'The Book Of Eli' Review

Denzel Washington in The Book Of Eli. Watch the preview: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-book-of-eli/30184/main?flv=1

Your first reaction to the previews will have you thinking The Book Of Eli is a Mad Max clone. That's true in a superficial way as we have a lone warrior surviving through a post-catastrophic world sparsely populated by creepy bad guys ruled by a warlord who takes advantage of his village. This version has the expected fights and chases across the wasted landscapes but perhaps not as spectacular as in the Mel Gibson movies as there's more plot and character development here. And a few plot surprises at the end worth waiting for.
>>Denzel Washington plays the loner donned with sunglasses and enough weapons to be a one man army. He's quite handy with them and warns his attackers before showing his skills. Of course they don't believe him since they outnumber him. The body count continues to rise during the plot as all he wants to do is be left alone as he travels to the west coast in search of a rumored civilized area still in existence. When the village's leader played by Gary Oldman, who always has a great time chewing up the scenery as a villain, learns Denzel possesses a Bible, he wants it for his own purpose. It's been thirty years since the world-changing disaster and there is no more organized religion and no Bibles left in this new bleak world. The educated Oldman's goal (no schools to teach reading and that makes him powerful) is to restart religion with himself as its head as a means to spread his control over the scattered pockets of population. Now the chase begins for the elusive book...
>>The stylized photography creates an ashen, barren look for the film that lets you concentrate more on the story and its characters. Denzel's character will remind you of watching a samurai film with Toshiro Mifune, a man of few words who makes up for them in action. Oldman is always wonderful to watch as his contrast in acting styles and as an opponent. Jennifer Beals (How many years has it been since Flashdance?) is touching as Oldman's blind wife at the mercy of his alternating tenderness and sadistic rages. The real casting surprise is Mila Kunis from TV's That 70's Show where we know her from her comic turn as the spoiled, bossy Jackie. She's good here in a dramatic role as Beals' daughter who escapes Oldman's tyranny to join Denzel who doesn't want a partner on his mission but eventually earns his trust and teaches her survival skills.
>>Consider The Book Of Eli a thinking man's version of The Road Warrior with a dose of religion but not preachy. See it if only for Oldman who's always good in anything... and that goes for Denzel too.