Looking for a stupid movie today, the Spouse and I went to see The Book of Eli. It is not, in fact, a totally stupid movie. It makes some neat choices, and a lot of the acting is absolutely wonderful (oh, Denzel Washington, you always seem to go for the smaller, more interesting gesture...). One review I saw before hand said the last 20 minutes were utterly over the top, which I don't agree with--if you assume that there's a supernatural element to the movie (and they sure do make it plain there is such an element) then what happens at the end makes perfect sense--and they kind of set it up, which makes it fair. I rather enjoyed it.
Precis: Eli has a book. Carnegie wants it. It's a Bible; each feels it's a source of great power. Mayhem ensues.
On the other hand, it's a post-apocalyptic movie, and it makes a lot of the same dimwitted choices most post-apocalyptic movies make. Like: a butane lighter is an item of significant bartering power (much better, I thought, was that KFC handi-wipes were like gold--neat world-building) but there's enough gas for a vengeful caravan of armored SUVs?) And where the hell does everyone get their aviator sunglasses from (in Waterworld I kept wondering where the hell all the cool leather clothes came from, in a World Without Land and Cows... I mean, are there that many sharks in the world?). And. And. And.
It's one of those movies where part of the fun is going with a like-minded friend and muttering "Hey, wait a minute there--WTF?" If you like that sort of experience, go see it. Or wait for the DVD.
PS: Michael Gambon, Jane de La Tour, and Malcolm McDowell have wee tiny parts and have great amounts of fun.
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