Denzel Washington to Star in Book of Eli

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

so you think he was blind? re watch time. I'm pretty sure he wasn't blind. Why would a blind man need a lantern? or sunglasses? He clearly looks at many things over the course of the movie, and not in an ambiguous way. The conversation he has with the store owner... he's not blind. The point of the bible being in brail, was to hammer home the irony of Gary Oldman's mistreatment on Kunis' mother.

Re-watch time? Its obvious he was blind, and i dont mean that in a nasty way, did you miss the ending close up on his eyes when they were blue?

And how would he read and memorise the bible in brail if he wasnt blind? Not to mention why was he constantly feeling things throughout the movie before touching them, why did he have to sniff the black water at the start to know it wasnt good for him.

It was totally and utterly obvious he was blind, and it was God guiding him and defending him along the way, as he was told. Why were his senses heightened, why did he feel the whole body of the guy at the start only to find his boots once he had felt them? Why was he never seen driving a car?

Sorry, but if you missed this plot point, which the whole ending is based around, its not me who needs to re-watch the movie.

 

[Kane52630]

^Personally I thought the ending was the best part of the movie, very clever ending which made you think about the movie and will reward repeat viewings for me.

same here.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I might see this on Friday. I have the day off from midterm week and I don't want to stay home all day.

 

[Superfreak]

Re-watch time? Its obvious he was blind, and i dont mean that in a nasty way, did you miss the ending close up on his eyes when they were blue?

And how would he read and memorise the bible in brail if he wasnt blind? Not to mention why was he constantly feeling things throughout the movie before touching them, why did he have to sniff the black water at the start to know it wasnt good for him.

It was totally and utterly obvious he was blind, and it was God guiding him and defending him along the way, as he was told. Why were his senses heightened, why did he feel the whole body of the guy at the start only to find his boots once he had felt them? Why was he never seen driving a car?

Sorry, but if you missed this plot point, which the whole ending is based around, its not me who needs to re-watch the movie.

maybe he went blind at that point... but otherwise, upon rewatch, he does not appear to at all be playing blind throughout the rest of the movie... it's therefore pretty much irrelevant. If he were cured, by god, and then that blessing departed him upon completion of his mission, then the fact that he is blind, for the last to shots of the film, is not all that important.

As for everything before those last two shots of Denzel in the film, when ever he has a conversation with someone, he has direct eye contact... and when he is trapped in the house with Kunis as 'dessert', he has a latern. Why would he need light to see his way around the room if he were blind? Why would he need sunglasses when he's outdoor, but not indoor? He doesn't play, or appear to be playing blind in any one of the scenes. And by that, I mean it's not like a subtle thing... he looks at things, and into other peoples eyes when he's talking.

hence I say, rewatch. The irony from the brail was directed totally at Oldman's character's abuse of the blind woman.

 

[T'Jai]

maybe he went blind at that point... but otherwise, upon rewatch, he does not appear to at all be playing blind throughout the rest of the movie... it's therefore pretty much irrelevant. If he were cured, by god, and then that blessing departed him upon completion of his mission, then the fact that he is blind, for the last to shots of the film, is not all that important.

As for everything before those last two shots of Denzel in the film, when ever he has a conversation with someone, he has direct eye contact... and when he is trapped in the house with Kunis as 'dessert', he has a latern. Why would he need light to see his way around the room if he were blind? Why would he need sunglasses when he's outdoor, but not indoor? He doesn't play, or appear to be playing blind in any one of the scenes. And by that, I mean it's not like a subtle thing... he looks at things, and into other peoples eyes when he's talking.

hence I say, rewatch. The irony from the brail was directed totally at Oldman's character's abuse of the blind woman.

Part of the reason it was hard to spot is cause he was actively trying to hide it. he backed into the darkness to fight the first group of guys, walked slowly "with purpose" at all times, and we attributed his eccentricity to his "purpose" which it was when combined with his blindness. (he was legally blind at the very least)

 

[Mr.Webs]

And remember the lantern was already on when he was shown his room, I believe. That's why when she mentions how bright the room is, Eli says nothing about it. Little things like that make the ending even more brilliant, in my opinion.

 

[RockSP]

The irony from the brail was directed totally at Oldman's character's abuse of the blind woman.

No, the brail simply was what it was. That's the twist of the movie...he's blind. That's why Carnegie (Oldman) was going on and on about "that's impossible!" once he got the book open.

 

[Holiday]

The line that Eli said to Kunis' character, "I walk by faith, not by sight" really says to me that he was indeed blind.

 

[T'Jai]

And quite a few blind people Look directly at people that are talking to them...

 

[The Sage]

^Why not ask them here The Sage, I'm sure everyone could help out.

Spoiler

Why were they checking people's hands? I didn't get the point. At first I thought it was to identify cannibals but that didn't seem plausible. What caused the great flash? I'm guessing a nuclear missile, but I don't think it was answered. And what is the girl doing in the end? I thought she was taking a copy of the Bible east, spreading the Word, but how much time did she have with Eli, and can she take care of herself as well as he did?

 

[Team Andino]

Spoiler

Why were they checking people's hands? I didn't get the point. At first I thought it was to identify cannibals but that didn't seem plausible. What caused the great flash? I'm guessing a nuclear missile, but I don't think it was answered. And what is the girl doing in the end? I thought she was taking a copy of the Bible east, spreading the Word, but how much time did she have with Eli, and can she take care of herself as well as he did?

If you eat to much human meat it would affect your nerves, hence why they knew the old people would try an eat them when they saw how much her hands were shaking. Everyone asks to see your hands to see if they even trembled a little.

I like how they left open the "war" an "great flash", they mentioned that the bible might of had a part it what started the events. I like leaving that open though cause it leaves it open for your interpretation. As for the girl going back east at the end I took it as her trying to save her mom since there was nothing else out there for her an apparently she learned enough to believe she can defend herself or maybe now the power of faith will protect her much like it did Denzel

 

[T'Jai]

Spoiler

Why were they checking people's hands? I didn't get the point. At first I thought it was to identify cannibals but that didn't seem plausible. What caused the great flash? I'm guessing a nuclear missile, but I don't think it was answered. And what is the girl doing in the end? I thought she was taking a copy of the Bible east, spreading the Word, but how much time did she have with Eli, and can she take care of herself as well as he did?

Spoiler

you had the hand thing right, would have 2 say a nuke as well... it wasn't, That's a good damn question

 

[The Sage]

If you eat to much human meat it would affect your nerves, hence why they knew the old people would try an eat them when they saw how much her hands were shaking. Everyone asks to see your hands to see if they even trembled a little.

I like how they left open the "war" an "great flash", they mentioned that the bible might of had a part it what started the events. I like leaving that open though cause it leaves it open for your interpretation. As for the girl going back east at the end I took it as her trying to save her mom since there was nothing else out there for her an apparently she learned enough to believe she can defend herself or maybe now the power of faith will protect her much like it did Denzel

Didn't know that about human meat and nerves. Makes sense.

Spoiler

you had the hand thing right, would have 2 say a nuke as well... it wasn't, That's a good damn question

Andino's response works, but I wish that little bit of information was in the movie.

Still liked it though.

 

[T'Jai]

For me it was more about the power of faith in general. The closing imagery opened it up and showed the power of his personal belief and journey. It brought it beyond a single religious belief and made it a personal message of spirituality...

 

[mrvlknight21]

I believe it had to affect your perspective on the movie. My idiot cousin ruined the ending to Se7en for me before I got to see it an when I finally did all I could think about how I knew the ending already an how the shock an twist part no longer meant anything to me.

Im sure that youre right.

Oh man, Seven was awesome and holds a special place in my heart...I would hate to have that piece of work ruined!

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

same here.

maybe he went blind at that point... but otherwise, upon rewatch, he does not appear to at all be playing blind throughout the rest of the movie... it's therefore pretty much irrelevant. If he were cured, by god, and then that blessing departed him upon completion of his mission, then the fact that he is blind, for the last to shots of the film, is not all that important.

As for everything before those last two shots of Denzel in the film, when ever he has a conversation with someone, he has direct eye contact... and when he is trapped in the house with Kunis as 'dessert', he has a latern. Why would he need light to see his way around the room if he were blind? Why would he need sunglasses when he's outdoor, but not indoor? He doesn't play, or appear to be playing blind in any one of the scenes. And by that, I mean it's not like a subtle thing... he looks at things, and into other peoples eyes when he's talking.

hence I say, rewatch. The irony from the brail was directed totally at Oldman's character's abuse of the blind woman.

No, that wasnt the only irony at all, he wasnt playing blind because he didnt want people to know for one, and for the other, God was directing his every movement, this was part of the 'protection' that he was told he would recieve.

How would he become blind during the course of the movie? He was blind all the way through, and if you think back to many things he did during the movie, this is completely and utterly obvious. How you missed this I'll never know, its what the whole ending is based on.

As for looking straight at people, he would have heard them talking to him, his senses were heightened, which came from him being blind for so long.

Everyone I know on or off here who has seen the movie cottoned onto him being blind at the end, it was totally obvious.

Part of the reason it was hard to spot is cause he was actively trying to hide it. he backed into the darkness to fight the first group of guys, walked slowly "with purpose" at all times, and we attributed his eccentricity to his "purpose" which it was when combined with his blindness. (he was legally blind at the very least)

Exactly, there are hints throughout the movie that he is blind, we just dont get onto it until it is revealed to us at the end, thats the cleverness of the ending.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

No, the brail simply was what it was. That's the twist of the movie...he's blind. That's why Carnegie (Oldman) was going on and on about "that's impossible!" once he got the book open.

Exactly, because he saw how Eli handled himself, he even says "I've never seen anyone handle themselves like you......" And at the end, when Carnegie finds out he's blind through the brail book, he cant believe it, hence him shouting "thats impossible" over and over.

 

[Superfreak]

No, that wasnt the only irony at all, he wasnt playing blind because he didnt want people to know for one, and for the other, God was directing his every movement, this was part of the 'protection' that he was told he would recieve.

How would he become blind during the course of the movie? He was blind all the way through, and if you think back to many things he did during the movie, this is completely and utterly obvious. How you missed this I'll never know, its what the whole ending is based on.

As for looking straight at people, he would have heard them talking to him, his senses were heightened, which came from him being blind for so long.

Everyone I know on or off here who has seen the movie cottoned onto him being blind at the end, it was totally obvious.



Exactly, there are hints throughout the movie that he is blind, we just dont get onto it until it is revealed to us at the end, thats the cleverness of the ending.

he certainly went blind at the end of the movie, that I will not argue. But as for being blind the rest of the movie, I disagree... it was more like he was blind, then cured by god, before the movie. I've rewatched 3 times now, and still don't see it.

I would have been impressed on rewatch, if it were that he was literally blind the whole movie (and it was recognizable on second view). But it just doesn't feel that way on first, or on rewatch. It would have been amazing if it had been made more clear that he was totally blind... without the audience realizing. But three times I've watched this, twice looking specifically from your perspective, and I still don't see it.

There are no scenes in the movie that imply he is blind (other than the last couple)... but there are also no scenes implying that he can see. Not implying that he can see, does not mean that he cannot see. I see no quotable proof from the movie that defines denzel as blind... prior the close up of his eyes at the end. I call that a denouement for denouement's sake.

 

[topdog1]

9/10

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie on many levels. Yes, the spurts of violence seem to clash with the overall message but even that aspect is covered by dialogue and a nicely crafted story. The parallels between Denzel's character and Jesus (again minus the violence) and Mila's character to Mary Magdalene are apparent but handled well in my opinion. A big point off for the premise that apparently led to the apocalyptic times depicted but that grim world does draw you in to the film completely. Taking entertainment to a thoughtful level is always good and this film succeeds at that remarkably well. It points out that it's critical to define what's really important in life. There are no small things, just things we take for granted. (Next time I’m in KFC, I'm going to take a massive handful of wet wipes!) The reverence and reference to the need for faith and what life would be like without it is strong. "Finish the race, fight the good fight and keep the faith."

 

[mrvlknight21]

he certainly went blind at the end of the movie, that I will not argue. But as for being blind the rest of the movie, I disagree... it was more like he was blind, then cured by god, before the movie. I've rewatched 3 times now, and still don't see it.

I would have been impressed on rewatch, if it were that he was literally blind the whole movie (and it was recognizable on second view). But it just doesn't feel that way on first, or on rewatch. It would have been amazing if it had been made more clear that he was totally blind... without the audience realizing. But three times I've watched this, twice looking specifically from your perspective, and I still don't see it.

There are no scenes in the movie that imply he is blind (other than the last couple)... but there are also no scenes implying that he can see. Not implying that he can see, does not mean that he cannot see. I see no quotable proof from the movie that defines denzel as blind... prior the close up of his eyes at the end. I call that a denouement for denouement's sake.

There were a lot of little scenes that showed that he was blind throughout the movie. They are small and may seem insignificant, but they are there.
Examples:
#1 Walking up to the old couples home, he bumps the door with his shotgun...that was his way of knowing if he had made it to the door yet.
#2 When his Ipod battery dies, he keeps hitting the button...possibly because he cant see the low battery signal on the screen. He thinks it has simply screwed up.
#3 Watch how he reacts to the dead man hanging in the abandoned home near the beginning of the movie-he feels the man's shirt before he even figures out that there is someone hanging there. Once he realizes this, he reaches down to the shoes and takes them.

There are other parts, small ones, like these that show that he is blind the whole time, I just cant remember any right now.

In fact, a buddy of mine who doesnt do any research on movies watched it with me and about half way through, leaned over and said "Can he see?"
So, it was kind of obvious to him as well.

Several websites/reviews and such have indicated that Eli is blind the whole time.
This is just one:
http://www.themoviespoiler.com/Spoilers/bookofeli.html

 

[GhostPoet]

I can't believe you guys are debating if he was blind or not. Come on, it was so plainly obvious he was blind. mrvlknight21 has it right. There are so many little things that prove he was blind right from the start.

I thought that was obvious...sheesh

 

[RockSP]

I can't believe you guys are debating if he was blind or not. Come on, it was so plainly obvious he was blind. mrvlknight21 has it right. There are so many little things that prove he was blind right from the start.

Well, there's really only one person who can't seem to see (pun intended) that the character was indeed blind.

I thought that was obvious...sheesh

Did you know the entire time?

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

he certainly went blind at the end of the movie, that I will not argue. But as for being blind the rest of the movie, I disagree... it was more like he was blind, then cured by god, before the movie. I've rewatched 3 times now, and still don't see it.

I would have been impressed on rewatch, if it were that he was literally blind the whole movie (and it was recognizable on second view). But it just doesn't feel that way on first, or on rewatch. It would have been amazing if it had been made more clear that he was totally blind... without the audience realizing. But three times I've watched this, twice looking specifically from your perspective, and I still don't see it.

There are no scenes in the movie that imply he is blind (other than the last couple)... but there are also no scenes implying that he can see. Not implying that he can see, does not mean that he cannot see. I see no quotable proof from the movie that defines denzel as blind... prior the close up of his eyes at the end. I call that a denouement for denouement's sake.

Then you need to re-watch it again, there are obvious hints throughout the movie that he is blind, he was told on his journey he would be given protection, THIS is how he could defend himself.

I have pointed out numerous hints for you that are apparent in the movie, they are sprinkled throughout it, its only at the end when we realise he was blind the whole time that we think back to these instances.

There were a lot of little scenes that showed that he was blind throughout the movie. They are small and may seem insignificant, but they are there.
Examples:
#1 Walking up to the old couples home, he bumps the door with his shotgun...that was his way of knowing if he had made it to the door yet.
#2 When his Ipod battery dies, he keeps hitting the button...possibly because he cant see the low battery signal on the screen. He thinks it has simply screwed up.
#3 Watch how he reacts to the dead man hanging in the abandoned home near the beginning of the movie-he feels the man's shirt before he even figures out that there is someone hanging there. Once he realizes this, he reaches down to the shoes and takes them.

There are other parts, small ones, like these that show that he is blind the whole time, I just cant remember any right now.

In fact, a buddy of mine who doesnt do any research on movies watched it with me and about half way through, leaned over and said "Can he see?"
So, it was kind of obvious to him as well.

Several websites/reviews and such have indicated that Eli is blind the whole time.
This is just one:
http://www.themoviespoiler.com/Spoilers/bookofeli.html

EXACTLY, not to mention you never see him driving a car, he is always reading in poorly lit places, he cant see the 'blind girls' water at the start even though it is right in front of him and he has to smell it to realise it is bad even though it is black. Not to mention his hearing and smell being heightened, there are tons of hints throughout

I can't believe you guys are debating if he was blind or not. Come on, it was so plainly obvious he was blind. mrvlknight21 has it right. There are so many little things that prove he was blind right from the start.

I thought that was obvious...sheesh

I thought it was obvious too, and everyone I know who has seen the movie thinks the same.

 

[Heretic]

In the very beginning of the film Denzel finds a skeleton in a car. Instead of looking to see if it is wearing shoes, which wuld been rather easy from his angle...he felt the dead bodt's legs until it's feet and then was disapointed that there were n shoes.

If you could see...and you needed shoes...wouldnt you prefer to simply LOOK at the feet of a dead body as opposed to running your hands all over it???

 

[Superfreak]

Then you need to re-watch it again, there are obvious hints throughout the movie that he is blind, he was told on his journey he would be given protection, THIS is how he could defend himself.

I have pointed out numerous hints for you that are apparent in the movie, they are sprinkled throughout it, its only at the end when we realise he was blind the whole time that we think back to these instances.



EXACTLY, not to mention you never see him driving a car, he is always reading in poorly lit places, he cant see the 'blind girls' water at the start even though it is right in front of him and he has to smell it to realise it is bad even though it is black. Not to mention his hearing and smell being heightened, there are tons of hints throughout



I thought it was obvious too, and everyone I know who has seen the movie thinks the same.

I guess what I'm saying, is that even with the hints that he is blind, I'm not fully sold on the delivery. Ie. after discovering the truth at the end, rewatching it should be absolutely clear that he is totally blind. But it's not. It's like they dropped the 'hint scenes' that he is blind... and then told Denzel to act like he wasn't blind for the rest of the movie. On rewatch it should be fully clear that he is completely blind from beginning to end. But I just don't see it, other than the hints that were dropped (in between those hints, he doesn't appear to be blind at all).

does that make sense?

I believe you that he is blind, but I just don't buy the way it was delivered. It's like most of the movie he can see, with a bunch of moments seeded throughout the film to illustrate that he is blind. On rewatch, I would have loved to see that at every moment of the film, he actually was blind. But it doesn't feel that way, because it doesn't look the way, even when your brain is tuned in that he is blind (when liberated from the scotoma of the first time viewing)