THE MOVIE THE BOOK OF ELI COMES ON DVD IN JUNE 2010
A recent Wikipedia entry placed The Book of Eli right along side of The Blind Side as being a “Christian” film made by a major secular studio.
The story is about Eli (Denzel Washington), a warrior not by choice but necessity, who seeks only peace, but if challenged, will cut his attackers down before they realize their fatal mistake. While this graphically brutal picture might keep many away from watching it, the film has a very strong Judeo-Christian worldview.
With the book that Eli must take across country being the Bible, one member of the press asked Denzel if he anticipated significant controversy. Denzel says, “Why is it controversial?” The reporter, who seemed to have a penchant to stir things up, continued to push for a statement he could leverage.
Each of Denzel’s responses were priceless. He treated the book (The Bible) with common courtesy as if it were a normal part of our lives. To move the topic on, Denzel simply reminded the reporter that he was the only one using that word controversy. “Well, that’s a word you used three times now, so you run with that, I’ve never used that word actually, but I think that there is nothing wrong with debate, conversation, slash argument, whatever.
Imagine that, an idea, a thought, point of view.”
It became clear to everyone present that the Bible wasn’t considered controversial, but rather a source of information to help us live our day-to-day lives.
This prompted a second reporter to ask Denzel if he had drawn from any of his personal experiences during the production. Denzel says, “One day I came up with the idea of Gary’s character saying ‘pray for me.’ I mean it, that wasn’t in the original script, but it just made sense to me.
Violence and Language in “The Book of Eli”
Denzel Washington, one of Hollywood’s most successful and highly respected figures, stars in The Book of Eli, the story of a man of faith on a mission to protect the last copy of the Bible. America has suffered a catastrophic destruction and civilization and law have disappeared. Described as “a warrior by necessity,” Eli seeks peace. But if the book he carries, the hope for the future, is challenged, he will protect it fiercely. He’s a man who does what he must to survive and continue on his mission.
The film is rated R and contains graphic violence and language, causing many who are Christians to wonder why a man with such public faith would take a role in a film that contains what many Christians consider objectionable content. Ever since screening the film last month, I’ve often pondered that question and others related to it.
What’s a Christian To Do?
Setting aside the violence and language, the story of a man protecting the Bible makes anyone watching consider what they would protect with their life. What is worth living and dying for?
Screenwriter Gary Whitta wrote the film because of his fascination with questions like these, questions of faith. “I always like the movie [I write] to be about something. For me the big question of faith and believing in something larger than yourself is fascinating.Eli praying for dinner”
The idea of belief in something greater than yourself is the most powerful force in the universe. That’s something that can be turned for incredible good or incredible destruction. [It’s] an intellectual battle about the preservation of knowledge and sustaining this book that tells us an incredible amount.
“Whether you believe in it or not, the Bible is who we are. It’s been a cornerstone of civilization for 2000 years, and the battle over that ideology, I thought, is a really interesting one.”
Support Films about Faith
Personally, I want to support filmmakers who explore questions of faith in their films. For me, choosing to see this film is casting a vote for Hollywood filmmakers to keep making films about faith. It is telling them I will buy tickets to films they create about topics I’m interested in.
Will I always agree with their conclusions and their methods? No, but what I do agree with, and get excited about, is Hollywood filmmakers who spend time researching the Bible to make a film. Whitta said he spent a lot of time going through the Bible to find passages Eli could quote at appropriate moments, and that Denzel Washington came to script meetings with his Bible.
Good Battling Evil
The Book of Eli is without question a violent movie. It combines martial arts scenes with Western-flavored shoot-outs, complete with Gatling guns and surface missiles. Almost every conceivable weapon is used in a battle between good and evil, for in the grand scheme of this movie, that is the overarching theme.
Gary Oldman & Denzel Washington face offFor many of us, that raises the question of when violence is acceptable. If I look to the Bible, I see an Old Testament filled with violence as the nation of Israel fights to establish itself and protect itself from its enemies. There are several recorded occasions when God told a king to completely wipe out the opposing enemy.
Chapter 11 of the book of 2 Samuel, which records David’s infidelity with Bathsheba, begins with this statement, “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war,…” And before that, the nation of Israel celebrated David’s victories when they sang “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” (1 Samuel 18:7)
Of course, one can argue that is history from the Old Testament, and we are living under the grace of the New Testament and the instruction of Jesus. He instructs us to turn the other cheek and not to resist an evil person when they strike us on the cheek (Matthew 5:39).
The Violence of Eli
When Eli commits violence, he does so from a defensive position. He’s defending himself, the book he carries, or helpless people. There is one instance where he steps into a situation from which there is no possible escape other than violence, but he is not the one instigating the fight.Eli on the Road
Could Eli accomplish his mission without resorting to violence? I don’t know. The world he inhabits is vastly different than the one we live in. His options are extremely limited, and he is facing incredible odds just to survive. In his world, people are killed over water, clothing and shelter, the basic necessities of life.
There is no central civilization, and very few people even remember what the world was like before disaster struck. It’s a primitive place inhabited by primitive people, and the niceties and trappings of society have been stripped away to reveal man at his worst.
The Language of Eli
For most Christians, language is a distinctive of the faith, an outward sign of an inward commitment. Foul language is not something that’s heard in church or in most conversations between Christians. Even more abhorrent is the use of profanity, taking the Lord’s name in vain.
To Christians, and those who judge them, language can be a hallmark. But to the person who is not a Christian, language is a reflection of the culture. What does the culture say is acceptable? What are other people around them saying? What do they hear, what do they use?Eli
Regardless of whether we deem it right or wrong, the culture around us uses foul language and profanity, and it will be reflected in the entertainment the culture produces. There aren’t any curse words heard in movies that can’t be heard in the hallways of our schools, on the streets of our cities, in songs heard on the radio and in programs on the television.
The question I ask myself about the language is how people inhabiting a world without any laws or semblance of civilization would speak? Because Eli is protecting the only remaining copy of the Bible, no one is reading or living by it, therefore man’s knowledge of God and his ways is practically non-existent, and the language, Denzel portrays a man with a mission who will stop at nothing to achieve his goal. and the film in general, reflects that condition.
The movie portrays an intelligent plot and action scenes that are strong and powerful. Mila Kunis is very good in her role, She becomes his friend and helps him achieve his goal. She also finds her inner strength. The initial reviewer seems to have issues with the movie's religious tone and the concept that a Bible would be so important. I, as a Christian ,appreciate Denzel's courage to produce and act in a film that brings God into the theatre. The powerful concept of hope will appeal to all-not only those in the "Bible Belt". It also reveals the atmosphere of sin and violence that comes in a Godless society.
This film is rated R for violence and language, and is not appropriate for children.
