Topic: The Book of Eli

[Phidippides]

I just saw this movie last night and am wondering what other people thought of it.  For those who haven't seen it, all I'll say is that there is a Christian context in which the event or message of the movie takes place.  I'm wondering if people think this is a positive or negative context that is trying to be portrayed.

[Donald Baker]

I just saw this movie last night and am wondering what other people thought of it.  For those who haven't seen it, all I'll say is that there is a Christian context in which the event or message of the movie takes place.  I'm wondering if people think this is a positive or negative context that is trying to be portrayed.

The movie was entertaining, but having an uber violent guardian of "The Book" goes against the spirit of "The Book."  That's all I am going to say.

[Phidippides]

I see what you're saying, but at the same time if he was only defending himself or others in need perhaps there was a way around this.

Also, from the movie we learn that he eventually admitted he wasn't necessarily listening to the message of the book because he didn't help people in need who didn't "concern him".  So I think we are to understand him as being a flawed character in that regard.

There was another issue that I thought was interesting.  In the movie, Carnegie wants to use the book to provide a spiritual basis for his authority so that he can expand his power.  I wish the movie would have contrasted this with another message that the book could be used to expand the realm of peace and love in the world, and that Carnegie's wish was a distortion of the truth. 

I was also disappointed a bit by the fact that Eli brings the book out West into a place which is akin to a museum, like the book was just one more item to fit into the scheme of Western classics. 

[Donald Baker]

I see what you're saying, but at the same time if he was only defending himself or others in need perhaps there was a way around this.

Also, from the movie we learn that he eventually admitted he wasn't necessarily listening to the message of the book because he didn't help people in need who didn't "concern him".  So I think we are to understand him as being a flawed character in that regard.

There was another issue that I thought was interesting.  In the movie, Carnegie wants to use the book to provide a spiritual basis for his authority so that he can expand his power.  I wish the movie would have contrasted this with another message that the book could be used to expand the realm of peace and love in the world, and that Carnegie's wish was a distortion of the truth. 

I was also disappointed a bit by the fact that Eli brings the book out West into a place which is akin to a museum, like the book was just one more item to fit into the scheme of Western classics.

Also, if he was going to have to recite the book to a transcriber all along, why kill to protect a book most wouldn't have any use for to begin with?  Plot holes galore me thinks.