A Movie Review: Book of Eli

"Book of Eli." Another post-apocalyptic story, which follows "The Road" and "2012."

SPOILERS!!!

Eli (Denzel Washington) is heading west with the Bible (we learn that this is the only Bible known to man as the Bible was ordered destroyed since people felt that the influence of the Bible had caused the war, which we as the audience now witness the aftermath). The world around him is desolate. It is essentially the wild west out there with small, chiefdom towns scattered across the U.S. In his travels, he runs into various street criminals who loot and rape.

He comes across a small town run by Carnegie (Gary Oldman). Eli finds himself not welcomed in the local bar. A fight breaks out, which leaves more than a couple individuals dead. Carnegie finds this intriguing and wishes for Eli to stay in town. Eli isn't persuaded as he wishes to continue heading west. Carnegie attempts to persuade Eli by sending him his step-daughter, Solara (Mila Kunis), as a prostitute. Eli refuses; however, Solara uncovers the fact that Eli is carrying the Bible with him. Carnegie is in search of the Bible. He wishes to use the Bible at a means of religious control.

And so we get to the thrust of the movie. Eli feels he is called by God to head West. Carnegie wants the Bible to control the population. Eli escapes town. And Solara, encouraged by her mother (Jennifer Beals), joins him -- via a bit of persistence. They are chased down by Carnegie and his gang. (There is a bit of a humorous plot twist here that I won't give away in full. Eli and Solara come across a house occupied by an elderly couple. Much fun, in a sick way.) Carnegie leaves Eli for dead and carries Solara and the Bible back with him. Solara is not some push over girl and manages to take control of one of the vehicles. She returns to get Eli. Carnegie, having what he wants and not having the fuel to give chase, let's her go. Solara finds Eli, not dead, pushing onwards. And so the head onwards to San Francisco where another lovely plot twist occurs.

I enjoyed this movie. Well made. Dark. And if it does well enough at the box office, maybe there will be a sequel with Mila Kunis leading the charge . . .