There’s nothing unfamiliar about The Book of Eli’s post-apocalyptic setting.  Eli, played by Denzel Washington, is every bit a Mad Max character wielding cool and very destructive weapons, clothed in scavenged attire and possessing the uncanny ability to not die.  The post-production effects of perpetually falling ash and a desaturated and dark landscape of destroyed and abandoned cars, buildings and junk all come together for a chord of danger and solitude.  What’s different about this film is Eli’s source of strength and conviction.  He’s a man of God, and not the sort you’re used to seeing on the silver screen.  He’s strong, honorable and knows the word like the back of his hand.

As a follower of Christ you get used to seeing Godly men portrayed as weak, simple-minded individuals easily swayed by circumstance.  The Book of Eli is a stark contrast.  Eli is surrounded by evil men raping and pillaging as they please in a time when the Bible has been nearly eradicated. His mission is to carry the last remaining copy of the Bible to a budding civilization in the West. Gary Oldman plays the boss of small town, supported by a secret water source and brutality, who wants the Bible to use as a tool of control and deception.  He tests Eli with all the usual temptations and when that doesn’t work tries to kill him for the remainder of the movie.  Eli does a great job of maintaining his honor by quoting scripture and fighting like Samson himself.

This is definitely a violent picture from beginning to end with people dying or loosing members in nearly every scene.  So don’t go if that’s not your thing.  What’s great about it is the sense of power and urgency it gives to God’s word.  Even Christians take it for granted today.  You get a copy nearly anywhere so we don’t consume it with the fervor we should.  We think we’ve got plenty of time to read it at our leisure.  The Book of Eli reminds us that when things get bad the word of God is all we’ll have to stand on and tomorrow it might not be so easily come by.  If you don’t believe my try taking a copy into China.

No doubt you seen previews for the latest James Bond film and you’ve likely already scratched your head for a moment or two over the title. Compared to Thunderball, GoldenEye or Moonraker, Quantum of Solace sounds pretty cryptic but really it’s just a recycled title from one of Ian Flemming’s short stories. Now I’m sure a bunk title isn’t enough to keep you away from an evening with the international man of mystery but, and yes their has to be a but, there are a few things you should know before curling up with your over-priced popcorn. This isn’t the Bond we’ve come to know and love over the last five decades.

First of all the title sequence is fan-freakin-tastic. It’s done by one of my favorite design studios, MK12, and as usual they rocked it… hard. Aside from the expected washes of color and female silhouettes it also incorporates a uniquely subtle morphing of an Avante Garde Gothic variation (that’s text for you non-designer folks.) That was worth the money right there.

From the first scene you can tell this isn’t quite your typical Bond. Daniel Greg’s 007 is something closer to Jason Borne than Sean Connery or Roger Moore. Gone are the long smooth action sequences. Instead the film constantly cuts left and dives right. It feels a bit like trying to watch tv from the comforts of a mid-cycle clothes dryer. You barely see any of one thing on the screen long enough to make heads or tails of it. I’m sure it adds to the intensity but it also makes me dizzy.

Be sure and enjoy the Aston Martin DBS and Alfa Romeo 159 dog fight because that’s the last you’ll see of any “cool” cars. Unless you think Range Rovers are cool that is. And don’t expect missiles or wings to pop out of his DBS because they don’t. In fact, there isn’t a single gadget in the entire film. I guess Q took the tech department with him. Now if that’s already got your feathers ruffled then you’re in trouble. You can forget about Bond’s sexy one-liners too. Bond is still scoring with the chics but you won’t see much of it and clever innuendos are a thing of the past. Bond’s all about action now and although he looks good in a tux he’s mainly about killing fools.

So how about the villain? Well he doesn’t have metal teeth, a fancy gun, a crazy underground lair or even a steady girlfriend. In fact, he’s a bit of a dweeb. Oh and his master plan isn’t exactly ground breaking - pun intended. But I’m sure you’ll see soon enough.

Go see it but expect something a little less magical then what you’re used to.