"Book of Eli" Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Spencer Morton

Some movies just reek of blatant waste of talent or miscasting. Judging by the trailer, “The Book of Eli” appears to be one of those films.

The basic premise of the film is seemingly unoriginal. Through some sort of war, the world has turned into a post-apocalyptic wasteland with few survivors. One man, Eli, has a book that is the key to the salvation of mankind, but there are those who will kill to use the book for evil. Eli has to fight to protect it. From a broad perspective, it’s pretty unoriginal.

Denzel Washington stars as Eli, the savior of mankind. Washington hasn’t starred in an action/adventure since, well, never. He’s been in action movies such as “Man on Fire” and maybe “Training Day,” but never anything like this. It’s a completely different role than what we’re used to seeing from Washington. He’s a phenomenal actor, but I’m skeptical. Then there is Mila Kunis, who plays his protégé, Solara. Never in a million years will I take Kunis seriously as an actress. Her presence in this film doesn’t lend it any credibility. Gary Oldman as Carnegie, the arch-villain, seems like a good choice, though. I loved his portrayal as the evil Zorg in “The Fifth Element.”

As for the trailer, it doesn’t look terrible, but it doesn’t look great either. It all seems fairly derivative and familiar, which isn't always a bad thing since the trailer almost makes the film loo stylish, action-packed and reasonably fun. The film seems as if it wants to take a serious, biblical sort of tone. If it goes down that road, this movie could fall into the “takes-itself-way-to-seriously” category.

Visually, the film’s palate is de-saturated. It’s bleak, gloomy, slick. The action looks exciting. That said, the dialogue appears to be typical, cliché action fare; the casting seems questionable; and the story a bit dumb.  Color me mildly intrigued.

View the trailer for the movie "The Book of Eli" below. What are you thoughts?