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blackraven
01-18-2010, 04:21 PM
I saw this film yesterday and its a great film, GO SEE IT! Its a winner but another post apocalypse film about faith in God and starting over. It will probably win a few awards and Denzel W. was great as usual.

Feanor
01-18-2010, 04:23 PM
I saw this film yesterday and its a great film, GO SEE IT! Its a winner but another post apocalypse film about faith in God and starting over. It will probably win a few awards and Denzel W. was great as usual.
If we start over, I propose that we skip the faith in God part. I don't think it's worked this go-round.

I might check out Book of Eli, though.

blackraven
01-18-2010, 04:27 PM
The movie is a little conflicted where religion is concerned because it alludes to the fact that religion lead to the apocalypse briefly.

Stick with the movie till the end, it all ties together.

Troy
01-18-2010, 05:41 PM
I like apocalypse porn more than most people and this movie really looked interesting to me. Then I started to read up on it . . . I was fascinated by this line in a British review:

"There’s some ace post-holocaust action, but you can’t help feel you were invited to a party with fizzy pop and cream cake and got suckered into a sermon instead."

Almost every review shows varying levels of disdain for the film's "bait and switch" sermonizing.

I'm stunned to find out that the "book" in this movie is a bible! Everyone's fighting over a bible? The most reproduced book in human history and there's only the one copy left? That's more than a little ridiculous. Feanor's right, the last thing we need when starting over is the same old religious dogma! It's pathetic, really.

The best handling of the religious implications of the post-apocalypse was in the book "Earth Abides" where the second and 3rd generation survivors couldn't care less about the old world ways and basically become indians. Man, I love that book.

blackraven
01-18-2010, 09:28 PM
Troy, you need to lighten up man, it only make believe, a MOVIE! If you could not figure out in the first 20min of the movie that Denzel has supernatural powers and the book was a bible then I don't no what to say. Eli was basically a modern day Moses. Just the name of the Movie should tell you there is some religion involved. And they told you in the movie what happened to all the religious books. I guess Fahrenheit 454 was a stupid movie because all the books were being burned!

You want to talk stupid movie, lets talk about Avatar which I liked for what is was, fantasy entertainment, but not by a long shot is it the best picture of the year.

audio amateur
01-19-2010, 04:09 AM
I didn't really know what to make out of the trailer it just looked like an action flick but i couldn't tell it had Christian references. I might check it out.

blackraven
01-19-2010, 09:14 AM
AA, there is a lot of action in the movie in brief spurts. The movie sort of has that original Mad Max movie thing going on and there really isnt a lot of religious talk going on, mainly just implications.

Troy
01-19-2010, 11:07 AM
Troy, you need to lighten up man, it only make believe, a MOVIE!

Yeah, a movie with an agenda. The christian aspect has been seriously played down in the advertising and previews.


You want to talk stupid movie, lets talk about Avatar which I liked for what is was, fantasy entertainment, but not by a long shot is it the best picture of the year.

No argument from me, read the Avatar thread. Sure was pretty tho.

Gerald Cooperberg
01-19-2010, 11:13 AM
Yeah, a movie with an agenda. The christian aspect has been seriously played down in the advertising and previews.

Meh, Children of Men was a post-apocalyptic film that was adapted from a novel that had Christian undertones and that was great. I think this movie's bigger offense is being boring and all too familiar, at least from what I've gleaned from friends who have seen it.

-Coop

Troy
01-19-2010, 11:19 AM
Meh, Children of Men was a post-apocalyptic film that was adapted from a novel that had Christian undertones and that was great. I think this movie's bigger offense is being boring and all too familiar, at least from what I've gleaned from friends who have seen it.

-Coop

I loved Children of Men. What christian undertones in the movie? Honestly I don't recall any and I've seen it 3 times. The movie stands by itself, the content of the book is irrelevant when talking about the movie.

And even if there were any undertones, were they as obvious as ridiculously obvious as "a fight over the last copy of the bible?"

Gerald Cooperberg
01-19-2010, 11:27 AM
I loved Children of Men. What christian undertones in the movie? Honestly I don't recall any and I've seen it 3 times. The movie stands by itself, the content of the book is irrelevant when talking about the movie.

Well, the central plot point of a virgin birth, for starters... but yeah, I think the themes were more apparent in the book. I think we're agreeing. I was just trying to point out that religious messages and themes aren't necessarily a dealbreaker in this genre if done well and with nuance, which they obviously aren't in Eli.

-Coop

Troy
01-23-2010, 12:23 PM
Saw it last night.

I enjoyed it's scorched-earth visual style and thought Washington and Oldman were very good in their roles, but absolutely despised the overt christian values forced on me. It totally ruined the movie for me. Part of me loved the whole Road Warrior, The Road, Deadwood quality of it, but the relentless sermonizing in the 2nd half, culminating with the most embarrassing and stupid Malcolm McDowell role I've ever seen, wow, what a preposterous movie.

And I gotta say, Mila Kunis was ridiculous. The worst casting I've seen in years. She was just too cute and perky for this world. Adorable and perfect in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and That 70s Show, but all wrong here.

What a turd.

Auricauricle
01-23-2010, 01:00 PM
NPR (National Public Radio) aired a conversation with the Hughes' brothers this morning, who were really quite adept at explaining their rationale for making the movie and discussing some of the rather disturbing religious/philosophical context in it. Although the Bible is used as a vehicle, is it really the driver of the movie, or is the desire of (Carnegie) to use the book to further his aims the prime mover? I should like to think that parsing these two—equally compelling and plausible—forces apart might make the religious sentiment more palatable and the more secular message much more appealing…

Troy
01-23-2010, 01:34 PM
What drives the movie is the conflict between Eli and Carnagie over possession of the bible. Eli wants it for good, though how, is never explained and Carnagie wants it for evil, to use it as a tool to control the weak-willed masses. Guess which one wins out. It was heavy handed, obvious and pandering. Secular? There was very little content in this movie's themes that could be called secular. It was a thinly veiled "GOOOO Jesus!" story.

Auricauricle
01-23-2010, 03:33 PM
That would be too bad, then. If that's all it is, I may as well go ahead and rent out some Charleton Heston flicks...Think some folks are beginning to see the Haiti Disaster and other current events as signs of The End of Times?

Troy
01-23-2010, 07:01 PM
Think some folks are beginning to see the Haiti Disaster and other current events as signs of The End of Times?

We're such a silly species.

Auricauricle
01-24-2010, 12:32 PM
Don't you think you're raising the bar just a tad too high?

Rich-n-Texas
01-25-2010, 05:54 AM
That would be too bad, then. If that's all it is, I may as well go ahead and rent out some Charleton Heston flicks...Think some folks are beginning to see the Haiti Disaster and other current events as signs of The End of Times?
"The Big Lebowski" you dummy!!!

I still want to see "The Book..." anyway 'cause I'm a HUGE Denzel Washington fan. Maybe I'll rent "Training Day" first to warm me up. :cornut:

Troy
01-25-2010, 09:05 AM
Don't you think you're raising the bar just a tad too high?

Someone has to.

And yes, The Big Lebowski is one of the best movies made in the last 20 years. Gotta see it if you haven't.

nightflier
01-25-2010, 01:35 PM
'Wonder what the discussion would be about if it was the Torah, or the Qur'an, or heaven forbid, the Tripitaka... Of course, Denzel would need more than a backpack for that one.

Auricauricle
01-25-2010, 01:49 PM
And yes, The Big Lebowski is one of the best movies made in the last 20 years. Gotta see it if you haven't.

You have seen my avatar, have you not?

nightflier
01-25-2010, 02:09 PM
You mean that's not you in your avatar pic???

Troy
01-25-2010, 02:42 PM
You have seen my avatar, have you not?

Doh! Sorry, my eye was too red.

Auricauricle
01-25-2010, 03:20 PM
Yeah, yeah...those herbs and spices will do that!

nightflier
01-25-2010, 04:20 PM
Didn't anybody tell you that smoking parsley tastes like crap?

Rich-n-Texas
01-25-2010, 07:10 PM
Are you guys disrespecting THE DUDE? That's baaaaad. :nonod:






(Shut the f*** up Donnie)

atomicAdam
01-25-2010, 07:26 PM
The movie is a little conflicted where religion is concerned because it alludes to the fact that religion lead to the apocalypse briefly.

Stick with the movie till the end, it all ties together.



Doesn't religion end in apocalypse in real life?

Auricauricle
01-26-2010, 07:37 AM
Some religions do....Others end in a pack of lips...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/fashion/article903433.ece

blackraven
01-26-2010, 10:11 PM
You guys should just see the movie. I did not find it to be preaching to the audience and take it from someone who can't stand religion based movies. It's more of an action movie with a supernatural religion based theme.

audio amateur
01-27-2010, 06:26 AM
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/fashion/article903433.ece
Arggg i hate that 'newspaper' it's garbage.

Kam
01-27-2010, 09:24 AM
I like apocalypse porn more than most people and this movie really looked interesting to me.
The best handling of the religious implications of the post-apocalypse was in the book "Earth Abides" where the second and 3rd generation survivors couldn't care less about the old world ways and basically become indians. Man, I love that book.

Have you seen Apocolypse Man on discovery or tlc i think? I had tivo'd it and it was very entertaining. An ex-recon guy talks about how he'd survive an apocolypse. there's a little conflicting advice given, but overall pretty entertaining and some good tidbits in there.

i'll check that book out now too.

Troy
01-27-2010, 09:38 AM
Have you seen Apocolypse Man on discovery or tlc i think? I had tivo'd it and it was very entertaining. An ex-recon guy talks about how he'd survive an apocolypse. there's a little conflicting advice given, but overall pretty entertaining and some good tidbits in there.

i'll check that book out now too.

I'll look for that show, thanks.

Kam
01-27-2010, 09:41 AM
I'll look for that show, thanks.

Also "Life After People" on discovery or history channel. They are making a "Life After People Part 2" coming out soon as well.

Troy
01-27-2010, 11:46 AM
Also "Life After People" on discovery or history channel. They are making a "Life After People Part 2" coming out soon as well.

Yeah, the producers of that show contacted me about locations and my photography a few years ago, but they never ended up using anything of mine.

It's pretty good, if a little overwrought and sensationalized.

Auricauricle
01-27-2010, 01:36 PM
Arggg i hate that 'newspaper' it's garbage.

Well, it was either The Sun or the National Enquirer....Just thought I'd act globally for a change...:cornut:

recoveryone
01-29-2010, 02:29 PM
I took my wife to see this film today, and we both enjoyed it. From a cinema stand point, I would say well done with the stylize settings (black & white and off color filming). The story line was not bad either, left some to ones own imagination and faith. For those that are of the Christain faith, I felt it hit the nail on the head with the reference to what was important. To have the Word in hand or have it in our heart/mind, where the scriptures say it should be kept.

nightflier
01-29-2010, 03:07 PM
Yes, but is it BR-worthy? That is, is it worth $30 and do the effects/scenery/action justify it?

recoveryone
01-29-2010, 03:24 PM
Yes, but is it BR-worthy? That is, is it worth $30 and do the effects/scenery/action justify it?

This type of stylize film would not look much better on BR as with BHD (Black Hawk Down). BR shines best with saturated colors IMHO. This is a raw gritty film with ugly landscapes with ugly people to boot (un-shaven, scared faces, bad teeth). Denzel is as rough looking as I have ever seen him, until the end. The only decent looking people were the blind mother (I think it was Jennifer Beal) and her daughter (that 70's show chick) and she got rough up during that last half of the film.

nightflier
01-29-2010, 04:13 PM
Good to know. Thanks.

I'm now adding BR-worthy as a criteria when deciding what I plan to watch and where.

nightflier
02-04-2010, 10:07 AM
We saw the movie last night (we arrived too late to catch Invictus), and we both were very impressed. Boy there's lots to talk about here, but I don't want to give away anything of the plot because it's a really good movie I hope more people will see. Too bad it's competing with Avatar at the box office because it was definitely worth the ticket price.

Thinking back about his journey West, Eli's actions did seem a little weird all along, and I didn't guess the twist until the night in the nuclear silo. It was convenient that he had to protect the book out of simple self-preservation as well. I do have a hard time believing he could do all that in his state, and especially after the encounter at "the last house." There's a lot of symbolism in this movie, too. Auric, have you seen this one yet?

I also didn't think this was a Christian propaganda film. Yes, the book is the Bible, but who is to say that Denzel was not one of many "prophets" to wander West and arrive at that same point. Actually, that would make for some nice prequels / sequels, I think. I suppose faith is given a lot of the credit for this journey, but I think it's pretty simplistic (or maybe even opportunistic) for Christian radio and TV stations everywhere to bless this film as one for their own proselytizing ends. It's hardly that and Eli certainly wasn't a saint, either.

...and his name was Eli, the ancient Semitic name for God, long before there were Christians, that is, a heritage shared by all three middle-Eastern faiths.

recoveryone
02-04-2010, 04:39 PM
Glad you enjoyed it Nightflier