Book of Eli

Denzel certainly does not disappoint.

Although the previews spun it as an action movie, I wouldn't categorize it as such. Still, it did have some great action scenes. If you belong to the plague of modern movie goers who only want to be entertained by visual effects and cheap thrills, you may not enjoy this film. But, if you truly appreciate plot and character development and have a keen eye for great directing and great acting, you'll recognize it as the theatrical gem that it is.

Denzel Washington plays the role of Eli, a wanderer in the post-apocalyptic world. Eli is the guardian and possessor of the last remaining copy of an important book (I won't reveal it, but I was pleasantly surprised) that has the power to save humanity. Set in the desolate, burned up corpse of the American West, some 30 years after the "final war" and the "flash," all that's left is lawless wasteland. The small remaining population's only purpose is to survive - which they do by scouring the remnants of the "old world" or by preying on the weak. Eli, traveling alone for 30 years, is determined to carry the sacred book west. His path takes him through a "village" that has a crude sense of society, run by a man, Carnegie, who is searching for the book to exert power over more people. Mila Kunis plays the role of a Solara, a girl born and raised in this barren world. She is intrigued by Eli, one of the few people who survived from the old world, and very curious about the book. Eli, though religious and peaceful, will do anything (and does) to protect the book and finish his journey.

Two men. Two motives. One book. And a girl in the middle to complicate it. How will it end? With a twist.

The Book of Eli has a different feel than the Apocalypse films of late. The cause of the Apocalypse is never completely explained, and it is up to the audience to piece it together. The central theme of the movie is actually rather religious, but never preachy. The story was slow to develop at times, which lost some of the audience, but the initially slow story development was substituted by phenomenal character development. Eli is a deep and intriguing character and it takes the entire movie to completely reveal him. The variety of supporting characters are also done well. Hats off to the Hughes brothers for the directing. If I had one complaint, it was that the action scenes were a little too choreographed. Albeit this didn't bother me too much, because they were also extremely awesome.

All in all, this film was very well done. I recommend it. I will probably see it again in the theater. Enjoy.