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Reviews
The Book of Eli (2010)
It's not a pro-Christian film!
I won't bother with the synopsis, as that's already been done to death.
What I do want to say is that I didn't find this to be some evangelical Christian film. Those that have claimed it is are not really understanding the film. I suspect they're just seeing the portrayal of the Bible as important and jumping to this incorrect conclusion.
*** Spoilers ***
Yes, Eli is devout in his faith in the Bible and his 'mission' to take the book west to where he believes its rightful home will be. Because he heard a voice in his head. He absolutely believes he's protected on this mission by God, and due to this protection will enter his various combats without fear and with an absolute certainty that he will prevail. It is this belief that makes him so effective in the fights, not supernatural protection. This is demonstrated when Carnegie just shoots him.
Carnegie wants the Bible not because he's of a religious bent and wants to illuminate the minds of his minions with the glory of the Lord. He wants it because he knows the power that religion can bring to those whom control it. Living before 'the war' and being an obviously intelligent man, he'll have known that the grip that religion can hold over the indoctrinated has been abused for time immemorial by those who control the religion to manipulate those under its spell.
Carnegie wants that power and control for himself. I thought the film was pretty clear in making that apparent.
Finally, when Eli gets to Alcatraz, he isn't lauded as some messianic figure who's fulfilled his mission to deliver the Bible to a peoples who will use it to reunite civilisation. Instead, he's welcomed as someone who's brought an important historical book that they didn't already have. Lombardi then explains their mission to rebuild civilisation with ALL the artifacts of the lost humanity - a wide range of books, music and other items. After Eli completes the dictating of the Bible, it is merely put on the bookshelf amongst all the other books.
Saying all that, I found the film to be nothing special. I know people who lose a sense (in this case sight) often have their remaining 4 senses develop to slightly counteract their disability, but there's also taking this notion too far. It's probably best that the twist isn't revealed until the end, because I'd have likely switched off well before then with an incredulous shake of the head.
The film also added disappointingly little to the post-apocalypse genre, relying on a lot of Mad Max imagery and plot, especially concerning the villains.
Overall, a watchable film... but not a great.
Funland (2005)
Surreal & Dark - Brilliant
BBC3 has been an excellent vehicle for new ventures that, due to their 'different' approach, wouldn't be picked up by either BBC1 or BBC2. Admittedly there have been some lumps of crap and a whole load of averageness, but amongst that have been some glimpses of pure brilliance.
And Funland is one of the highlights.
Set amongst the downmarket seediness that is Blackpool, the characters are almost all deliberately grotesque exaggerations. One can't fail to see the obvious comparisons with the League of Gentlemen.
The acting is good enough to compliment the script, with some well-known faces turning up in roles - and situations - you wouldn't expect to see them in.
I loved it.