The Book of Eli (2010)

The Book of Eli (2010)

by Eric Maus

“I need that book, I want that book, I want you to stay, but if you make me have to choose, I'll kill you and take that book.”

      Living in the abundant times that we do, we often take simple things for granted. Good food, clean water, shelter, friends, safety, even the Word of God. Today, there are millions upon millions of Bibles in print, and people everywhere enjoy soaking in the scriptures, without ever contemplating a world without Bibles. What would be the condition of society without God’s Word to guide us? This film gives us that very scenario, in a very intense, moving, stylistic, and powerful way.

   Set in a post-apocalyptic future, in a world scarcely populated by the few survivors of a nuclear holocaust. In that war, a hole was torn in the atmosphere, causing heavy radiation to scour the surface of earth, blinding those who walk in it’s light without shades of some sort. Thieves hide under crumbling bridges, waiting for anyone unlucky enough to pass by, cannibals prey upon the weak, and thugs band together to serve men like the powerful Carnegie, ruler of a small village of survivors. When loner Eli comes into town, he is attacked in a bar, and expertly defends himself. Carnegie is impressed, and invites Eli to join his gang. Eli declines, and makes it clear that he is only passing through. When Carnegie discovers that Eli has in his possession the only surviving copy of the Bible, he is determined to claim the book as his own. Eli, on the other hand, is determined to keep the copy safe, and to accomplish the task assigned to him by God. He will do whatever it takes, even if that means killing those that oppose him.

   The Book of Eli (rated R for strong violence and language) is an impressive film, from a technical standpoint. The cinematography is very creative, especially during the many battle scenes. The style this film offers, a very gritty, serious one, is maintained throughout. The acting is also incredible. Award-winning Denzel Washington plays the part of our protagonist Eli, and does a fantastic job, delivering a stellar and solid performance. Mila Kunis stars in the leading female role Solara, and does equally well. Gary Oldman is Carnegie, and the power-hungry tyrant he portrays seems alive. The plot that drives this film, while not extremely complex, has its twists, and definitely keeps us engaged until the very last scene.

   This film does an excellent job of showing us a world without the Word of God to lead and guide us. Tyrants, thugs, thieves, rapists, and cannibals roam the land, doing as they please, taking what they want. It’s a dog eat dog world, kill or be killed, survival of the fittest. However, while we see the total depravity of man, we also see that good remains alive, in the hearts of many, such as Eli, Solara, and others. Eli, entrusted to deliver the last copy of the Bible to a location unknown to him, lives by what he reads in the sacred words. However, Carnegie knows the power of the Bible. He says, “I grew up with that book, I know its power.” He sees the Scriptures as merely something to keep him in control, and is willing to kill Eli to get it. Eli, on the other hand, kills to protect it. Some would say this an un-Christian representation of the way we should treat others. Should the key to our problems be splitting the other guy’s head open with a machete? Well, think about it. While turning the other cheek and to loving our enemies are things we should be doing as Christians, there are situations where these things are not options. God gives us many things that we are responsible for, that we need to protect; our families, for instance. If a psychopath is harming your family, you don’t read him Matthew 6 and tell him about the six steps to salvation, or whatever. No, you protect what God has given you to protect. The same applies with The Book of Eli. God commanded Eli to protect the Bible, and Eli does so to the best of his ability. He never attacks anyone without cause; quite the contrary. He takes action only when he has a duty to do so, when the Bible or a fellow human being is in danger. The character of Eli is both masculine and Christian.

   While this film does have one minor flaw (which I can’t describe without giving away the ending), the positive aspects of this film outweigh the negative. Remember, this movie isn’t your clean, shining family-friendly picture, but it offers something many clean, shining family-friendly pictures don’t; a strong Christian worldview.