The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman) Grading & Discussion

[Bob The Skutter]

Re: The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman) Grading & Discuss

Bloody hell Bob, 63 films!! I have a Cineworld Card and I saw about 24 last year! So long as you get to see 2 a month it still works out cheaper though, and I am going to try and make more of an effort this year. As one of my friends puts it, even if you only see two films a month you at least don't feel so ripped off when you see an awful film. I've certainly gone to see films I wouldn't have bothered with otherwise, and its always handy for a cheap night out.

Yeah, I've got a couple of mates with the cards too, so I often see the same film twice or just go see anything they fancy even if I don't myself... Sometimes it's surprising what you like and what you don't.

I often take my nieces too but I think that'll happen less now they're becoming teenagers and going with their friends. Maybe start taking my nephew in a couple of years time...

Yeah the way I see it the more I see the better deal it is, so even if I see some crap films it just means overall it cost me less to see the good films...

 

[TheSeeker]

Re: The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman) Grading & Discuss

Just saw it last night and thought it was great. I really enjoyed it.

 

[Lt. Trull]

Re: The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman) Grading & Discuss

I did also... Loved malcom.... totally unexpected seeing him...

 

[Base_Delta_Zero]

Re: The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman) Grading & Discuss

Well aside from the heavy handed religious message and the awful product placement, I quite enjoyed it. There was nothing really to set it apart from the average post apocolyptic film really, although I thought Denzel Washington was very good in it (as was Oldman) the pair of them alone raised it up a notch.

The end was just ridiculous though, I'm not religious enough to have got the Eli reference but the reveal...well it didn't make a lot of sense, although I guess it does explain his bravado when faced with enemies. And was Eli really a good person? The abiding message of the film seemed to be that God's message was more important than protecting the weak.

Best bits?

The Boy and his Dog poster, wonderful touch that that only one other poster seems to have picked up on (and I'm not sure if they realise it was a real film--apoologies if you did)

Dumbledore and Miss Jones from Rising Damp as crazy canibals, dear lord that was worth the price of admission alone.

Some good action sequences.

Anyway, good solid actioner let down somewhat by the heavy handed message it was peddling (although they at least balanced it somewhat, Oldman's assertion that the bible is a weapon had more resonanance for me as an agnostic/athiest (I'm on the cusp). I enjoyed it but probably won't end up on my shelf.

That was me and I didn't think it was an actual movie. Nice to know.

Along the line of what you mention here, the only part of the film I just didn't care for was Eli's hiding while the bikers raped and murdered the woman on the road. Based on what Eli is shown to be capable of, taking down those three/four losers would have been cake.

I get that it was supposed to be part of his focus on the Path to the exclusion of following the Path bit he eventually overcomes, but I found it undermined his character a little too much. Either he believes in his ability to kick ass and take names or he doesn't. Certainly, wiping out the bikers before he got to town would have been better than getting in a burly brawl when confronting them in the bar.

And this came after the overpass ambush, where he took down twice as many guys. I get what the intent was but I didn't like it. Maybe rearranging the scenes (bikers, then overpass) would have helped, I don't know.

 

[Trekker4747]

Re: The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman) Grading & Discuss

Maybe I've grown acustomed to it but I didn't think the product-placement in this movie was all that bad. Sure, at times it was obvious but the KFC wetnap I chuckled at because I have a ton of those things myself laying around the house. Everything else, sure, was a bit obvious (Busch Beer, Motorola) but not out of place. Certainly not as bad as Will Smith's character donning decades old shoes and remarking, "Wow! Reebox shoes from 1999!" I mean if we're going to grumble over people using objects in movies with logos on them then why does no one ever grumble over the Ghostbuster's support of the Sunshine Biscuit Corporation?

On the movie, Oldman just didn't do anything for me in it. He can be a good actor most of the time but in many scenes in this movie he just seemed to be hamming it up. When he was walking with the favor he reminded me of Zorg from The Fifth Element, then when he opens the Bible and starts to laugh I half-expected him to lose his shit like he did when he opened the case with the stones in it in T5thE.

Again, he's a good actor and he did some good things in this movie, but he was also a bit hammy in it. Denzel, however, was just awesome. Loved his delivery of the Johnny Cash line.

 

[Starkers]

Re: The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman) Grading & Discuss

Yeah it did seem odd, although I guess he only kicked arse when he was attacked--perhaps whatever power was guiding him would only kick in in self defence?

I thought The Boy and his Dog was better known, although it's been years since I've seen it. It is one messed up film but really cool and features a very young Don Johnson!

 

[stonester1]

Re: The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman) Grading & Discuss

Also, those guys had guns, and combat against guns, even for him, was always chancier. As others have observed, he only acted in self defense, ie when his back was to the wall.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Re: The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman) Grading & Discuss

Also, those guys had guns, and combat against guns, even for him, was always chancier. As others have observed, he only acted in self defense, ie when his back was to the wall.

Yup. When the shopkeeper pulled the shotgun on him, Eli could've easily killed him and taken whatever he wanted. But instead, he snatched the gun just long enough to make a point. He never killed needlessly--only in the defense of himself and other innocents.

 

[Star Wolf]

Re: The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman) Grading & Discuss

Along the line of what you mention here, the only part of the film I just didn't care for was Eli's hiding while the bikers raped and murdered the woman on the road. Based on what Eli is shown to be capable of, taking down those three/four losers would have been cake.

I get that it was supposed to be part of his focus on the Path to the exclusion of following the Path bit he eventually overcomes, but I found it undermined his character a little too much. Either he believes in his ability to kick ass and take names or he doesn't. Certainly, wiping out the bikers before he got to town would have been better than getting in a burly brawl when confronting them in the bar.

And this came after the overpass ambush, where he took down twice as many guys. I get what the intent was but I didn't like it. Maybe rearranging the scenes (bikers, then overpass) would have helped, I don't know.

He was too far away when the bikers murdered the family for their books. At this point of the movie we did not know the Eli had spiritual protection he was just another action hero. I din't pick up on God protecting Eli until Carnegie's Captain and the sniper missed in the town shootout scene

Yeah it did seem odd, although I guess he only kicked arse when he was attacked--perhaps whatever power was guiding him would only kick in in self defence?

Not entriely true, Eli could have kept walking when the rape gang capture Solara. But by then we, the audience and Eli, knew her as a person. Also since Solara went on to go on a walk of her own after the publishing of the Book perhaps God did extend His protection to a new apostle/prophet

 

[Trekker4747]

Re: The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman) Grading & Discuss

Not entriely true, Eli could have kept walking when the rape gang capture Solara. But by then we, the audience and Eli, knew her as a person. Also since Solara went on to go on a walk of her own after the publishing of the Book perhaps God did extend His protection to a new apostle/prophet

Eli says when they're in the cannibals' home that he and Solara would be protected. Perhaps he "knew" she needed to be protected or she needed to be protected for some reason dealing with the survival of The Bible.

As for him not protecting the woman from the rape, it wasn't clear to me why he didn't. Maybe there was simply no viable or easy way he could get into the action in time to save the woman or saving her wasn't part of "his path."

 

[Lt. Trull]

Re: The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman) Grading & Discuss

The Book of eli
Sequel
The Book of solara

 

[Trekker4747]

Re: The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman) Grading & Discuss

The Book of eli
Sequel
The Book of solara

It seemed to be wanting to set that up but I'm not sure what they could do with it or if Kunis could pull it off.

 

[Lt. Trull]

Re: The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman) Grading & Discuss

The Book of eli
Sequel
The Book of solara

It seemed to be wanting to set that up but I'm not sure what they could do with it or if Kunis could pull it off.

I don't know either... it's hard not to think of her as that prissy bitch from that seventys show...
instead of somebody who can whield that sword as well as eli did in this movie... her samuri skills have to improve...

ya know... after watching the book of eli... and the road...
I'm glad I have several sets of samuri and midevil swords in my collection... it looks like i'll need them...

 

[Trekker4747]

Re: The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman) Grading & Discuss

The Book of eli
Sequel
The Book of solara

It seemed to be wanting to set that up but I'm not sure what they could do with it or if Kunis could pull it off.

I don't know either... it's hard not to think of her as that prissy bitch from that seventys show...
instead of somebody who can whield that sword as well as eli did in this movie... her samuri skills have to improve...

She may also need to learn to read.

I hated her chracter (Jackie) in That 70s Show, she grated. But the actress in this movie impressed me and I think she did a pretty good job overall and I actualy found her more attractive than I ever did during T70sS.