Capsule: "The Book of Eli"

"Ooo."

The best thing I could have possibly done before seeing this was having no expectations. Oh, I must recommend "The Book of Eli" by the Hughes Brothers. But if you've read anything else, or want to know what this baby's about, cut it out. Before you possibly read this capsule, stop here. I can't condone spoiling a good thing, which is what would happen I you read on. So go see it. You'll be pleasantly surprised, I hope. It's worth going to a theater to see.

So close your eyes. Stop now.

Don't read.

OK. See it?

Good.

"The Book of Eli" is a pleasant January surprise. A visual symphony of Deific proportions, this is a post-apocalyptic tale about Religion, and the best ways for it to survive. This is Eli's parable, about religion and its importance in the hands of its users. Or rather, Denzel protects the only surviving bible 30 years after "the flash." Now, I realize for many, religion is either very high or very low on the list of things that need to be saved after the nuclear holocaust. But, "Eli," in its escapist wisdom, presents organized religion in a way that's important. Fact is, scripture cut from all clothes should be preserved as classical literature. And, Washington and the Hughes with a little help from Gary Whitta's easy, quick, script present religion as both a destructive and saving force. So there. It's neither too reverent nor rejecting. "Book of Eli" was exciting and adventurous, but thoughtful in the end.

Surprise!

- Seriously, I didn't have any expectation going in, and that made this all the better. Ignore expectation with matters religious, and you'll possibly hear what this movie's saying.

- "Eli" presents sumptuous and savory images of a post-apocalyptic world. The Hughes have damn good eyes.

- There is a huuuuge, implausible twist in the end. Huge. But, it plays out so nicely, that I actually think I works quite well. It tricked me enough that I must watch the film again.