Nearly 10 years since their Alan Moore graphic novel adaptation, From Hell, The Hughes Brothers return – evidently well rested and rejuvenated – to deliver their most enjoyable movie to date.
In a post apocalyptic land, Eli (Washington), a lone traveller, walks the ruined Earth. With him he carries the last remaining King James Bible; a provider of contentment for the weak-minded and a highly sought-after relic by those who have survived the end of the world as we know it. Carnegie (Oldman), a villainous head honcho of a rundown town, has been searching for the bible for many years, so when Eli turns up on his patch, Carnegie will do anything to get it.
The Book Of Eli is a movie straight out of the post-apocalypse boom of the late 70s/early 80s, only much, much slicker and coming equipped with some heavyweight acting talent (plus a list of ingenious and curious cameos of people from Tom Waits to Flashdances Jennifer Beals). The film mixes the classic, western-inspired lone warrior escapades of Mad Max with the shameless pretentions of The Postman, and as a result, The Book Of Eli comes across like a more jazzed up version of the recent Cormac McCarthy adaptation, The Road. And this is no bad thing…
With visuals to die for and action sequences that will leave you breathless, The Book Of Eli is a supremely entertaining movie that embraces its influences while breathing new life into the genre. And, if you feel the heavy-handed religious message during the final act is in danger of causing the film to fall apart, perhaps you shouldnt take it so seriously. After all, this is a post-apocalypse movie with a machete-wielding, cat-eating Denzel Washington for crying out loud.
Overall Verdict: A very cool and very slick post-apocalyptic yarn.
Special Features:
A Lost Tale: Billy Featurette
Behind The Story Featurette
Deleted/Alternate Scenes
The Book Of Eli Soundtrack
Reviewer: Lee Griffiths