work. This movie is not a stinker but we have seen this apocalyptic nonsense before and so we pretty much know what we are in for.

This time around we are in the year 2043, apparently some time after a cataclysmic war rendered the world a wasteland and caused many of the few survivors left to be blind. The lucky ones who are still sighted all wear way too cool sunglasses. Denzel Washington plays Eli, a battle hardened survivor on a quest. Now don’t get any bees in your bonnet but a voice, presumably God, had a talk with Eli, or so Eli says, and told him to take a 30-year-walk to the West Coast protecting the world’s last Bible. The Lord assured him that he would be protected. It certainly seems like someone is protecting Eli since he is a one-man army and is practically invincible.

I asked myself, self, why do you suppose it took Eli 30 years to walk to California? Even in the days before roads people made that journey in an instant by Eli’s standards. This is one of the faults of this movie and the reason is revealed at the conclusion if you pay close attention.

One thing that holds Eli up is his meeting with a brute and demigod by the name of Carnegie (Gary Oldman). After being attacked by Carnegie’s men and decimating the entire bunch, Carnegie asks Eli if he would like to join him and live the good life. Eli declines but is forced to spend the night in order to think over the offer. It just so happens that Carnegie has been sending his men out in search of a special book (you guessed it, the Bible!) for years. Carnegie learns that Eli is in possession of the book he so passionately seeks. Carnegie reasons that if he had access to the powerful words and ideas espoused by the good book he could use it to further his cause of domination over his righteous people. Early the next morning, Eli sneaks out and after his absence is discovered and the chase is on!

Eli reluctantly teams us with a woman named Solara (Mila Kunis) who is the daughter of Carnegie’s mistress. The remainder of their journey is nothing short of amazing as they battle for survival with Carnegie and his henchmen in hot pursuit. I will confide in you and let on that after 30 years of freedom on the road, Eli winds up on Alcatraz Island! How is that for irony?!

If action and adventure are your thing then this movie may be as well. There is fighting galore and gun play and lots of explosions and, frankly, not much more with the exception of some moralistic messages. For the most part it is a good way to spend a couple of hours. I hope that you like it.

Quotes from The Book of Eli

Rated  – R  -

Fatwayne’s Rating -    -