A while back I saw the first advertisement for The Book of Eli. Now if you are like me, then the first thing that came to mind was, “A Road Warrior-esque, Denzel Washington movie with religious undertones? Fascinating.” (If you are not like me then you at least thought, “What was that?”, or, “I wonder what book it is?” Not everyone thinks like me and this is a good thing that we should thank God for! Anyway.) I was intrigued. However, I did not know what to expect. While most movies give away too much in the trailers, this one seemed to give too little. In spite of this, I decided to see the movie this past Friday. I am writing to tell you this: This is a great movie!
STORY
The Book of Eli is set some thirty years after a cataclysmic war that has left America (if not the whole world) scorched and cratered. The story centers around a lone wanderer named Eli (Denzel Washington). He believes that God has given him a mission. He is to protect a Bible and travel west until he finds a safe place for it. This is not just any Bible; it is the last Bible. Eli endures hellish environmental conditions, scarcity, cannibalistic brigands and marauding motorcycle gangs on his journey across the vast, dead wasteland that was the USA. While stopped in a small town, Eli meets the despotic Carnegie (Gary Oldman). Carnegie controls the town through fear with the help of a large group of thugs. He is one of the few literate people in the town and understands the power of books. He constantly sends groups into the wasteland with the task of looking for them. Carnegie’s ultimate goal is to find one particular book: a Bible (the plot thickens). He believes that he can use it to control people and expand his territory. When Carnegie witnesses Eli fight some of his men, he offers him a job. Eli declines, but Carnegie sends a young girl named Solara (Mila Kunis) to seduce him and get him to stay. Solara sees Eli’s Bible and is later forced to tell Carnegie about it. This revelation leads to open warfare between Eli and Carnegie’s forces. As Eli continues west, joined by Solara, Carnegie and his men give chase across the barren, desolate desert.
REVIEW
First, let me answer this question: “Is this a Christian movie?” NO. I answer that way for three reasons. First, there is language. That is not to say that they cuss so much that it becomes almost like background noise. The language is few and far between (as I remember it). That is to say that when a character cusses you notice it because it is not the norm. As a side note, I am fairly confident that Eli does not cuss. However, he does kill a lot of people. And that brings me to the second thing. The movie is violent. It is brutal. Eli is not afraid to take someone apart to defend the Bible (his weapon of choice is a razor sharp dagger, so sometimes this is very literal!). However, the violence is no where close to movies such as Saving Private Ryan. It is more like a Die Hard movie in regards to violence. Third, and most importantly, this movie does not contain the gospel. What do I mean? Allow me to get on my soapbox for a moment: At no point in time is the name Jesus even mentioned. If they don’t even say Jesus’ name (THE PERSON THE ENTIRE BIBLE IS ABOUT!) ,then there is no way the gospel is present. Why? Jesus IS the gospel! Now, I do not know the religious beliefs of the directors or Denzel. If they are not believers then I can understand the lack of the gospel. I should not expect people who do not believe the gospel to endorse it in their movies. But come on! It is a movie about the Bible! Can’t the risen Lord of the Universe get at least an honorable mention! Johnny Cash is referenced but not Jesus?! I’m not hatin’ on the Boy Named Sue ,but he ain’t the Son Called Immanuel. OK, I’m off the soapbox now. At this point you might be wondering, “I thought he said this was a great movie?” I did say that, and it is. There are four things that make this movie great. One, good characters. In particular Denzel’s Eli and Oldman’s Carnegie are great (Oldman does come across sometimes as a Jack Nicholson impersonator, but even then he is still great). You slowly begin to realize that Eli does not act like everyone else. He is kind. He does not take want he does not need. He could easily be the baddest dude in the desert, but he tries to avoid fighting. He does not want to kill anyone, but he will if he is forced to. By the end of the movie you are actively rooting for him (and he blows your mind in the end!). Carnegie is the exact opposite. He is evil and ruthless. The only reason he has power is because of his thugs. He kind of reminds you of a really sketchy preacher. The two characters play off each other very well. Also, Jennifer Beals plays Claudia, Carnegie’s blind concubine (yes, concubine.). It is a minor role but she has some powerful moments, especially at end. Two, the story is intense and moving. I was on the edge of my seat several times (3 words: dagger versus chainsaw). There is plenty of action and suspense. By the end of the movie, I admit that I shed a tear or two(people who know me will not be surprised by this). I cannot tell you why because it is the ending and the ending makes you say, “Whoa!! That is A-ma-zing!!” It is very satisfying when you get there. Three, it is thought provoking. Seriously, haven’t you ever wondered what you do in a situation like this (Well, I have). I mean would you be like Eli, who is the closest thing to a Christian in the movie, or would you just try to survive? If you had the last Bible on earth, what would you do to protect it? Would you march across hell to preserve it? Seriously, its the Bible. People die for it everyday. When is the last time you or me really suffered anything for the Word of God? Just a thought. Four, the story revolves around a Bible. Think about that. How many major motion pictures focus on the idea that God’s Word is powerful and worthy of preservation? I can only think of one minor example. In The Day After Tomorrow, an atheist (yes, an atheist) saves a copy of the Gutenburg Bible from the frozen remains of New York. That was only one character and not the thrust of the whole movie. The Book of Eli is centered on the Bible. The entire story is driven by the Bible. Carnegie wants to use it and Eli wants to protect it. I do not want to get into to many details, but this is clear in the movie: God’s Word is powerful and He will preserve it!
So, The Book of Eli is not a Christian movie, but it is still a great movie. If you can handle the violence and language (there is no nudity if you were wondering), then I highly recommend it to anyone old enough to see it. If you are like me, then you will walk out of the theater with this on your mind: “All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:6b-8 (ESV). Four out of five stars.
The Sligh Family 