The Book of Eli

[Troy]

Yeah, true but I saw it from a different angle and my wife took a 3rd viewpoint. She saw Carnegie as a possible Anti-Christ who would use the power in a negative way, while I saw Carnegie as just wanting to control people, and the 3rd viewpoint is that the book was needed for good to continue in the world.

I doubt the makers of the movie really thought too much about the flip side messages, only that the bible would somehow save mankind.

Sure, I figured out all those angles on my own. And all 3 play into the Christian dogma that dripped from every frame of the movie. Especially that 3rd point. Nauseating.

And I pose to you that if you and I figured it out by watching it once, I can assure you that the guys that wrote and directed this movie, who lived and breathed this movie every day for years, as it was being conceived and created, knew exactly what they were doing!

wow Troy, you musta been crushed by Steven King's The Stand

Not sure what you're trying to say to me here . . . But I loved it. It's one of my favorite books, period. See, the the Christian dogma aspect of The Stand plays only a small part of that incredibly long and complex story for me. It's a more abstract good vs. evil story that covers the bases in all religions. No one is saving some ridiculous sacred Christian book that's going to save humanity. Earth Abides covers the ground for religion, as a concept in a post-apocalyptic context, the best.

[Hyfi]

And I pose to you that if you and I figured it out by watching it once, I can assure you that the guys that wrote and directed this movie, who lived and breathed this movie every day for years, as it was being conceived and created, knew exactly what they were doing!

Or they were highly christian and had typical tunnel vision thinking everyone would just assume that the world would end without the book. The other possibilities could not possibly be. After all we are just sheep, right?

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Or they were highly christian and had typical tunnel vision thinking everyone would just assume that the world would end without the book. The other possibilities could not possibly be. After all we are just sheep, right?

Well, I have to say that I am Christian, but not the sheeple type, so all Christians can't be painted with generalizations. I support gay marriage, and don't believe in organized church denominations. I cuss sometimes, but know when not to do it. I know how to separate dogma from helpful spiritual practices. Tunnel vision is not typical of Christian folks, that is for sure. It may be for some, but not all.

[Hyfi]

Well, I have to say that I am Christian, but not the sheeple type, so all Christians can't be painted with generalizations. I support gay marriage, and don't believe in organized church denominations. I cuss sometimes, but know when not to do it. I know how to separate dogma from helpful spiritual practices. Tunnel vision is not typical of Christian folks, that is for sure. It may be for some, but not all.

T, I certainly don't want to start any kind of political/religious argument here.

If you reread my post, I said WE are ALL sheep, I did not say all Christians.

Secondly, you either believe that the book is the word of god or you don't. You can't believe that only some parts are true and others are not. Gay marriage and cursing have nothing to do with whether or not someone or group believes that the bible is the word of god and the ONLY words to live by as almost all Christians believe.

Tunnel vision is a problem with just about every religion as they all, but for very few, believe that their way is the only way and you go to hell if you don't believe.

Swedenborg, which is a branch of Christianity will openly say that ALL religions are just different pathways to the same thing (god).

Tunnel vision is when people say and make banners that say God Bless America, as if he/she/it doesn't bless each and every one of us, not just americans. Do you think god is only on the american side of every war we are in?

I could go on and on here but I won't as this is not the place. I'd love to take it off line anytime though.

[Troy]

Or they were highly christian and had typical tunnel vision thinking everyone would just assume that the world would end without the book. The other possibilities could not possibly be. After all we are just sheep, right?

Excuse me while I turn up my sarcasm detector.

Tunnel vision? It seems like every christian in America is lapsed, or playing fast and loose with their tenets. I mean really, what kind of 'good christian' would make such a violent film in the first place? So if this is the case, and the movie's reliance on so much bible-thumping and obvious symbolism is inadvertent, then wow, it's even worse than I thought . . . But I seriously doubt it. Even selecting the name 'Carnagie' for the villain is loaded with double meanings. No, it was all very carefully calculated, as is every film made. So, I personally do think the Hughes Brothers are suffering from christian tunnel vision.

The film simply panders to christian fantasy. It plays out as a total "told you so" scenario; a christian cautionary tale. The final payoff? Hallelujah! We finally managed to get a copy of the bible (even though it's the most common book on earth and copies can be found in every motel room in America), and now we can finally start rebuilding society!