First let me say, I am glad for guy friends. If not for my movie buddy, I would have been watching Valentine's Day or some such chick flick, wasting my time away with bon-bons. Instead, I had a list of 4 movies to choose from: The Book of Eli, Shutter Island, The Blind Side and From Paris with Love. The most chick of those flicks, I've already seen (The Blind Side). So, what's left? Not Shutter Island- I'm too….well, let's just say, if you want a review on that movie, don't expect me to have written it. I am too chicken. There. I said it. So, my response to him was Paris or Eli. And so, Eli it was; a 9:35pm showing at Alamance Crossings.

Plot: One man's holy, God-given mission to head west with the last known copy of the Bible; and, of course, the path he travels to get it there in a post war, wasteland of America. Enter blood, violence, interesting survival tactics, a greedy man with hopes to rule over the weak human leftovers (who just happens to want a Bible more than anything - religion being the opium of the weak) and a girl (because they always make for interesting obstacles in the path of men with missions).

It was interesting- visually. It felt filthy; there was an amazing conveyance of the grime, dirt and sweat of this world; of the thirst. Lots of contrast between the light and the dark. All meant, I think, to correlate with the emotional/mental state of things as well.

Denzel played an excellent Eli- a nice balance of humble power, man of wits, holy man on a mission, man exasperated with the girl but still does as much as he can to support/protect her, willing to kill anyone who gets in his way.

Gary….ah, Gary, the always amazing bad guy. He- as usual- offered a performance of a man I love to hate. He plays his character's role thoroughly and so I am just fine with the comeuppance that is due.

A heavy movie over all- leaving me intensely curious over the details of the past. How did things get to this point? I want a movie to explain the steps leading to the war, the war, the after effect, etc…But, that's a different movie. And, in fact, this is my biggest complaint about the movie: I am more interested in the details surrounding the story and supporting the story than the details of the story itself. Evil, greedy man tries to get in the way of a holy man and his mission: I've seen that story line before- many times.

A movie not without it's "lighter" moments- not sure that I can say funny; but there were moments that made me smile, and even laugh. Thank goodness too, because I was impressed by the seriousness of the mission. Some of those lighter moments can be chalked up to soundtrack choice- nicely done!

A movie with a few unexpected turns- I was expecting something, but not that! I enjoy a movie that can lead me to understand that something's afoot, but then surprise me anyway.

And now, I have just one question: if you eat too much human flesh, does it really give you the shakes?