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DVD (9)
The Hughes brothers' film feels more vibrant than the bleak Road, which was launched at us in November. Here the brothers show us the horror but somehow the staid and calm Denzel feels more approachable than the distraught and scrambling Viggo.
t's a post-apocalyptic western, it's an evangelical tract, it's a road movie, it's a martial arts movie, it's a disaster movie, it's a graphic novel. It's equal parts The Road and The Robe, A Fistful of Dollars and Fist of Fury. It's Mad Max meets Left Be
Washington doesn't look as if he's having much fun, and who can blame him?
I'm not going to give it away, but there's a final plot twist in this movie that is beyond absurd.
Really, it's just another prophet-in-the-wilderness tale -- not nearly as bad as those trailers would suggest, yet neither will your soul run any risk of enlightenment.
Allen and Albert Hughes have created a plausible post-apocalyptic world.
I sat down to The Book of Eli expecting a lecture, and was instead treated to a rollicking action film that evoked the manic ultra-violence of Mad Max rather than the sensitive study of humanity of The Road.
The prophet Denzel practices his preach in the post-apocalyptic western The Book of Eli. Jesus will not be pleased.
...a watchable endeavor that should please fans of the genre...
The Book of Eli was missing a few chapters.
While the movie has illusions of portentousness, it can - and should - be taken as a chance to see good actors having a little too much ultra-violent fun.
... this post-apocalyptic odyssey manages to bring a spiritual miracle journey to the secular world and deliver a payoff on both levels.
A crackpot blend of sadism and scriptures, and reeking with the raw scent of a fanatical fundamentalism in cool video game clothing.
A crackpot blend of sadism and scriptures, and reeking with the raw scent of a fanatical fundamentalism in cool video game clothing.
It's not a great film, but has moments of brilliance. Jennifer Beals is outstanding and the lack of heavy-handed religious grandstanding is a welcome touch.
Despite Denzel Washington turning in a trademark, charismatic performance underscored by appropriately monochromatic cinematography, the film is still surprisingly unengaging.
...given a chance, without thinking too much about its simplistic moralizing, it can provide a rousing good time in the action department. (Blu-ray Combo Edition)
...if you can't get enough of this postapocalyptic stuff,'The Book of Eli' isn't a bad addition to the genre.
"I'm not certain the shell-game resolution is worth the journey, but the picture is satisfactorily atmospheric and often challenging, perhaps even unintentionally chilling in its closing statement of devotion."
Its unusual ambition and thoughtfulness make it resonate a bit more than most slick studio action fare.
Coming hot on the heels of The Road, Eli is a far more conventional and formulaic vision of future hell.
Washington is always watchable and will hold your gaze during a highly ambitious but ultimately wonky attempt to inject spiritual depth into the blockbuster flock.
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