Now, understand that I went to see this one with not high expectations, but with a certain level of hope. Denzel Washington, always a good performance. Gary Oldman is one of the finest actors the world has today, and is playing a villain for the first time in years. This certainly had promise. Well, I’ve had promises made to me before. Talk, however, is cheap. And movie tickets are not. But taste is not universal, so let me tell you about "The Book of Eli" and let you make your own mind up about it.

[PLEASE NOTE: The next few paragraphs contain spoilers. If you’re determined to see this picture, stop reading NOW!

Across this wasteland comes a loner - Eli ( Denzel Washington). He is walking wests because a voice in his head told him to do so. Thirty years earlier, after the "flash," this voice told him to take a particular book and start walking west. Because of the religious nature of the war, people thought the Bible started the war, so every Bible in the world was destroyed except the one Eli has. The voice also told him it would lead him to the place he needed to be, and protect him along the way.  So, after thirty years of walking, Eli is almost to the Pacific Coast. But, not more than a tankful of gas from his destination, he comes to the ruins of a small town ruled by Carnegie (Gary Oldman), a maniac desperate to find a Bible. He wants one because once he has it’s holy words to quote, he is certain everyone will flock to him and do precisely what he wants. Eli only wants a local shopkeeper ( Tom Waits ) to recharge his iPod battery, but suspicion that the stranger carries a book tarbels fast. Of course, Eli can’t give up his Bible because, ahhhh ... I guess the voice wouldn’t approve. And so, conflict ensues.  Carnegie runs the townlike a mob boss, and is served by two female slaves, his mistress, the blind Claudia 
( Jennifer Beals ) and her daughter Solara ( Mila Kunis ) who is desperate to free herself and her mother from Carnegie.  Add into this hodge-podge Carnegie's headman Redridge ( Ray Stevenson ) who wants Solara as payment for finding the book.

I know it sounds as if I’m describing some sort of "For Christians Only" production, but I don’t really think the film is aimed at anyone in particular. The God of this story certainly isn’t the usual "God of love." If it supposed to be God’s voice driving Eli, it’s a God who swept the world clean with fire instead of a flood. This is the picture’s major flaw. It simply doesn’t know what it’s about. The acting is fine. Locations, sets, costuming, all creative and competently handled. The special effects are good as they come. But the movie simply doesn’t add up to anything. Is Eli under God’s protection? If he is, why does it take him thirty years to walk across the country? Why does he have him make this journey just so the Bible can reach a mysterious destination.

There are more unanswered questions, but the above should be enough. Is it a science fiction film or a religious come on--I don’t know. Why was there a war, what was the "flash," how can there still be canned goods, gasoline and gunpowder left after three decades? 

Sadly, it seems the likely answer is someone in Hollywood started to think about their vomitus life style in conjunction with what that was doing to their immortal soul, and decided to try and cop a plea-bargain with the Almighty. Something like--"Hey, Lord, forgive me my sins now that I’m getting old and I’ll make a movie that’s like all reverent and stuff. Deal?"  Yes, I know that was a fairly cruel thing for me to say, considering someone may have actually thought they were doing God’s work by making this sad, tired bundle of nonsense. But then, it was fairly cruel of them to cut all the exciting action scenes into the trailer and not give us the slightest clue of how deadly dull and boring the other nine tenths of the film were.  I wish it were otherwise, but this one is pretty much a waste of time.

Our final word: 1 star out of 5.

 It’s 30 years after the really big war that destroyed civilization and civility. Devastation is everywhere as cities are empty, highways and bridges destroyed, and the earth seemingly not fit for habitation. This was once America, but now gangs control the roads, murdering, raping  and plundering travelers. Canniballism is not uncommon for survival. No one is safe.  Along comes Eli, a man of peace who will stop anyone if challenged using maximum force if necessary. With ninja skills and a machete he can dispatch a dozen attackers before you can unwrap your Snickers. Eli seems to have a hope for the future and is committed and guided by his faith and belief. But first,  he must lock horns with the ambitious Carnegie who like the town boss of the classic westerns leads a band of gunmen and thieves . Carnegie is after one particular book - the one that  Eli possesses and carries with him. It seems that after the destruction of the war, people lost faith, blamed organized religion for the conflict and burned all the Bibles. Eli seems to have the only known remaining copy of the King James bible on Earth.

 Carnegie’s adopted daughter Solara (Mila Kunis) is fascinated by Eli and realizes there could be something better in Eli’s concept of a different way of thinking. Is there help in this ravaged human existence and can Eli bring it all about for a better world? It’s good vs. evil once more with action and annihilation.  Eli is an everyman guided by his faith. He confides to Solara that a voice had led him to uncover the Bible he possesses which was hidden under rubble. He is going West to find a place for it, why or where he’s not quite sure. Carnegie is also looking for this book as he feels he can gain even more power over people by the words in scripture.

 At one point, Eli reflects that people before the great war had no idea what was precious and discarded what they now fight over to possess. Food and especially water are scarce commodities and bartering and trading is the order of the day.  ( This is one of the morals of the story that is delivered with a sledge hammer ). The tale, especially its finale, is fascinating, quite original, and eye-popping and entrancing with its washed out, muted colors and bleak vistas. Despite the graphic brutality and slaughter, it’s a most interesting endeavor, well paced and directed by the Hughes Brothers. The only point I’d like to make, without giving away the ending, is that when you truly learn all there is about Eli, the things he was able to do previously appear to be quite a stretch. But going along with the flow, “THE BOOK OF ELI” is a fine bit of cinematic storytelling well worth your time at the movies.

 PS – Watch at the end for an uncredited cameo appearance of a fine actor who has a small pivotal role in the story. 

Trivia -  Kristen Stewart turned down Mila Kunis's role due to scheduling conflicts with New Moon and Denzel Washington performed all of his own stunts for the hand to hand fight sequences
 

 “THE LAST STATION” can be called an epic tale of loyalty and betrayal, well acted, well directed, and giving the viewing audience a perspective into the later life of the eminent Russian writer and how he reacted to family, friends, and associates.   Two romances actually encompass the story, one near its end, the other just beginning. A complex, rich, emotional, and yes, humorous story is presented concerning how difficult it is to live with love and how it is impossible to be without it. Not for a moment do you lose interest or attention as to what is being woven on screen.

 This film had a one-week run in December for Academy consideration at Oscar time. Indeed, it could very well be nominated in several categories. “THE LAST STATION” is worth seeing.

PS – In the musical score to the film, I thought I noticed romantic piano strains from that marvelous Italian film several years ago, “IL POSTINO” (“THE POSTMAN”).

The Story: CIA spy Bob Ho (Chan) is working a tough case with his partners Glaze ( George Lopez ) and George ( Billy Ray Cyrus ). Russian spies Creel ( Katherine Boecher ) and Poldark ( Magnus Scheving ) trying to obtain a formula that will turn oil to dust and therefore, make the possessor of this formula very rich.  But right in the middle of his assignment Bob decides to retire and  he takes on his toughest assignment to date: looking after his girlfriend Gillian's ( Amber Valetta )  three kids, Farren ( Madleine Carroll ) Ian ( Will Shadley) and cutie pie Nora ( Alina Foley ) who haven't exactly warmed to their mom's beau. 

When one Ian accidentally downloads the top-secret oil/dust formula, Bob's longtime nemesis pursues him and the kids and finally pays a visit to the family.  There are gadgets galore and in the tradition of ''Spy Kids'' a happy ending. I doubt there will be a sequel however.