Back again my loyal legion of readers
and welcome to Day 2 of Hodgepodge Sci-fi. I thought we'd get right
into one of the world's most common of science fiction, the post
apocalypse. Now this normally ranges from anything to: zombie
infestation, nuclear war, plague, meteor strike or Gaea getting
stropy. Whatever the case may be it is once again follows the
mentality of those in the right and those of might. This time
around the story focuses on one man and what his goal means to the
world. This is Book of Eli.
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| Hmm, Apocalypse or New Mexico? |
Thirty years later... the world has
taken a turn for the worse after the nuclear war that somehow
statistically did not wipe out every last living thing. I mean I am
just crunching the numbers on 180 megatons a single ICBM
(Intercontinental Ballistic Missile), let alone the
thousands of them that inhabit our world but I suppose suspending
disbelief is in order. A lone wanderer, Eli (Denzel Washington of
St. Elsewhere, Glory, Training Day, Man on Fire, Inside Man and
American Gangster) moves on foot across the west coast of the US.
Showing an impressive array of fighting skills, hunting and survival,
it is completely feasible that this once decent soul probably never
raised a hand in anger but now must adapt to his ruined world. In
order to live, he may resort to killing those that would stop him
from his quest. While seeking water he encounters more than a fair
share of cannibalistic marauders and dispatches them like the
wrathful hand of God.
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| The face of freedom. |
Making his way to a tattered town lead
by a man name of Carnegie (Gary Oldman of Rosecrantz &
Guildenstern Are Dead, Dracula, Leon: The Professional, Air Force
One, Batman Begins and Robocop) also a literate man in a time
that is almost a return to the dark ages. Carnegie sends his pack of
men out into the wastes in search of a specific book that will
provide him the words to motivate and reign over his people. With
the best intentions, Carnegie feels he can bring order and right to
the world and well folks, that is just not how it works and
presumption tends to bite you in the ass 9 out of 10 times.
Meanwhile in the local watering hole, Eli is jumped by a biker gang
and they too meet the way of his blade and hand-to-hand fighting.
Carnegie finds a kinship to Eli and tries to keep him in town to
better it but Eli simply asks for a place to rest if he may.
Making his daughter Solara (Mila
Kunis of That '70s Show, Family Guy, Black Swan and Ted)
subservient to Eli's needs, she is made aware that not all men view
women as a form of entertainment and hears Eli's prayers over the
bounty of dinner providing him the strength to continue his quest.
Solara shares this prayer with her blind mother Claudia (Jennifer
Beals of Flashdance, Vampire's Kiss, Four Rooms, The L Word and
Lauren) when Carnegie hears and recognizes it wanting the
book for himself to keep his town under his yoke. Will Eli be able
to continue his quest of carrying the word of God? Can Carnegie
create a utopia through force?
A few comments about the movie now.
This post-apocalypse sci-fi western brings a Mad Max/ Blood of Heroes
vibe with a positive message that humanity can rise above their petty
wants for the betterment of humanity. Denzel Washington did all
his own hand-to-hand stunts and blade work via Bruce Lee's former
student Dan Inosanto. This is one of the few movies that simply
eludes to the war and does not give huge disclosure of the world that
was aside from a few stories.
Oakely got enough screen time with the
backpack and sunglasses Washington is toting and Dr. Dre's Beats
headphones got a fair amount of being seen. No I do not feel there
was too much product placement as much as most A list films commonly
do. Take a peek on a Woody Allen or Mike Nichols flick and note how
much merchandise pushed on you.
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| Traffic's light today. |
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