Eye Candy #430 - "The Book of Eli"

The Book of Eli:  Another grimy post-apocalyptic vision of America.  Thirty years after a war responsible for environmental catastrophe, Eli (Denzel Washington) makes his way across the United States, carrying with him the only extant copy of the King James Bible, driven by what he believes is the word of God.  Along the way, he has to fight marauders and bandits, eventually coming to a ramshackle town ruled by Carnegie (Gary Oldman), who is in search of a copy of the Bible as well, to use as a tool to increase his power base.  As Eli won’t willingly part with it, Carnegie tries various methods to “acquire” it, including trying to kill Eli and whoring out the daughter of his mistress, Solara (played by Mila Kunis, nicely against type).  Solara ends up bonding with Eli instead and helps him complete his quest to get to the west coast where he believes the book will be safe.  Ray Stevenson and Michael Gambon are here in almost worthless roles that give neither much to do.  This is only the fourth theatrical feature for Allen and Albert Hughes (of “Menace II Society” fame).  Some nicely staged action set pieces here, including a gunfight at a farmhouse where the camera swoops in and out of the house as the bullets whiz by and the fight scenes where Eli faces off against various bandits.  Still, not nearly as profound as it desires to be and as with many apocalyptic future stories, light on background exposition.  Still for a time waster, it works.  I’d give this 3 ½ stars out of 5.  Watch it on a double bill with "The Road" and get real depressed.  Woodchuck sez, “You may like this.”