Movie Review: Book of Eli

Summary : A post-apocalyptic action-drama about a man who walks a destroyed America. He owns a  special book for which others are hunting.

Review : I personally like post-apocalyptic flicks, no matter how many versions of it hits theaters and bomb . I enjoy seeing what people's visions are of a future where there are no cell phones, internet, or television (although in this movie you can still charge an iPod! ). Therefore, I truly wanted to like Book of Eli , but as hard as I tried -- and Lord knows I did -- I just couldn't muster up the enjoyment for the sketchy plot, poor cinematography and an inconceivable twist ending.

Even Denzel Washington , whose acting is stellar even with the problematic script, looks bored as he mopes through the flick. The two-time Oscar winner seems uninterested and it's no surprise since he recently said he wanted to get back to stage: "I find a lot of the movies are formulaic. I know a lot of people love them -- and believe me, I'm glad they do -- but I just think they've become formulaic." Washington is a stone-cold actor and placing him in a movie like Book of Eli downplays his gifts.

Book of Eli is the Hughes Brothers' first film since 2001's From Hell . In case you didn't catch From Hell , which was critically bashed, the Hughes Brothers are also known for unforgettable films like Menace II Society and Dead Presidents . In this movie, the Hugheses seem as lost as Eli. The movie madly bounces around the screen with a warrior who can do damage with a sword coupled with a young girl who happens to always look like a supermodel even though she rarely has soap and water – yeah, it’s one of those. Then, there is the “twist ending” (usually if it’s stressed there is a twist ending, it’s more like a knotty ending), which was eye-rolling and stuffed with religious and political agendas.

After Book of Eli , I hope the Hughes Brothers abandon these wannabe Hollywood glamor flicks and go back to gritty, raw dramas -- like Dead Presidents and Menace II Society -- that made their work so fresh, original and groundbreaking.

Book of Eli is in theaters now.