Talkie Zoo: THE BOOK OF ELI

Today was my birthday, so Son took us out for dinner at my favorite local restaurant and a movie, The Book of Eli (2010; R). I must say, this is one of Denzel Washington's finer roles and he really did a great job on it.

The story revolves around a man who has been walking across America for the past 30 years, carrying a sacred book which he intends to deliver to a place "in the West". Through most of the film, Eli seems to be invincible, as though God Himself were protecting him. In fact, he even refers to being called into this mission and being under protection to get it accomplished. Needing no armor or joint pain relief, he wades through the bad guys over and over. This is post-apocalyptic America - after a devastating war has ravaged the land and atmosphere, allowing the most harmful rays of the sun to beat down on earth's surface.

During his trek, Eli encounters some of the worst thugs, hijackers, and criminals imaginable. People who have lost all sense of right and wrong and are desperate enough to kill innocent people just for their own personal gain. Water, food, and comforts are in short supply. They go on the black market in a sort of barter system where thievery has its greatest advantages.

Definitely a movie worth watching - maybe more than once! But there is rough language and lots of bloody violence)