‘Book of Eli’ is cinematically epic

Thirty years after “the flash” tore a hole in the sky, destroying much of life on Earth, a survivor walks alone on a deserted road.

To survive, Eli, played by Denzel Washington, relies on a small, but versatile arsenal of weapons: a customized machete, a pistol, a bow and arrow and a sawed-off shotgun. Washington was trained to perform his own fight sequences in this movie.

The first fight scene is unique because all that is seen is black silhouettes contrasting against the barren background.

The villain in the movie is Carnegie, a small-town crime boss, played by Gary Oldman. Oldman plays a convincing part as a good guy forced to bad things because of the conditions after “the flash.” Carnegie tells Eli he can either hand the book over or be killed for it.

The following gunfight leaves many of Carnegie’s men dead, Carnegie wounded while Eli walks westward miraculously unharmed.

Solara, played by Mila Kunis, follows Eli out of town because her mother Claudia, played by Jennifer Beals, believes it would be safer for Solara on the road than to be in the same town with Carnegie. Carnegie and his remaining men pursue Eli and Solara through the bleak landscape, catch up to them, and a final gun battle erupts.

I thoroughly enjoyed the cinematic experience “The Book of Eli” gave its audience because unlike many Hollywood movie productions today this movie had a very positive message at the end.

There are strong Christian overtones laced throughout the story line and dialogue.  These messages tugged at my heart and made me think about what the movie was really trying to say. Days later, I am still pondering its meaning.

If I had the money, I would see it a third time.
★★★★☆