In the not-too-distant future, some 30 years after the final war, a solitary man walks across the wasteland that was once America. Empty cities, broken highways, seared earth all around him, the marks of catastrophic destruction. There is no civilization here, no law. The roads belong to gangs that would murder a man for his shoes, an ounce of water... or for nothing at all. But they're no match for this traveler. A warrior not by choice but necessity, Eli seeks only peace but, if challenged, will cut his attackers down before they realize their fatal mistake. It's not his life he guards so fiercely but his hope for the future; a hope he has carried and protected for 30 years and is determined to realize. Driven by this commitment and guided by his belief in something greater than himself, Eli does what he must to survive and continue. Only one other man in this ruined world understands the power Eli holds, and is determined to make it his own: Carnegie, the self-appointed despot of a makeshift town of thieves and gunmen. Meanwhile, Carnegie's adopted daughter Solara is fascinated by Eli for another reason: the glimpse he offers of what may exist beyond her stepfather's domain. But neither will find it easy to deter him. Nothing and no one can stand in his way. Eli must keep moving to fulfill his destiny and bring help to a ravaged humanity.

I am not sure how they managed to make a full-length picture out of a story that is so skimpy that strippers wear more when stripping. It’s like they took an outline for a movie and rather than flesh out the story and add depth to the movie they just decided to throw a big name actor into the film and just have him do lots bad ass stunts and killings. The sad part is that there was actually a story there if they had bothered to go with it rather than just a rough outline of a movie. The movie actually reminded me a little of the Stand with the post apocalyptic world it inhabited but rather than expound on a world destroyed by nuclear weapons we get Denzel Washington walking 30 years across the United States to deliver a book to a fabled city.

Now by no means did I hate the movie in entirety as there as actually parts of the film that was very good and kept you entertained and enthralled but most of it was ruined when it became repetitive as there was nothing truly else going on because of the lack of store. The film was one scene of Denzel acting all tough and killing the bad guys followed by another scene of Denzel acting all bad ass and killing more bad guys over and over and over again. I admit in the beginning and the first time this happened when he is being set up by street vandals and highway robbers it was quite satisfying but by the time you hit the shootout in the farm house you have grown weary and wish for the movie to actually have a plot.

The movie doesn’t even really bother to give that much information on why the world was destroyed rather just giving a vague references to it happening. Everything about the movie is bare bones except for Denzel beating someone up or killing someone or getting into a firefight with someone and those scenes there is plenty of. The film seems like a big waste and a shame that they couldn’t find a better screenwriter.

Try this little task and see how successful you can be at it off the top of your head name as many movies as you can that Denzel Washington isn’t touting a gun. Not so easy it, Denzel has to be one of the most type casted actors in all of Hollywood which is a shame because he could be so much more as an actor. Sure there is scenes where he pulls this off with brilliance and you are entertained but after awhile you wish for more from him. Mila Kunis shows up as the lost soul that tries to win some love and humanity out of Denzel and she is actually pretty good in the film. The Book of Eli is an extremely mediocre film worth a rental only.

Grade: C-