Denzel Washington plays the role of Eli, A lone warrior wandering in a post-apocalyptic wasteland that was once America, and all I can think about in the opening scenes is that it looks just like Fallout 3.
Well, Fallout 3 with sweet photo realistic Hi Def graphics.
It’s not Fallout 3 however, but it does feel familiar to the gamer in me. The imagery is saturated with a surreal glare that gives off an otherworldly feel. You know that the end of the world wasn’t a pleasant experience.
The desolation is stunning in detail but stripped bare of any sense of life form, besides Eli, who occasionally stops to rummage through the wreckage of humanity for some thing useful, often fining nothing but a place to sleep at night.
The feeling of total annihilation is enhanced by the severe lack of any dialogue – at the most Eli whispers, mumbles to himself, but with no companion, there is little need to waste energy talking.
Don’t worry, Eli soon encounters people, but as in the previously mentioned game, the people Eli encounters are feral, and only want for the taste of human flesh. Seemingly outnumbered, Eli transforms instantly from the meek wandering into an energised killing machine that has no sympathy for those who would get in the way of his mission.
That’s right, Eli has a higher calling in life, though he’s not sure what, but he will protect the book in his possession with his life.
I could say a lot more about The Book Of Eli, but I don;t want to. I don’t want to run the risk of hinting at any spoilers, because this is the perfect film to come into knowing very little about.
Eli does encounter more trouble along his way, and the action is furious at times, but for the most part you’ll enjoy just being on the journey with Eli, desperately wanting to discover what his mission is, why his book is so important, and how it will all finish.
You will of course fool yourself into thinking you’ve got the story figured out, but believe me, you’ll be wrong. And believe me as well when i tell you that this is one of the most satisfying celluloid journeys you will ever experience. FILMGUIDE rating: Reviewed by: Jonathan Read Release date: August 25th, 2010 Stars: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson, Jennifer Beals, Frances de la Tour, Michael Gambon, Malcolm McDowell, Tom Waits Length (Minutes): 117 Languages: English, Spanish, Catalan Subtitles: Danish, English (UK), Finnish, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Spanish (Castilian), Swedish Supported Audio: Dolby Digital Surround 5.1 Director: Hughes, Albert Studio: Sony Pictures
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