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The Book of Eli |  | Directors: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
Actors: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson, Jennifer Beals
Studio: Warner Bros.
Category: Movie
Buy New: $3.99
as of 9/4/2010 21:22 EDT details
Seller: Amazon Video On Demand
Rating:  269 reviews
Sales Rank: 44
Genre: Westerns
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: Video On Demand
Running Time: 118 Minutes
ASIN: B003KRJNBW
Theatrical Release Date: January 15, 2010
Release Date: June 15, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Synopsis:
In the not-too-distant future, some 30 years after the final war, a solitary man walks across the wasteland that was once America. A warrior not by choice but necessity, Eli (Denzel Washington) seeks only peace but, if challenged, will cut his attackers down before they realize their fatal mistake. It's not his life he guards so fiercely but his hope for the future; a hope he has carried and protected for 30 years and is determined to realize. Driven by this commitment and guided by his belief in something greater than himself, Eli does what he must to survive--and continue. Only one other man in this ruined world understands the power Eli holds, and is determined to make it his own: Carnegie (Gary Oldman), the self-appointed despot of a makeshift town of thieves and gunmen. Meanwhile, Carnegie's adopted daughter Solara (Mila Kunis) is fascinated by Eli for another reason: the glimpse he offers of what may exist beyond her stepfather's domain. |
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 269
 almost instantly forgettable September 4, 2010
D. Clarke (Jefferson, OR United States)
A near total waste of time for Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman, both of whom have done much better in the past. Eli is predictable, derivative, and ultimately way too preachy. The movie plays like some kind of teenager's video game, with Denzel lopping off hands, running through a dozen people at a time with his super-sharp machete, and using hand and shotgun to blast away about twice that many more whenever he's threatened. Of course throughout all of this Eli gets away with nary a scratch, at least until the silly plot demands that everything be pulled together in a certain way, no matter how unbelievable it may be.
Gary Oldman as Carnegie looks mad throughout (and really quite oily)---not much of a change from his last few performances. Remember Bram Stoker's Dracula? See that for a fine Oldman performance. Not many do weird as well as Gary O. But in Eli...feh! Who cares what he says or does. Jennifer Beals is completely underutilized, and Mila Kunis as Solara is almost instantly forgettable as Eli's roaming companion. Check the ending (if you make it that far), where for lack of a better plot device Solara inherits the mantle. Gotta keep things going, after all. The Word must get out. Again, unbelievable and dumb.
In sum, I couldn't help but wonder if the need to fit in all the religious stuff got in the way of anyone's thinking that it just might have been religion that caused all the devastation in the first place. Guess we're supposed to believe that the torch must be carried not matter what.
No true Christian would endorse this movie! September 4, 2010
SpeedmomSC
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am a sincere Christian and I have watched about 1/4 of this movie, not because of it's title, but because I have in the past enjoyed watching the superb acting talents of Denzel Washington. This was a horribly violent and distasteful movie in my opinion. I have no judging statements to make against Denzel for starring in this movie; but I would not recommend it to anyone to watch. I will also say this movie did not at all represent the biblical account of the priest Eli in the Old Testament of the holy scriptures.
Eli was High Priest, in the line of Ithamar. He was also Judge of Israel, at Shiloh, for 40 years. It was to him that Hannah entrusted her son, Samuel, to be raised (1 Samuel 1:21). Although he was High Priest, Eli failed to curb the sinful behavior of his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were priests.God told Samuel that Eli's family would be punished for blaspheming God. Samuel told Eli about this and Eli said that the Lord should do what He thinks is best (1 Samuel 3:18). Later, Eli's sons were killed as they accompanied the Ark of the Covenant into a battle against the Philistines. When Eli had heard the news, he fell backwards while seated in a chair, broke his neck and died. He was 98-years old at the time. Eli's descendants continued in the office of High Priest up until the time of Solomon. At that time, Abiathar, who had supported Adonijah's bid for the throne, was replaced by Zadok, thus bringing an end to Eli's line (1 Kings 2:22, 35). This event is mentioned in 1 Kings 2:27 as the fulfillment of the prophecy against the house of Eli.
No true Christian would endorse this film as being appropriate for other Christians to watch or say that it is in any way related to the Holy Bible. I encourage all to read the Bible and see the what is truly said of Eli; and furthermore get to truly know Christians before judging them. True Christians are peaceful people. Please do not be misled by the false impressions about the Christian faith. Always seek to know the truth for yourself before judging others.
The Twilight Zone Episode You Never Saw September 3, 2010
Jerry P. Danzig (New York, NY USA)
Of the two post-apocalyptic movies released in the last year -- "The Book of Eli" and "The Road" -- I think I enjoyed "Eli" much more.
That's because it plays almost like a Twilight Zone episode -- or the first "Planet of the Apes" movie, written if my memory serves me by Rod Serling -- with a neat twist (or two or three) at the end.
"Eli" is beautifully photographed in bleak shades of brown, and it features an excellent cast, with splendid turns by Denzel as the bad-ass survivor on a sacred mission, Gary Oldman as the villain Carnegie, and Mila Kunis as, well, the eye candy (and eventually Eli's companion on his journey).
The fight scenes are topnotch as well, and not too bloody, considering the amount of carnage.
I have deducted a star only because of the absence of extras on the DVD. This practice must stop! Presumably the studio will release an enhanced version in five or ten years featuring the extras that should have been included from day one.
So you might want to rent this or borrow it from your public library first. And buy it when the "deluxe" edition finally and inevitably hits the shelves.
In conclusion, this is a much better film than the grumpy critics allowed, but my favorites, Ebe and Gliebe (Roger Ebert and Owen Glieberman) liked it, and my faith in the opinions of those esteemed gentleman was again rewarded.
 Under-rated, thoughtful action film September 1, 2010
hanshan mtn. (WDC metro area)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I found it a very satisying story . Plenty to keep the attention riveted, be curious about. Had a satisfying ending, general humanistic and related to that/in that way, some christian themes, etc. But this is woven into a good action plot. I'd call it a thoughtful action movie - nonthinkers and thinkers alike would enjoy it if they like action movies at all.
Good acting, particularly the key characters. Didn't glorify evil strength as the only way to ultimately survive (to the contrary), nor did it overly sensationalize or exaggerate the violence of the fight scenes, which were filmed with a more b&w palette than other scenes, perhaps to portray that life is at these times a very ugly and harsh reality.
Film starts out with Denzel walking westwards in post-apocolyptic future (in barren desert, as usual). Fight scene style is sort of a mashup of "private ryan" flavor blended with street/martial fighting choreography - so though it's rough, hurray, it's not the dumb comic-book quentin tarentino style. Though we aren't sure right away, little things before and after show us he's a decent guy under the badass. What is not answered is how how did he became so resilient, and how did he learn to be so competent a figher? (like clint eastwood's "pale rider"). There's the usual bad guys abusing people and resources along the way, and he gets to save a few lives. Due to attention to detail, the story is credibly done (for this genre); and not overly romanticized or glam. For some reason all the bibles were hunted down and burned (shades of fahrenheit 451). Note the map on the wall behind villain's desk. It's always interesting how denzel's character reacts, what he says. Also interesting that we see seeds of the human need of little beauty and spiritual in a few others when exposed to what denzel's character says as a decent person or quotes from the bible. The villain misses the book of eli but wants it for power, and denzel needs to bring it to where will be used for good. Unintended funny - in a gunfight he shoots 22-28 bullets out of a semi handgunt, never reloading - it just kept going, and going like the ever-ready bunny, Gee, even in the Matrix they had to reload much sooner.
Loved It! August 31, 2010
G. Kaminski (Plymouth, MI)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
There were many mixed reviews of this movie, but I thought it was great! The ending had a twist and took me by surprise.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 269
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