The new underrated post-apocalyptic western action movie Book of Eli Drenched in deeper meaning and featuring a twist ending that leaves the audience stunned. Released in 2010 to mostly negative reviews from critics, Book of Eli Follows the titular character as he traverses a post-apocalyptic wasteland in possession of a mysterious book sought by evil forces. With a cast headed up by veterans like Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman, Book of Eli He had all the makings of a classic but was not given a warm welcome at the time. However, the film’s deeper ideas have received praise in retrospect.
Although the average critical response was negative, some critics, including Roger Ebert, gave it praise Book of EliGripping plot and an exciting twist on the post-apocalyptic genre. Even among a slew of other films dealing with the same topic, Book of Eli He manages to build the world in a consistently compelling way, and the movie grossed over $150 million (via Box Office Mojo) on Denzel Washington star alone. What Book of Eli The best is that it surprises its audience with an abundance of twists while never turning its back on the powerful use of symbolism that pervades throughout the plot.
What happens in the closing book of Eli
After securing the book from Eli, the villainous Bill Carnegie returns to his town and enlists the engineer’s help to break the lock keeping the Bible locked. Meanwhile, Eli and Solara reach the remains of San Francisco, and emerge to the island of Alcatraz where they are greeted by Lombardy and his people who work to preserve the sum of human knowledge that came before the nuclear holocaust that wiped out civilization. Carnegie managed to open Ellie’s Bible only to discover that it was written in Braille and there was no way to read it.
Although he lost the Bible in the fight with Carnegie, Eli remembers its entire contents by heart, and is able to eagerly recount the words to Lombardy’s book. Back in town, Carnegie confronts Claudia, who refuses to translate Braille for him, and alerts him that his mad quest to secure the book has led him to lose control of his city. After listing the entire Bible, Eli eventually dies, placing the newly printed Bible among a shelf full of other Bibles. Solara chooses not to stay in the Alcatraz Reservation and takes Ellie’s sword as she returns home through the wasteland.
Eli is revealed to be blind
Although the film gives very little indication that Eli cannot see, it causes a shocking turn in the audience when it is revealed that he has been blind all along. One of the things that make Book of Eli An underrated 2010 sci-fi movie is that it keeps pushing its concept further, and Ellie’s blindness isn’t just a nonsensical twist. Brilliantly revealed in the scene where Carnegie discovers the Bible is written in Braille, the film’s twist ending is slowly allowed to emerge rather than a moment that overemphasizes itself, completely changing the story.
Unlike many other movie twists that make rewatches unnecessary, the revelation of Ellie’s blindness does happen Book of Eli A more compelling experience on a second viewing. Eli’s blindness also makes him more dynamic as his very existence becomes symbolic. Throughout the movie, Eli espouses the power and importance of faith, and although he never uses exact words, faith is always described as blind faith. Eli is the living embodiment of faith as he allows himself to be led by a higher power on an adventure that would naturally be impossible for someone with a visual impairment.
Eli’s death represents the power of sacrifice
Action movies where the main character dies are rare, however Book of EliHis ending is made better as the titular hero dies of his injuries. Rather than giving him a gun-filled finale that would tip the movie into more ridiculous territory, Ellie’s grim, subtle death is fitting for a character who isn’t an action hero by choice. Ellie dies at the end Book of Eli It is almost a necessity because it reflects elements from the Bible and many other characters who also met their end in their quest for faith.
The gunshot wounds Eli received from Carnegie earlier in the film lead to his eventual demise, but not before he manages to impart his knowledge of the Bible to Lombardi. Having made the ultimate sacrifice, Eli trades his life in order to protect the religion he holds dear, mirroring the Christian martyrs who later became saints in some denominations. The power of sacrifice is a central tenet of most religions, but it is especially important in Christianity when considering the story of Jesus and his death in the New Testament.
The True Meaning of Eli
Although not decisively successful, Book of Eli It is anything but a disposable blockbuster film that contains no substance. Almost every aspect of the story serves a greater purpose in the grand scheme of things, and the plot is rich with meaning. Book of Eli He makes it clear at the end that Christianity is not the only specific message that needs to be removed from the story as the newly printed Bible takes its place among the other scriptures. Instead, the movie is ultimately about the power of ideas and how they can be used for both good and bad purposes.
Carnegie wanted to use the Bible as a means of controlling the minds of those around him, while Lombardi and Ely were conservatives of knowledge and only wanted to benefit humanity. Ironically, Eli cryptically implies in the voiceover that the apocalyptic war was about religion, making his mission all the more urgent. in the end, Book of Eli He does not endorse one religion over another, but instead warns of the power of such a strong faith, and shows how there can be extreme good as well as unfathomable evil that can emanate from the same ideas.
