The Book of Eli

[Escape]

Originally Posted by wayno007

He fights like a trained physically fit middle-aged man would -- with divine intervention, that is.

Hmmmm, I never thought that at all. It's easy nowadays with the trick of the camera to make even the average joe look like he's a martial artist. If I were to compare, I thought Denzel fought like Jason Bourne from the Identity films. Though I'd have to admit, even in some of those scenes, Damon was being thrown around a bit where Denzel wasn't. But aside from that, I couldn't notice any scene where Denzel looked his age while duking it out.

[yvhes1104]

I can't wait to see this. I want to see this, I am fan of end of the world.

[wayno007]

Originally Posted by Escape

Hmmmm, I never thought that at all. It's easy nowadays with the trick of the camera to make even the average joe look like he's a martial artist. If I were to compare, I thought Denzel fought like Jason Bourne from the Identity films. Though I'd have to admit, even in some of those scenes, Damon was being thrown around a bit where Denzel wasn't. But aside from that, I couldn't notice any scene where Denzel looked his age while duking it out.

Yeah, I think Denzel had some decent strength and fight training going into the movie, and good editing. I was interested in the back story of his character: was his skill truly the result of divine intervention, or was he a solider of sorts in his pre-apocalypse life? But not knowing adds to my interest.

[Sunfrogolin]

He was fearless.
Don't say he was an ex-navy Seal. They say that in every movie. He just fights good that's all. I don't want to know why.

[Escape]

Originally Posted by wayno007

Yeah, I think Denzel had some decent strength and fight training going into the movie, and good editing. I was interested in the back story of his character: was his skill truly the result of divine intervention, or was he a solider of sorts in his pre-apocalypse life? But not knowing adds to my interest.

Spoiler

In my humble opinion, I'd have to go with Divine intervention because unless he was a Jedi Night, how could a blind man shoot and kill with the accuracy he had. And not just once. But quite a few times even with his sword.

[wayno007]

Originally Posted by Escape

Spoiler

In my humble opinion, I'd have to go with Divine intervention because unless he was a Jedi Night, how could a blind man shoot and kill with the accuracy he had. And not just once. But quite a few times even with his sword.

Yes, I lean more in agreement with you.

Spoiler

I think he was more legally blind than totally, with a sensitivity to light. That might explain why he backed into the overpass to take on the highwaymen. Even with a lowered visual acuity to near objects and not far -- explaining why he would have an understanding of Braille -- I'm not seeing how he could use a firearm with iron sights and still achieve any kind of accuracy.

Which leads me to his journey ...

Spoiler

... When he explains to the girl how he came by the book and his quest, all we have to go on is his word. For all we know he stumbled upon the book while foraging, and then over the course of years, the reality became twisted into divine guidance. Surviving for that long in such an environment would have a profound effect on an individual, and this could have been a coping mechanism; he could just be a deranged man with incredibly good fortune. Either way, he had an unquestionable belief in what he was doing.

[Escape]

Originally Posted by wayno007

Yes, I lean more in agreement with you.

Spoiler

I think he was more legally blind than totally, with a sensitivity to light. That might explain why he backed into the overpass to take on the highwaymen. Even with a lowered visual acuity to near objects and not far -- explaining why he would have an understanding of Braille.

Yeah that's a good point and very possible.

Originally Posted by wayno007

Which leads me to his journey ...

Spoiler

... When he explains to the girl how he came by the book and his quest, all we have to go on is his word. For all we know he stumbled upon the book while foraging, and then over the course of years, the reality became twisted into divine guidance. Surviving for that long in such an environment would have a profound effect on an individual, and this could have been a coping mechanism; he could just be a deranged man with incredibly good fortune. Either way, he had an unquestionable belief in what he was doing.

Spoiler

I think that that those are all good possibilities there. I still can't get passed on how dead accurate he was with his gun fighting skills and hand to hand combat skills. Also I believe the ending's music score pointed us in the direction of hope. If Divine intervention was not taking place here, then hope on a man made book doesn't seem like it's saying much. I suppose we will have to wait for the Director's commentary and see if he explains exactly what he was trying to get accross to the viewer. But I find many movies today, the director loves leaving endings up to the viewer. I was never a big fan of that when it comes to most films.

[Sunfrogolin]

Spoiler

He was a saint capable of miraculous things like fighting blind. Or maybe his heightend senses allowed him to smell and hear his attackers like Daredevil. I'm pretty sure he didn't shoot anyone from far away. Didn't he just have the shotgun and wasn't the guy talking right in front of him? You can still miss with a shotgun and kill someone.

[Escape]

Originally Posted by Sunfrogolin

Spoiler

Didn't he just have the shotgun and wasn't the guy talking right in front of him? You can still miss with a shotgun and kill someone.

Spoiler

No, he shot a few guys when he was trying to leave that town. They were a good distance away too.

[Luchi123]

As far as i know action, drama, adventure all present there. And i listen Denzel Washington has done a good job.