The Book Of Eli (Movie Review)

After seeing this Post-Apocalyptic movie by the Hughes Brothers, the first question I asked out loud was "How did this movie get through the Hollywood system?" More on that in a moment.

This movie takes place 30 years after "the flash", which we can assume is some form of nuclear holocaust. Eli, played by Denzel Washington, is traveling across the scorched landscape on a mission to deliver a book to an unknown destination in the west. He passes through a small "town" ruled by a local overlord named Carnegie, played by Gary Oldman. Carnegie is in search of a very specific book that he believes will give him the power to manipulate and control those around him like never before. Eli recognizes the potential for the book he carries to be used in that way, but also knows that in the right hands it will bring about goodness and restoration to the entire world.

Within the first 30 minutes or so, it becomes clear that this book is the Bible. You heard me right. The Bible.

First I should say that this probably isn't the movie you take your Lutheran grandmother to. But for fans of dark sci-fi like myself, this is a really good thing. This movie has some extremely brutal yet captivating fight sequences. They are almost the opposite of 300's slo-mo "bloody ballet". They are fast moving, messy and ruthless. Eli never once looks for a fight, but he is one of the most efficient killers I've ever seen at the box office.

There are also some great gun fights and explosive moments that sound terrific and are captured with fascinating camera angles and continuous shots that keep the action beats unpredictable.

Washington brings a thoughtful and subtle performance to his role. Despite being a flawless killer, he is also a soft-hearted everyman. Oldman reminds us how well he plays villains and makes me want to take a shower after looking at him for too long.

The color is a little washed out and the environments are dusty and scorched. The visual look of the movie creates a tone of desolation that put me perfectly in the bleak mood the directors intended.

This is a great post-Apocalyptic action flick. But it's also something significantly more.

Because the word "Bible" is only used once or twice near the end of the movie, the film can get away with talking about it quite a bit without feeling preachy. The film acknowledges two things that both Christians and non-Christians should consider. Firstly, it is indicated that the Bible can be used by people to manipulate others. It is even implied that the Bible was used by people to start the war that resulted in "the flash".

As Christians, we need to acknowledge that there are those among us, leaders and laymen alike, who twist the words of scripture to gain power or praise. We can't shrug this off and pretend it is insignificant. We have some housecleaning to do among our own.

Secondly, this film singles out the Bible as unique in its ability to change lives and the very foundation of society for the better, worldwide. Despite showing the Bible on a shelf with the Torah and Koran near the end of the movie, there is an inescapable uniqueness the movie gives to the Bible. And although today popular culture seeks to blend the Bible in with other religious texts, it is undeniable that the Bible has proven far more influential worldwide over the years. It is a book that demands fair-minded examination more than any other.

These two realities regarding the Bible make this movie an easy starting point for extremely worthwhile conversation. This is true whether you are a Christian or not. It's a shame that many Christians will avoid this movie simply because of it's R rating. If your dedication and obedience to Christ will not be compromised by movie violence and hearing some harsh language, I'd recommend buying a ticket for a non-Christian friend and seeing this movie together. Then prepare for some great conversation on the drive home.

Rated R for some brutal violence and language.

Quality: 9.5/10

Relevance: 9.0/10