The Book of Eli is a post-apocalyptic movie set in the near future.  The movie opens after an event has happened. This event has decimated most of the world’s population, it is implied that it was a nuclear war.  The Book of Eli is In the spirit of Mad Max where gangs roam the wasteland waylaying travelers.

The first gang we meet tries to rob the wrong person, Eli (Denzel Washington).  Eli is a very skilled fighter, be it with a bow or a sword, and has no problem dispatching the thugs.  He is set upon again when he reaches a town and bothers one of the local tough’s cats. His martial display impresses Carnegie, the man in charge of the town.

Eli is given an offer to join the town’s guards, but refuses.  He is on a mission from God and has been entrusted with the last copy of the King James Bible, and is to take it somewhere safe. He does not know where this safe place is, but he knows it does not belong with Carnegie.  The rest of the movie revolves around Eli trying to reach his safe place and Carnegie trying to steal the bible.

This movie has a classic science fiction feel to it, reminiscent of cult classics such as Soylent Green and A Boy and His Dog.  The pace is slower than most other current science fiction movies. In that way, it is like the older movies.  It took me some patience to get through the first half hour of the movie as nothing really happened.  After that the pace picks up and flows better.

The acting was quite good.  Denzel Washington delivers a stellar performance. Mila Kunis was fairly annoying, but as any who have seen That 70s Show, that is what she is typecast as.  Gary Oldman plays a great villain as Carnegie.  Carnegie starts the movie as an urbane, intelligent man.  As the movie goes on he starts showing his savage and ruthless side.

This movie is for fans of classic science fiction and post-apocalyptic movies.  The plot moves slowly at first, but gains momentum as the intensity ratches up.  It’s Geektime gives The Book of Eli a 7 on the d10 of science fiction.