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The Book of Eli

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Future-set action epic is heavy on comic book violence.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 17–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    One possible interpretation of the movie is that it has a bone to pick with organized religion, instead celebrating individual spirituality. The villain wants to obtain the last existing Bible and use it for power and control over the "weak and desperate," while the hero's goal is to protect the book and deliver it to a safe place. He reads it regularly, but given his violent nature and loner status, it's not very clear that he's learned anything from it.
  • Role models:

    Eli is violent, stubborn, and single-minded, but he does ultimately learn the value of trust and persistence. Occasionally he also shows honor (for example, by refusing to drink alcohol or take advantage of Solora sexually).
  • Violence:

    Extreme violence, generally of a comic book nature. Eli wields a bow and arrow and shoots both animals and people (sometimes in some very uncomfortable body parts). He also carries an enormous knife, with which he chops off hands, arms and heads. Lots of hand-to-hand combat as Eli fights off crowds of attackers; plenty of gunfights (and hand grenades) as well. The movie shows the impact of the bullets and the arrows -- including those shot at a bird and a cat -- as well as plenty of blood. Viewers see dead (and sometimes decomposing) bodies, and there's a suggestion of cannibalism. Rape and attempted rape are also suggested (sounds of ripping clothes, women's screams) both on-screen and off, in chaotic crowd scenes and, notably, in the case of one important character.
  • Sex:

    The future world presented in the movie has the equivalent of prostitutes, though they're only mentioned and rarely seen. A woman tries to seduce Eli by the side of the road by exposing her cleavage (no nudity). Later, Solara is sent to Eli's room while wearing a skimpy, cleavage-revealing dress and ordered to provide him sexual favors (though her orders are more suggested than actually spoken aloud). But Eli refuses to take advantage of her.
  • Language:

    Several uses of "f--k" and "s--t." "P---y," "hell," and "bitch" are also heard. For the record, Eli himself doesn't use foul language.
  • Consumerism:

    Some brands survive the apocalypse intact -- Eli cleans himself with (and later trades) little individually wrapped handi-wipes from KFC, and Carnegie uses a bullhorn with "Motorola" clearly marked on the side. Partial sign for Puma shoes.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some background characters drink in a bar, become surly, and assault Eli.

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

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Washington
    Kids ages: 11
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    The Book of Eli

    A well crafted movie. Plot is fantastic and Denzel plays his role with such flare.

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0

    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

  3. I rate this title off for age 16 and give it 2.0
    • 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.

  4. I rate this title off for age 16 and give it 2.0
    • 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.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • 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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