The Book of Eli (it's a movie - SPOILER ALERT)
So I just saw the Book of Eli. Even though it is centered around the king james bible, I rather enjoyed it. While it does suggest that the Bible is true, that's where it stops. It doesn't give many specifics, and shows both the good and bad that can come from it, with the bad guy wanting it to control the remaining masses in a post-nuclear apocalypse US, and the good guys wanting to collect the remaining literature in order to help rebuild society.
Thoughts?
- Login to post comments
Well, I was asked to go to it from a fellow atheist. He saw the trailer and decided that it might be good. After that, he forbade me to look up a spoiler on wikipedia. I am guessing that he has a surprise coming to him.
=
haha, like I said it really isn't bad. And I didn't reveal the biggest twist in the movie, just the plot details.
My Website About Roller Coaster Design
Just came back from seeing it and I liked it.
Oh, yeah it was badass. Yes it was about the Bible, but it was still a good story. Kinda reminded me of Waterworld, actually. I saw a few similarities... Anyway my favorite part was the scene with the old couple. That freaked me right out!
*edit* the smiley didn't work the first time. in case it won't show up again, it's the one with the eyes alternately bulging out
"You got guns?"
"Hell Yeah we got guns!"
Definitely one of my favorite parts.
My Website About Roller Coaster Design
Just came back from it. Generally, I liked it. Especially the music and the cinematography, which were much better than I expected. The main theme music reminded me a bit of the Last Temptation of Christ somewhat. The world looked suitably fucked up, although I question how little vegetation would recover after 30 years. I mean, there's still 2/3 of the surface covered in water. It has to rain sometime.
There were some other sci-fi-world details that annoyed me, but I'll skip those.
MAJOR SPOILERS
As for the plot, I'm going to relate it to atheism: Like the recent sci-fi movie Pandorum, which plot I found to be contrived for the whole purpose of deriding science and atheism, The Book of Eli also had some annoying contrivances: Like all the bibles being burned. How was that coordinated? Were there no Christians to keep some copies? How is it possible for one loner to *know* that he has the only remaining bible (aside from the 'faith' cop-out)? It's a flimsy plot device and it didn't work for me. Worse is the contention that without the bible, the only way you can get people to cooperate is by offering them the chance to rape, murder, steal, and just generally behave like psychopaths. This was the point which I found most similar to Pandorum, where the whole ship's crew degenerates into paranoid survivors or demented killing machines. TBOE was contrived to portray a 'world without christianity', and the cliches abound.
However, I did very much enjoy the fact that Gary Oldman wanted to have the bible for the purposes of building a kingdom of his own. That's so much better than Pandorum where the Dennis Quaid's idea is to institute a kind of parody of Nietzsche's philosophy, or the idea that when you're an atheist, you automatically think you yourself are God. At least TBOE was realistic in that regard. I agree. What better way to control the masses than through the ideology of the world's biggest religion?
Other than that, I was able to tolerate the pro-religion message. Sure, whatever, make your movie about Christianity. Of course, you need to show in the movie that faith actually works (funny how they always have to portray that in movies, but can never show us real life examples), no problem. I don't mind. It's kind of like a super-hero power, so why not? Suspension of disbelief is intact.
I thought the part with Malcolm McDowell at the end was a bit cheesy, but it had Malcolm McDowell in it, so the film-makers are forgiven. (I mean, what's the point of the whole movie if they just plop the bible on the shelf next to the Torah and the Quran? Seems like adding another copper penny to the King's treasure hoard.)
So, overall, great cinematography, cool theme music, fun 'faith-as-a-superhero-power' adventure, tolerable pro-religious tropes, good motivation for the bad guy, Malcolm McDowell cameo, and only a few violations of suspension of disbelief. Coulda been much worse, and the visuals and music were worth it.
Wonderist on Facebook — Support the idea of wonderism by 'liking' the Wonderism page — or join the open Wonderism group to take part in the discussion!
Gnu Atheism Facebook group — All gnu-friendly RRS members welcome (including Luminon!) — Try something gnu!