This is a post ive actually wanted to make for quite awhile as the book of eli has been on my five greatest movies ever made list ever since i saw it it currently stands at number three. The book of eli takes us to a painful place a place where humanity loses its humanness. The book of eli its brutal content is not for all tastes, but this thoughtful action movie finds denzel washington protecting the last copy of a very important book. The book of eli is a story about a post nuclear fallout america where anarchy is the norm and survival is hardearned. In the movie the book of eli we discover at the end that the bible eli has been carrying the entire movie is written in braille. Perhaps that plot is fuel for controversy, but the hughes brothers dont mind letting that one slip. Mixed in with the violence and sepiatones is one giant religious symbol that we just had to quiz. An intense and thoughtprovoking novel, eli strips away religious tradition to present jesus fresh and unvarnished. Books are scarce since apparently many people believed religion was the cause of the desolation, and so all religious books were destroyed.
Jul 20, 2014 spoilers ahead the movies 4 years old, but just in case. Dec 18, 2011 god spoke to eli to find the book,bible, and transport it to a safe haven. That background might render the book of eli controversial for some religious literalists. The ugly get uglier and humanity splits into the hunters and the hunted. Basically, the book of eli is a film that not only requires you to suspend your disbelief, but also your intelligence, worldview and your sensitivity. In the nottoodistant future, some 30 years after the final war, a solitary man walks across the wasteland that was once america. Especially just after watching the road, a film that, to me, seemed to be a much more gripping post apocalyptic tale. The book of eli kindle edition by moffie, sam, bastiens.
The book of eli is a 2010 american postapocalyptic neowestern action film directed by the hughes brothers, written by gary whitta, and starring denzel washington, gary oldman, mila kunis, ray stevenson, and jennifer beals. The book of eli kindle edition by moffie, sam, bastiens, devra. How was that guy practically invincible when they shot him. Eli wears dark sunglasses, as blind people often do. At first glance, the book of eli appears to be just another violent postapocalyptic film from hollywood. Redridge recovers the book, with a locked flap, and gives it to carnegie, who releases solara. It is the best christian movie i have ever seen despite the fact that im sure the writers werent really looking for it. Jan 14, 2010 eli is hebrew for my god, and the bibles eli was the teacher of samuel, a great prophet.
The title is a reference to both the book that eli carries, and the fact that the book he carries is, in fact, the bible. However, the violence and language is too much for families. The two mountains were used to symbolize the significance of the. The story revolves around eli, a nomad in a postapocalyptic world, who is told by a voice to deliver his copy of a. Christianity and the book of eli believe it or not.
Eli s primary motivation is faith, which is why he protects the book at all costs, believes his journey is a pilgrimage order by god, and is immune to all harm while he carries the book. The book of eli is a strong story about a godfearing man determined to obey the will of the lord. However, the book of judges always mentions the years of oppression in contrast to the period of a judges dispensation. The book of eli can obviously be a very meaningful piece of cinema for christians, and there is no reason to rob that group of that meaning, but. The book of eli stars denzel washington as a lone wanderer, making his away across a postnuclear holocaust america, scavenging and scraping to survive and well adept at it. Only a christian flick to dogmatic believers, says the films codirector allen hughes. Eli whitney, american inventor, mechanical engineer, and manufacturer, best remembered as the inventor of the cotton gin but most important for developing the concept of mass production of interchangeable parts.
Dec 05, 2011 this is a post ive actually wanted to make for quite awhile as the book of eli has been on my five greatest movies ever made list ever since i saw it it currently stands at number three. Eli is best remembered for his blessing on samuels mother and for his part in samuels first prophecy. Carnegie now wants the authority that the political power that possessing the bible and interpreting its meaning would give him. Feb 11, 2010 bishop barron comments on the book of eli spoilers. A warrior not by choice but necessity, eli denzel washington. The hughes brothers book of eli isnt all postapocalyptic samurai sword. Carnegie threatens to kill solara, to the dismay of redridge. Alcon entertainments action adventure film the book of eli is a warner bros. The book of eli is a 2010 american postapocalyptic neowestern action film directed by the hughes brothers, written by gary whitta, and starring denzel washington, gary. The hughes brothers are happy to tell you that the book in the book of eli is the bible.
Official site of the week magazine, offering commentary and analysis of the days breaking news and current events as well as arts. In the new postapocalyptic thriller the book of eli, denzel. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Bishop barron comments on the death of billy graham duration. The medium conjures up the spirit of samuel, who isnt. Where the road is a thoughtful art film based on a pulitzer prizewinning novel, eli is more of a popcorn action. The secular faith of book of eli film school rejects. Spoilers ahead the movies 4 years old, but just in case. Jan 15, 2010 the book of eli has an incredible biblical message, which tells the story of elis unwavering faith as he honors god with his life and follows gods will no matter how hard the journey may be. Whatever you bring to it, thats what youre going to come out of it with. The movie does have a significant amount of violence however, the violence is analogous to situations in the bible where the israelites were commanded to annihilate their enemies on the way to the promised land. But beyond the bloody scenes and foul language, audiences will discover a compelling story filled with more biblical references and christian thought than any other major motion picture in recent years. Something more than a message between the lines 27 jul i dont think its risky to say, if we confine ourselves to the most recent events, that the catholic church, the principle institution within the christian doctrine, is now living through one of the greatest crises it has experienced since its beginnings.
Does this imply that he is blind and has been living completely by faith his entire life or is the punchline of the movie that he is the simply the last living man on earth who can read braille. We see elis faith remain steadfast as he faces many trials and tribulations, including. By patti maguire armstrong patti maguire armstrong is an awardwinning author and was the managing editor and coauthor of. It was one of a spat of post apocalyptic dramas with washed out color and characters who care more about surviving to the end of the day than dental hygiene. Bishop barron comments on the book of eli spoilers. Eli is the father of mary who was the mother of prophet jesus. Eli was a good righteous man who was known for his righteousness, goodness, knowledge and morals. It is the best christian movie i have ever seen despite the fact that im sure the writers werent really looking for it to be christian. Eli was the high priest kohen gadol of shiloh, the secondtolast israelite judge succeeded only by samuel before the rule of the kings of israel and judah. The official facebook page for the book of eli some will kill to have it. What the book of eli tells us about religion youtube. Feb 22, 2014 jesus and the book of eli part 1 remember the book of eli.
Denzel washington who plays the movies star character finds. And denzel washington isnt exactly kirk cameron, either. Eli in the bible was a jewish priest living in the days of the judges and serving god at the tabernacle in shiloh, a city near the hill country of ephraim 1 samuel 1. Its message about religion is boorish, its plot is tenuous and the dialogue is pretty irrelevant. Jan 15, 2010 the book of eli continues hollywoods obsession with postapocalyptic tales, and in many ways feels like it belongs in the same world as the road with its ashladen wastelands and crazed cannibals.
The book of eli dvd 2009 this is probably one of the most highly underrated movies of 2010 due to the overwhelming surge of 3d films brought on by avatar which was out around the same time of this film. The title is a reference to both the book that eli carries, and the fact that the. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of eli. Jan 14, 2010 the book of eli 2 5 stars 2 out of 5 stars. I have read the book twice iwill give it a five stars it is awesome it will make you think. Eli came out in 2010, just a year after the road starring vigo mortensen. However, the book of judges always mentions the years of oppression in. Jesus and the book of eli part 1 remember the book of eli. Lent traditionally lasts 40 days, modeled after christs forty day fast in the desert, and ends on good friday. Many have taken explicity prochristian themes from the film, but.
Eli and solara are surrounded and dragged out of the house. Jacob and esau were twin brothers born to isaac and rebekah. The book of eli continues hollywoods obsession with postapocalyptic tales, and in many ways feels like it belongs in the same world as the road. While the content of this postapocalyptic tale may not be for everyone, its story and message are noteworthy. The book of eli wasnt bad but i felt it was a little hokeygimmicky. Eli does not notice the car with the skeleton until he hears the sound of rattling metal. Eli has to feel the feet to see if there are boots on the skeleton.
If the studio decided to release an edited version of this film, then it might find a bigger christian audience flocking to the theaters. The role of denzel washington brings a positive message about obdedience, faith and perseverance. By patti maguire armstrong patti maguire armstrong is an awardwinning author and was the managing editor and coauthor of ascension press bestselling amazing grace series. Jan 14, 2010 alcon entertainments action adventure film the book of eli is a warner bros. As a book of interpretation, this book, also called the book of eli, seeks to offer an interpretation of the revealed work, but is just one out of a number of possible interpretations of eli. But as a filmmaker, you have to believe in the story and that translation. After a nuclear apocalypse has decimated the vast majority of the worlds population or the usas anyway, who knows whats going on elsewhere, the line between good and evil is. While it does depict the depravity of man in great detail, it redeems itself in the manner eli honors god. But the young mans actions and his criticism of the religious establishment earn him enemies as ruthless as they are powerful. This dedication was for life, and so he never cuts his hair 1 sa 1. I have heard that it is a long lost book of the bible, or that it was in the bible and the catholics somehow removed it, and it is now in the qurandoes anyone have any information on this or maybe a webpage to look at. God spoke to eli to find the book,bible, and transport it to a safe haven. The book of eli is screenwriter, gary whittas, take on a western samurai film. In the western church, lent officially begins with a reminder of our mortality on.
Eventually he would be commissioned as a deliver of israel. Washington plays eli, a laconic man journeying westward across america to carry a sacred book to safety, hoping that it will restore mankind and bring a better future. Book of eli is fascinating, faithbased vision popmatters. Esau was born first and thereby became legal heir to the family birthright which included, among other things, being heir to the covenant between god and abraham. The book of eli falls prey to several of the problems that the road had, and while it wasnt as big a failure as that film, its still a lot of apocalyptic wasteland to get through. Eli bumps the car door with his bag to gauge exactly where it is. Bishop barron comments on the book of eli spoilers youtube. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for us. As if there isnt enough destruction and mercilessness in the world today to preach about, the book of eli transports us half a century or so into the future, where things, inevitably, have only gotten worse. Elkanah also had another wife who bore him children.
But, in the midst of the chaos walks a man in possession of a. Thank you lord for a warm bed to sleep on, thank you for the food we are about to eat, thank you for a roof over our heads on cold nights such as this, thank you for companionship in hard times like. Jesus and the book of eli part 1 worldviews, worship. The book of eli is a 2010 american postapocalyptic neowestern action film directed by the. The film opens with a really riveting scene, slowly panning across a wooded area covered in ash, and with more ash still falling from the sky. After the nuclear bright blinding lights war, much of the population goes blind. In the book of eli there are two very interesting symbolic twists. In the movie the book of eli why was the bible so important.
Threatening to kill solara, carnegie forces eli to surrender the bible before shooting him and leaving him for dead, departing with his. But beyond the bloody scenes and foul language, audiences will discover a compelling story filled with more biblical references and christian. As far as biblical symbolism, theres some standard connections between eli in the movie and eli in the bible. Worldview elements of film implications questions biblical parallels the priest eli solara as samuel catholic parallels modern day parallels westward movement american dream what is the place of religion in the life of the common person. Redridge entreats eli to surrender the book and eli tells redridge where he hid it. Jan 16, 2010 alcon entertainments action adventure film the book of eli is a warner bros. The bible tells us that they struggled together in rebekahs womb, a foreshadowing of their troubled relationship. Learn more about his life and significance in this article. With gripping immediacy, bill myers weaves a story whose truth will refresh your faith. He puts a different spin on physics and while were here i noticed some gave him a onestar because i thought the book was written in regards to the movie eli but if you could look at the description of the book you will see that the book has nothing to do with the movie eli so you guys out there only. I got this book as a gift from a good and close friend who isnt here on gr, so i feel safe publically giving it a small degree of the hatred i felt for it.
The book of eli stars denzel washington in a postapocalyptic thriller set 30 years after a final war has turned much of earth into an ashy wasteland. Book of eli movie quotes meet your next favorite book. Cross i am legend with the ten commandments and youve got the book of eli, a genuinely religious parable that inherently rebukes pointless endofthe. Eli is protecting a bible so that postapocalyptic dictators cant use it to control their people. The book of eli is a 2010 american postapocalyptic neo western action film directed by the hughes brothers, written by gary whitta, and starring denzel washington, gary oldman, mila kunis, ray stevenson, and jennifer beals.
In this interpretation, there is the possibility of a false interpretation, as the author has taken the words, which can have more than one meaning, and. Jul 19, 2016 like the mighty samson, samuel is dedicated to the lord as a child. Hughes brothers talk religious controversy in the book of eli. This story of hannah, with which the books of samuel begin, involves eli. We enter into in a gritty world devoid of either protection from the elements of nature or a government. Eli was, according to the books of samuel, a high priest of shiloh. Mixed in with the violence and sepiatones is one giant religious symbol. This could easily be a companionpiece to the road, to which it bears a superficial resemblance. Eli, during the thirty years he has possession of the bible, has learned braille, yet he never loses his sight. Its why he laments taking part in violence, regrets not sharing the book with the world, and is saddened that he didnt live the way the book instructed him to. After suffering a series of life reverses, job sorry, eli, undertakes a fearless and searching moral inventory 12steppers take note and ends up healed. Religion and language in contemporary film wikiversity. Lightbringer he was the eldest son of amram and jochebed.
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