Having watched “The Book of Eli” last night, on DVD, I wanted to share with you three reasons why you might consider checking it out for yourself.
Quick Review
First, though, you might appreciate a quick review of the movie because, let’s face it, we don’t all share the same taste.
“The Book of Eli” is a post-apocalyptic story about a man travelling across what was once America to deliver a book to those who might be trusted with the contents.
The film has a steady pace which rides quite close to the edge of being too slow… but, for me at least, never quite tips over. There is an undoubted commitment to excellent photography and a very definite mood to the piece. I loved the look and mood.
On top of that this is a character movie, with Eli himself (Denzel Washington) being wonderfully portrayed. The cast is excellent and not one of the characters is without a clear purpose in the story. It is, quite frankly, well written and well performed.
The main thing that you need warning about is that there is some pretty graphic violence, mostly involving swift and intense close combat scenes. That’s why it’s a 15-rating here in the UK. If you don’t like violence in film then this is not for you. That said, it’s not gratuitous and it’s not a dominant feature of the movie. This is no action flick.
So, why watch it?
Reason 1: It’s About Faith
Eli is carrying a book and, yes, it’s a spiritual quest. I don’t want to spoil all the surprises so I won’t get into the detail… but you need to know that Eli is carrying out what he believes to be his purpose before the God he serves.
There are some lovely scenes that stick in my mind and, again without trying to spoil the story, you should look out for the moments when a person’s spiritual values turn into actions which, in turn, help another person to initiate a personal change.
There are some strong moments that ring true to me in regard to how faith is transmitted and shared.
Reason 2: It’s About Knowledge
The book symbolises knowledge. More than that, it symbolises spiritual knowledge.
One of the big tensions in the film is between the people who wish to use spiritual knowledge as a means for control versus those who would value spiritual knowledge as a means to positive change and liberation.
Eli is trying to fulfil a mission which will, he hopes, lead to the relighting of civilisation… but also a move away from the worst aspects of our modern world. Others would seek to reimpose their own vision of order by using the knowledge to control the minds of their subjects.
One of my favourite lines echoes the idea that it is possible to use religious ideas to support any action that you choose by quoting from the “Holy Book”. How many times have you seen that enacted throughout history?
The antidote to this view is suggested when Eli realises that it is not enough to read the book. You need to act out what it teaches you, no matter the personal cost.
Reason 3: It’s Really Cool
On top of it all, this film is really cool. It looks wonderful and it feels just right – tense, dark, and hopeful.
There are some good twists in the tale, some nice surprises. Above all, it’s worth a look if you like stylish films with some purpose beyond just blowing stuff up.
Talking to my wife, who saw it with me, we felt that our patience with the story was richly rewarded at the end. We also found ourselves deeply challenged by the ideas shared.
What Challenged Me?
Most of the time a movie won’t necessarily make you think twice about how you live. This one, however, did.
For me, and this is just a personal view, I felt myself asking why I don’t read my Bible every day. I found myself wondering why there is a gap between what I read, and claim to understand, and what I actually do each day.
I found myself wondering if Eli’s actions are worthy of his quest… and that leads me to ask about my own actions.
Do I have a sense of purpose and direction? Do I trust that my God will guide and protect me?
Perhaps you’ll not quite feel the same way, depending on your own spiritual journey and ideas. Yet, if you like post-apocalyptic films with attitude, I wonder if you’ll find something of worth in this one.
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