The Book Of Eli - My Thoughts

I watched The Book of Eli with expectations of feasting my eyes before an all-out action movie. I didn't expect it to be... well, moving. I didn't have a chance to look at plot summaries so I was expecting something entirely different. As it turned out, it was better than I hoped for.

The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world after "the war" that caused unsurpassed damage to the environment. Eli talks about a hole in the sky that burned the surface of the earth and made the surface unlivable for some years. He recounted how he had wandered after going back to the surface, finding the book under ruins after heeding "a voice" inside of him that guided him. The book, the last of its kind, is the last known Bible of his world. He recounted how people destroyed all other copies because they blamed it for causing "the war". He held on to that book until the very near end of the movie, showing dedication in keeping it safe from other people who may wish to destroy it or use is for other-than-good intentions.

With the world around him so desolate, Eli appears like a post-apocalyptic prophet, guide by his faith and only by that faith's purpose. He confessed to walking for the last 30 years, not knowing his destination, only following the voice inside of him. There are scenes in the movie that are violent, least to say, but it comes across as a means-to-an-end justification as the movie progresses.

The final twist, which will amaze you, reveals itself when the Book is taken from him. Eli gave it up to save a life, was mortally wounded and continued to walk “west”. The Book was taken by the antagonist, was later unlocked and it revealed what Eli truly was. Eli reached his destination, and all was revealed. He did not need the physical book. He knew the words by heart and he found a way to preserve it by passing on his knowledge.

Though the Book is a Bible and Eli clearly professes his religious leanings throughout the film, it doesn't come across as proselytizing. The emphasis is on his faith as a man and what his faith enabled him to accomplish. It would not have been as great except for what was revealed near the end. I won't do a spoiler, so I guess you'll have to watch the movie to find out how that came to be. But I can say that The Book of Eli will be worth your while. Very worth your while.