Comments on: Faith & Sight in The BOOK OF ELI

By: David Hatten

David Hatten — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:02:35 +0000

BTW: I also felt that Redridge had a faith consumation/conversion moment at his death. We’ve seen the slow building of his conflicted conscience. The piercing of Eli’s “sword” to his heart, and his transcendent moment of peace when he takes off his goggles and feels the warmth of the light and sun on his face.

By: David Hatten

David Hatten — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:48:37 +0000

Nice job, James. Very clear and well rounded review. I also listened to your sermon/review on the Mars Hill website. I wanted to throw my two cents in on something that you mentioned, and is also raised in concern by the last post on here contributed by Laura. In the closing scene, the Bible is placed (as mentioned) on the shelf with the other religious texts and documents of the other major world religions. However, I believe that Mr. Whitta’s intent is showcased in the fact that the Bible is not only central on the shelf (as James has mentioned), but it is also TALLER than any of the surrounding texts, and thus symbolically “towers” as authority over any competitors to the truth. Also, it’s mentioned earlier by Eli that all of the other Bibles in the world were burned and destroyed, but we see that God has miraculously preserved a copy of His Word to be delivered. It’s important to note that when he does deliver, the caretaker says “we’ve had all of this and that, but NEVER a Bible”. Since we see that all of the other texts are already there, we draw that none of them faced the same amount of persecution and attempted obliteration as the Bible. Yet, there it stands. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” ~ Luke 21:33

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:57:38 +0000

I Loved ‘The Book of Eli’, but was concerned at the end,bout having no other gods before God. Putting it on the shelf with all the other gods bothers me. Seemed like it was trying to appease all major religions. Close to ‘pandering’. However,one person made a fair enough point of view,that all religions (good) play a roll and need to be protected. I can deal with that,besides the tenderness and compassion and reverence goes a long way with me. Well done,please make more of these movies with substance and keep the debates going. As far as Denzel goes,I dont really care for his personal beliefs and principles,but dearly love him as an actor. He makes you just want to hug him and smile.

By: Tony Sunzeri

Tony Sunzeri — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 05:46:13 +0000

Thank you Gary Whitta for sparking debate by writing an open-ended epic tale. Sweet. My thoughts on the omission of Solara taking the book on her journey home: during the printing of the kjv on alcatraz, the moviemakers show us that more than one copy was being printed. That means that the book which we see sit along side of the quran and the torah was merely one of many copies made. I like to think the notetaker on the island was kind enough to give her a copy for her journey back home.

By: JB

JB — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:51:37 +0000

Did you notice what was printed on the spine? I thought that I noticed Van or Von. In another post someone thinks they saw “Alkatraz Edition” printed on it when it was put on the shelf after if was printed. Where can I find an actual picture of the spine of the Bible which was printed at the end of the movie Book of Eli?

By: Myson

Myson — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:35:11 +0000

No, maureen. If you remember, Solara’s mother already felt the Braille copy with Carnegie towards the end. That was a major point in the film, was that Eli had memorized the entire Scripture. and that’s how it was reprinted. By Lombardi writing what Eli repeated to him. Your ending would be nice, but impossible.

By: Francisco Bórquez

Francisco Bórquez — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:01:31 +0000

Thanks for the review, Pastor James.
I read them a little bit some time ago, but decided to stop reading the review and watch the movie first.
And I’ve watched it last night, with my dad (a professing non-Christian, and a freemason) and a good friend of mine (christian), an invitation for my dad’s birtday.

My dad loved it, and I think it might start a good conversation.
Thanks for the great tips here at cinemagogue.com and film & theology @ MH, it really helps me out.

god bless

By: 3 Deep cuts & 3 fun slices of ELI - cinemagogue

3 Deep cuts & 3 fun slices of ELI - cinemagogue — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 23:26:37 +0000

[...] Faith & Sight in The BOOK OF ELI [...]

By: Maureen

Maureen — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:24:52 +0000

I agree with you, Jason. I felt that Lombardi represented the intellectual who was interested in preserving the Bible, along with all the other books, for the sake of culture and history. The hope was in Solara who had a passion for the message.

My take on the end was that Solara, who, if I remember correctly, couldn’t read, was taking the Braille copy back to the one person who would be able to read it, her mother Claudia. Claudia was such a conflicted character. She’s someone who has an instinct about what’s right and understands Carnegie’s failings but can’t bring herself to let go of the comfort and protection he offers. I felt like Solara wants her mother to understand the messages that Eli personified: to find your life you have to lose it and that the only hope for freedom was in the fearless love the Book offers.

James, thanks for an excellent series.

By: Jason Maroney

Jason Maroney — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:31:58 +0000

Book of Eli is a wake up call for originality in both secular and Christian movies.
everything from top to bottom was solid, right on. Two points that walked away with me: the Bible can be our connection to God and the way that we are led by Him, guiding all of our life, or it is our means to an end, the card we play to get what we want. Secondly, the closing scene we see of this book that someone labored so much to deliver, giving up his life, just sitting on the shelf doesn’t and shouldn’t sit right with me. It is however, exactly what we do so often, both in personal life and in churches. That scene served as a call to action for me. (and I assumed Mila carried a copy in her backpack, since she served as Eli(jah)’s Elisha)

That people are upset with the violence and profanity in the book, show that they need to read the entirety of their Bible a little more and obey it over moralism.
Thanks Mr. Whitta for an incredible ride, we will be using it in our Men’s Ministry when it comes out on DVD.