A well crafted movie. Plot is fantastic and Denzel plays his role with such flare.
The Book of Eli
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Future-set action epic is heavy on comic book violence.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 17–18
What to watch out for
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Role models:
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Book of Eli was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
Parents need to know that The Book of Eli is very violent -- there's lots of weapon use, body parts getting chopped off, fighting, and dead bodies, as well as suggested rape (sounds of ripping clothes and women's screams) -- and takes place in a bleak future. But it has a "comic book" tone that keeps it from being a total downer, and it actually feels more like a Western than a sci-fi epic, with a loner hero (Denzel Washington) who wanders into a lawless town and tangles with the kingpin (Gary Oldman). The movie's subtext tackles religion: The bad guy wants to use the world's last remaining Bible to control and dominate the "weak and desperate," while the hero wants to deliver the book to a safe place. Expect some sexuality (though no nudity), strong language (including "f--k"), and -- worth mentioning again -- lots of action violence.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the movie's violence. How does the movie's tone affect the impact of the action/fight scenes? Does it feel realistic?
- What do movies set in post-apocalyptic futures (Children of Men, I Am Legend, The Road, etc.) have to say about the way we, as humans, feel at the moment?
- What are the movie's messages about religion? Is it trying to make a specific statement about the subject?
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More on The Book of Eli
What’s the Story?
In a post-apocalyptic future, Eli (Denzel Washington) has one goal: to carry the last remaining copy of The Bible toward the West, hoping to find a safe place for it. Meanwhile, he encounters all kinds of villains, scoundrels, and cannibals on the road and must use his weapons and considerable combat skills to get past them. Wandering into a lawless town looking for water, he meets the educated Carnegie (Gary Oldman), who's after a copy of the Bible that he can use to control the townspeople. Eli merely wishes to continue with his mission, but Carnegie won't take no for an answer. Eli's situation gets tougher when he finds himself attached to pretty young runaway Solara (Mila Kunis).
Is It Any Good?
As directed by twins Allen and Albert Hughes (Menace II Society, From Hell), THE BOOK OF ELI is an effective post-apocalyptic action movie with elements from both comic books and Westerns thrown in for good measure. For instance, to protect themselves from the harsh sunlight, all the characters wear sunglasses or goggles, but rather than rendering them impersonal or distant, they only ramp up the movie's cool factor.
The action is exceedingly well directed, exciting, and sometimes surprising, even if the storytelling relies on some tried-and-true chestnuts. Like the best science-fiction tales, it has an underlying agenda -- this time it's mainly about organized religion's use of the Bible -- but the message never outweighs the story's thrust. Washington is powerful as the stoic, loner hero, and Oldman happily chews the scenery as the bad guy. But Kunis' role unfortunately seems little more than a plot device.
Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros., Directors: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
Run time: 118 minutes
Theatrical release: 1/15/2010
MPAA Rating: R for some brutal violence and language
Run time: 118 minutes
Theatrical release: 1/15/2010
MPAA Rating: R for some brutal violence and language
Our Members Say
See 21 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
The Book of Eli
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
GREAT FOR13+
i love this movie it is a great movie great violince and to much blood ok for 13+ they will not mind a little less language and it coukd have been pg-13 awesome movie for teens if thy really want to see it let them
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Kids ages: 13
I rate this title off for age 16 and give it- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
Rated R for a reason.
I made the mistake of going into this movie without checking the reviews and I regret taking my son to it. He kept his eyes covered and 30 minutes into it, asked if we could leave. I completely agreed. Extreme violence/gore, nudity, vulgar language, etc. As much as I love Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman, I really couldn't stomach this one.
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Kids ages: 13
I rate this title off for age 16 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
Rated R for a reason.
I made the mistake of going into this movie without checking the reviews and I regret taking my son to it. He kept his eyes covered and 30 minutes into it, asked if we could leave. I completely agreed. Extreme violence/gore, nudity, vulgar language, etc. As much as I love Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman, I really couldn't stomach this one.
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I rate this title on for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
This movie is great! Beware of language and violence.
I loved ths movie! God tells Eli (denzel washington) to go to a certain place, and there Eli finds the last Bible on the earth. God then tells him to take it to the other side of the world. God protects him the entire way. Eli reads the Bible as he goes along in his journey. He also encounters several people and situations and God helps them through them all. He resists the temptation to have sex with a girl that comes to him to have sex. He also resists the temptation to drink when he goes to a bar (the only place to get water). The violence is relatively strong. Several murders take place and fights scenes. People are stabbed, shot, (with arrows, and guns) and beat up. People's heads and hands are cut off. Several uses of f*ck and its variations. Not over 20 uses though. Other milder language also. One use of g**d*mn. Eli does not use any language throughout the entire movie. A woman is supposidly raped although so far off in the distance that you cannot really see what is happening. A woman comes to Eli to have sex but he refuses. She is fully clothed and not wearing anything inappropriate. She is later attacked and some men plan to rape her but it never happens. No nudity is shown.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 60% | of parents say it's too violent |
| 60% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 40% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
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