History Film / TheBookOfEli

[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/book_eli_250_9679.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:250:"''I walk by faith, not by sight.''"]]

A 2010 [[AfterTheEnd post-apocalyptic]] film starring Creator/DenzelWashington, Creator/GaryOldman, and Creator/MilaKunis directed by the Creator/HughesBrothers. Think a live action adaptation of ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' with a {{Race Lift}}ed Kenshiro, or ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' with Christianity instead of UsefulNotes/TheAmericanDream.

In the not-too-distant future, some 30 years after the final war, a solitary man walks across the wasteland that was once America. 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. Eli must keep moving to fulfill his destiny and bring help to a ravaged humanity. Only one other man in this ruined world understands the power Eli holds, and is determined to make it his own: Carnegie.

* MilkyWhiteEyes: Averted with Claudia, who was born blind. [[spoiler: Played straight with Eli, as part of a TheReveal.]]

* RealIsBrown: The colors are bleached to give a bleak, desolate, post-apocalyptic scenery. [[JustifiedTrope Makes sense]] considering what's affected the environment -- damaged ozone and resultant harsh sunlight, lack of rain, dust blowing everywhere, radiation, pollutants...

** The titular book of Eli, [[spoiler: a Braille Bible, purportedly containing the entire KJV text, would take up much more physical space than one volume. More like 18, and those are for ENORMOUS-sized books (roughly three full sets of ''Encyclopaedia Britannicas). Regular-sized volumes would number around 36 but perhaps it's another miracle.]]

* SurvivalMantra: "Stay on the path."

** You'd ''think'' the movie would be one of these, but oddly enough it isn't. Although Denzel Washington helped spearhead production because of his devout Christianity, the film never descends to "Bible good, other people/religions evil", or stops the plot so Eli can preach to everybody. Aside from the rather implausible "[[RuleOfDrama Eli's Bible is the only one left]]" plotpoint, Christianity itself is not presented as the perfect savior of humanity, in fact the bad guy specifically wants the book because he's aware how [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped the Bible has been used to prop up evil regimes throughout history]], and wants to take advantage of it for that reason. And the whole "hero is on a mission from God" thing is used less as a justification for pushing Christian ideology and more to set up scenes where Eli [[OneManArmy kicks copious amounts of ass without apparent injury.]]

A 2010 [[AfterTheEnd post-apocalyptic]] film starring Creator/DenzelWashington, Creator/GaryOldman, and Creator/MilaKunis directed by the Creator/HughesBrothers. Think a live action adaptation of the ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' {{Manga}}[=/=]{{Anime}} with a {{Race Lift}}ed Kenshiro, or ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' with Christianity instead of UsefulNotes/TheAmericanDream.

* LostCommonKnowledge: It's frequently brought up that kids born since the nuclear war are almost guaranteed to be illiterate, and people under the age of 30 are seen to marvel at things we would consider trivial. But the best example has to be when Carnegie orders one of his thugs to "check behind the TV," [[RealityEnsues only to get a confused "Huh?" from the mook who is several years too young to have ever watched one]]. Carnegie roars an incredulous ''"YOU'RE FUCKIN' SHITTIN' ME!"'' as he realizes this trope is in effect.

* PlatonicProstitution: Solara is given to Eli to use as he wishes, and she tells him she'll be punished if he sends he away. So they eat together and chat about the Bible.

* BadassBoast: "Touch me again with that hand and you won't get it back." More like a simple fact than a boast: he makes good on his word seconds later.

* AllMenAreRapists: It is ''not'' a good idea to wander alone in post-apocalyptic America if you're a woman.

* AuthorTract: You'd ''think'' the movie would be one of these, but oddly enough it isn't. Although Denzel Washington helped spearhead production because of his devout Christianity, the film never descends to "Bible good, other people/religions evil", or stops the plot so Eli can preach to everybody. Aside from the rather implausible "[[RuleOfDrama Eli's Bible is the only one left]]" plotpoint, Christianity itself is not presented as the perfect savior of humanity, in fact the bad guy specifically wants the book because he's aware how [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped the Bible has been used to prop up evil regimes throughout history]], and wants to take advantage of it for that reason. And the whole "hero is on a mission from God" thing is used less as a justification for pushing Christian ideology and more to set up scenes where Eli [[OneManArmy kicks copious amounts of ass without apparent injury.]]

* ForgottenCommonKnowledge: It's frequently brought up that kids born since the nuclear war are almost guaranteed to be illiterate, and people under the age of 30 are seen to marvel at things we would consider trivial. But the best example has to be when Carnegie orders one of his thugs to "check behind the TV," [[RealityEnsues only to get a confused "Huh?" from the mook who is several years too young to have ever watched one]]. Carnegie roars an incredulous ''"YOU'RE FUCKIN' SHITTIN' ME!"'' as he realizes this trope is in effect.

* AuthorTract: Averted. Although Denzel Washington helped spearhead production because of his devout Christianity, the film never descends to "Bible good, other people/religions evil", or stops the plot so Eli can preach to everybody. Aside from the rather implausible "[[RuleOfDrama Eli's Bible is the only one left]]" plotpoint, Christianity itself is not presented as the perfect savior of humanity, in fact the bad guy specifically wants the book because he's aware how [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped the Bible has been used to prop up evil regimes throughout history]], and wants to take advantage of it for that reason. And the whole "hero is on a mission from God" thing is used less as a justification for pushing Christian ideology and more to set up scenes where Eli [[OneManArmy kicks copious amounts of ass without apparent injury.]]

* BadassGrandpa: Mix this with NeverMessWithGranny and you get "Badass Old People". When Carnegie tracks Eli to an elderly couple's house, [[spoiler:they've got a cache of weapons under the couch. When Carnegie tells them to come outside with their hands up, the old lady's response is to cock her gun and curse at them.]]

* BadassGrandpa: Mix this with NeverMessWithGranny and you get "Badass Old Peole". When Carnegie tracks Eli to an elderly couple's house, [[spoiler:they've got a cache of weapons under the couch. When Carnegie tells them to come outside with their hands up, the old lady's response is to cock her gun and curse at them.]]

* SacredHospitality: Eli and Solara come across an old couple who are cannibals and have killed many other people. But, when Carnegie shows up and demands that Eli send Solara out with his Bible, they grab their guns and fight to protect them.

-->-- '''Eli''', quoting Literature/TheBible just before [[CurbStompBattle kicking the shit out of everybody in the room.]]

* DecoyDamsel: The trap early on. Eli doesn't fall for it. The woman tries it again on Solana, [[EvenEvilHasStandards but when she sees Solana is a woman, she tries to warn her away]] [[RapeAsDrama because she knows the gang will force themselves on her, and they would have]] if not for [[spoiler: [[BigDamnHeroes Eli's intervention]].]].

%% ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.

* TheReveal: [[spoiler: The Bible Eli had on him was written in braille all along.]]

* TheReveal: [[spoiler: Eli was blind the entire time. Plus, the book's in Braille.]]