The Book of Eli

Name: The Book of Eli
Item: The Book of Eli
Rating: 3
Author: Jeffrey M. Anderson

Movie review by

Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media

Parents recommendPopular with kids

Common Sense says

age 17+

(i)

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

R
2010
118 minutes

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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 27 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 39 reviews

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The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Positive 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. But (possible spoiler alert) the movie ends with a faith-positive sequence in which the Bible is hopefully reproduced for others and is given a place on the shelf next to the Tanakh and the Quran, suggesting hope and equality for the future.

Positive Role Models & Representations

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

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

What parents need to know

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.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Parent of a 11-year-old Written byThe Big E August 15, 2011

age 14+

Those who claim this movie is anti-religious are wrong

I disagree very strongly with those who interpret this movie as having having a bone to pick with religion. In my opinion, this movie is very positive about re... Continue reading

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Adult Written byCW100 August 3, 2019

age 13+

Very good movie

I am not normally able to watch movies with too much profanity, but this one was tolerable. As a mom with two teens, I would allow my 13 year old to watch it as... Continue reading

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Kid, 11 years old July 14, 2020

age 11+

boring

it boring Dudes

IT HAS A LOT OF VIOLENCE! See ya later bye

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Teen, 13 years old Written byalex_.extraletter May 29, 2018

age 12+

Such an ominous, inspiring, and complex story!

This has to be probably on my Top 5 movie list. Parents, do not let the R rating fool you into not letting your child or teen watch this movie. This is truly an... Continue reading

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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?

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.

Talk to your kids about ...

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?

Movie details

In theaters: January 15, 2010
On DVD or streaming: June 15, 2010
Cast: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis
Directors: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
Studio: Warner Bros.
Genre: Action/Adventure
Run time: 118 minutes
MPAA rating: R
MPAA explanation: some brutal violence and language
Last updated: June 17, 2020

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