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shenglongdong · Jan 15, 2010

Just got back from a jam-packed screening. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and definitely didn't see the twist coming. Great movie with a great message. I'll definitely be seeing this again.

ckohler · Jan 15, 2010

Congrats on the film Gary! I thought you would get a kick out of this:

My buddy Seth and I were playing GRAW 2 last night for our new online podcast/show we're making and we just happened to notice that some Book of Eli posters had appeared in the level. We thought it was pretty funny. Check it out:

http://www.thecoopmode.com/

The posters appear at around 4:50.

Catalix · Jan 15, 2010

The badass Kunis and Oldman billboards around my neighborhood get me hyped every time.

Should see it this weekend.

Stinkles · Jan 15, 2010

ckohler said:
Congrats on the film Gary! I thought you would get a kick out of this:

My buddy Seth and I were playing GRAW 2 last night for our new online podcast/show we're making and we just happened to notice that some Book of Eli posters had appeared in the level. We thought it was pretty funny. Check it out:

http://www.thecoopmode.com/

The posters appear at around 4:50.

bam

MightyHedgehog · Jan 15, 2010

Great job, Mr. Whitta. Saw the screening they had in ABQ tonight. Less dense than I was expecting it to be, but that made it all around a much better film than I was thinking it could be since everything could breathe very easily and deliberately...everyone in the cast did great and, right beside Menace II Society, this is easily the Hughes brothers' at their best. Not the type of film I'd see more than once at the theater, but definitely worth seeing at least once. Fantastic score, cinematography, and the melee fights were among the best I've seen coming out of big budget American film.

Decado · Jan 15, 2010

charsace said:
Saw it and I am going to see it again monday. The screening I went to was so packed that I had to stand to watch it. This movie is great, but looks like it will be controversial. People that go into this without really reading up on it will feel its a bait and switch. There will be some people that will be upset. I can understand why some reviewers jumped all over it. They went in expecting one thing and got something very different.

Care to elaborate?

Veidt · Jan 15, 2010

I will watch this with my friends. Gary Whitta you have my money.
And reviews have me excited.

D23 · Jan 15, 2010

i went to the screening... got there 2 and half hours early.

the movie was sooo goooood......................... that they didnt let us in cause it was too packed. 2 and half hours and they told us it was packed when were almost at the door! i was so fucking pissed at whoever organize the screening in my city, im gonna see it tomorrow though !

Stinkles · Jan 15, 2010

Jibril said:
I will watch this with my friends. Garry Whitta you have my money.
.

And my Axe.

totowhoa · Jan 15, 2010

Fiance works all evening tomorrow, so I'll be catching it saturday. Looking forward to more GAF impressions! I'm pumped! I'm a sucker for post-apoc, so I'm sure I'll enjoy this thoroughly.. especially since I used to love religion on an academic level.

blame space · Jan 15, 2010

OuterWorldVoice said:
And my Axe.

And my devoted attention for two hours.

BlueTsunami · Jan 15, 2010

A positive Ebert and Roeper review is nice, definitely catching this at some point

Veidt · Jan 15, 2010

blame space said:
And my devoted attention for two hours.

3 companions. Then so be it. You shall be the fellowship of the book.

charsace · Jan 15, 2010

Decado said:
Care to elaborate?

I would explain, but I would spoil the movie in doing so. Reviews also spoil the movie and I am glad I didn't read them until after I saw it. Trailers show this off as just an action movie when in reality the film has some depth to it and a strong story.

goMaki · Jan 15, 2010

Just got back from my local showing. Fantastic movie! Great job Gary! It's a definite pickup for me when the BD comes out.

I did have some questions about the movie:

1. What was up with the cat killing in the beginning? Any specific reasoning for choosing a cat? I am highly offended by the killing of cats, so it really upset me. ^^;

2. Was Eli really blind? My boyfriend was picking up on it throughout the movie ( how it seems he couldn't tell the iPod had no battery left, he usually woke up by feeling the sunlight, hearing the vehicles/bird, etc. ), but the ending really seems to emphasize it.

3. Was there any specific verse that Solana's mother ( Claudia? ) read when she was "reading" the Braille Bible?

Sorry for all the question. My boyfriend is going crazy. :lol

blame space · Jan 15, 2010

charsace said:
I would explain, but I would spoil the movie in doing so. Reviews also spoil the movie and I am glad I didn't read them until after I saw it. Trailers show this off as just an action movie when in reality the film has some depth to it and a strong story.

is it

that the book is the bible

?

I haven't seen it yet but honest to god, the other day my friend "called" that like it was some kind of divine prediction.

i was all -_-

wonderkins · Jan 15, 2010

So Manohla Dargis gave a mostly positive review. Which, given her high-minded sensibilities and usual prevarication, is a thumbs-up. We'll find out what AO Scott thinks on At the Movies, I guess. Given Michael Phillips's review, you've got at least one "See It." Who really cares, though, you bagged Ebert.

Congrats Gary. Bunch of billboard ads over here in the east bay. We've got a big one of Denzel near Alameda.

SCULLIBUNDO · Jan 15, 2010

Denzel has some kind words for Gary.

http://www.latinoreview.com/news/interview-denzel-washington-on-the-book-of-eli-8985

Working with Gary?

Washington: I love working with Gary. Garys one of the best. We had a lot of fun. Sometimes we would do the whole scene as very British sort of, Well, sir. Ill need that book from you now. Are you going to shoot me today? That kind of stuff, but obviously hes one of the best of his generation, of our generation, so it was a real joy when he signed on. I was really excited about that.

Stinkles · Jan 15, 2010

Scullibundo said:
Denzel has some kind words for Gary.

http://www.latinoreview.com/news/interview-denzel-washington-on-the-book-of-eli-8985

At first I was like HOLY SHIT then I was like, oh, Oldman.

GhaleonEB · Jan 15, 2010

Scullibundo said:
Denzel has some kind words for Gary.

http://www.latinoreview.com/news/interview-denzel-washington-on-the-book-of-eli-8985

Oldman, but hey. It's good company to share a name with.

OuterWorldVoice said:
At first I was like HOLY SHIT then I was like, oh, Oldman.

I had to read it twice.

Overlee · Jan 15, 2010

Just got back from the early screening here in Portland. Loved every bit of it. I even got a Book of Eli shirt too! (omg Gary will you sign it for me!!!)

thought it was cool to see Gary's name second in the end credits right after "directed by the Hughes brothers"

Catalix · Jan 15, 2010

Owen Gleiberman over at EW seems to have it in for Eli, Whitta, and the very concept of video game "writers" in general.

http://movie-critics.ew.com/2010/01/14/videogame-writers-plus-eric-rohmer/

It came as no surprise when I learned that Gary Whitta, who wrote the screenplay and I use the term generously for the Hughes brothers postapocalyptic dud The Book of Eli, has a background in video games...

The article just descends into a weird, condescending rant.

Stinkles · Jan 15, 2010

Catalix said:
Owen Gleiberman over at EW seems to have it in for Eli, Whitta, and the very concept of video game "writers" in general.

http://movie-critics.ew.com/2010/01/14/videogame-writers-plus-eric-rohmer/

The article just descends into a weird, condescending rant.

I mean, if you're going to criticize other people's writing, you should check first that your own has a beginning a middle, an end and a point.

That was a perfectly encapsulated mote of hypocrisy - the script of Pac Man is better constructed than whatever the hell that was.

Muerte_X · Jan 15, 2010

MightyHedgehog said:
Great job, Mr. Whitta. Saw the screening they had in ABQ tonight. Less dense than I was expecting it to be, but that made it all around a much better film than I was thinking it could be since everything could breathe very easily and deliberately...everyone in the cast did great and, right beside Menace II Society, this is easily the Hughes brothers' at their best. Not the type of film I'd see more than once at the theater, but definitely worth seeing at least once. Fantastic score, cinematography, and the melee fights were among the best I've seen coming out of big budget American film.

Just got back from the same screening. I even got a shirt out of it, I guess no one else know who AC/DC's singer was, lol. Too bad it wasn't a book of Eli shirt, just some radio station that I don't even listen to.

But about the movie, I loved it. I think it was done really well. Especially Denzel and Oldman, really amazing what they did with the roles. The music, and just the whole look and feel of everything felt right to me. I really liked the story too, I personally didn't think it was preachy or anything like that. I'm not religious at all, but I didn't take offense to anything, I don't see how anyone could. Then again, there's always someone that will take offense to anything, lol.

Seemed to be received well here, nice applause when it was over.

Sanjuro · Jan 15, 2010

Damn Gary Whitta.

Basically I secured tickets for Boston and Providence. Went to Boston to go see it with friends up there. Gofobo ticket or not, they allow you in the theater. Once that filled up...got the shaft having arrived 50 minutes in advance. In Providence you bring the ticket up to the desk, they scan it, and you receive a normal stub like any other film.

No book. No Eli. Definitely wasted several hours and more than half tank of gas. =(

NeoUltima · Jan 15, 2010

Catalix said:
Owen Gleiberman over at EW seems to have it in for Eli, Whitta, and the very concept of video game "writers" in general.

http://movie-critics.ew.com/2010/01/14/videogame-writers-plus-eric-rohmer/

The article just descends into a weird, condescending rant.

Haha wow wtf @ that shit.

ezekial45 · Jan 15, 2010

Catalix said:
Owen Gleiberman over at EW seems to have it in for Eli, Whitta, and the very concept of video game "writers" in general.

http://movie-critics.ew.com/2010/01/14/videogame-writers-plus-eric-rohmer/

The article just descends into a weird, condescending rant.

Not really sure how i feel about this article. While this guy does give credit to Writing in Videogames (which is a pretty difficult thing to write for) by mentioning the WGA's award for game writing, i felt he kept trying to rub it (Gary's past works) in the face of the movie. Like he's got it out for the medium or something.

Maybe i read it wrong though. I just get really annoyed when people try to discredit videogames and make it out to be a lesser medium. It's not fair.

iddqd · Jan 15, 2010

Overlee said:
Just got back from the early screening here in Portland. Loved every bit of it. I even got a Book of Eli shirt too! (omg Gary will you sign it for me!!!)

thought it was cool to see Gary's name second in the end credits right after "directed by the Hughes brothers"

same screening here, did you understand the punch-out commotion?

and thx for the tickets, the movie looks pretty and I liked the action scenes.

Gary Whitta · Jan 15, 2010

Catalix said:
Owen Gleiberman over at EW seems to have it in for Eli, Whitta, and the very concept of video game "writers" in general.

http://movie-critics.ew.com/2010/01/14/videogame-writers-plus-eric-rohmer/

The article just descends into a weird, condescending rant.

Yeah I read that earlier, his bizarre and condescending rant about how videogames shouldn't even need writers confirms him as a moron.

Gary Whitta · Jan 15, 2010

We bagged one of the toughest ones - a positive review from Devin Faraci at CHUD!

Devin Faraci said:
Denzel is completely badass here, and he's badass in a way that he never has been before, in the way that only samurai are badass. He's calm and lethal and quick and decisive. He smells his foes from afar. He's one of those characters who, when he faces off against the hundred enemies makes you feel bad for the hundred.

Even with its weaknesses, Book of Eli is commendable for tackling some ideas while also maintaining a coolness that's too rare in these days. It's nice to see a truly kickass hero who isn't a wise cracker, a kid learning the ropes, a misfit done good or any of the other boring Hollywood tropes that have become popular in the last few decades. It's nice to see a movie with a kickass hero who is honorable and just and will fuck you up so bad you'll be in two halves before you even know you're dead.

http://chud.com/articles/articles/22164/1/REVIEW-BOOK-OF-ELI/Page1.html

Gary Whitta · Jan 15, 2010

Tonight's SF screening was pretty nuts:

Sanjuro · Jan 15, 2010

Can't say my screening looked like that. I think a large number of the occupants were Boston journalists. This is the second time I've attempted a Boston screening in the last few months, the owner of the place just botches it especially if I'm driving up there.

I'm probably going to check out a matinee tomorrow though. I had no desire to see anything else and needed some post-apocalyptic carnage.

Overlee · Jan 15, 2010

iddqd said:
same screening here, did you understand the punch-out commotion?

Is that what was going on during the start of the movie? I was near the front and just heard some guy shouting.

Pics of the shirt:

front:

back:

Gary Whitta · Jan 15, 2010

The Twitter traffic from folks coming out of the advance screenings and midnight shows is insanely positive, people are really responding to the film in a big way. Hopefully that bodes well for the weekend...

Chris R · Jan 15, 2010

Damn. The theater I prefer going to didn't have a midnight showing on fandango until like three hours ago. Too bad I already had purchased tickets for tomorrow :lol Still thinking about heading out though :/

polyh3dron · Jan 15, 2010

Catalix said:
Owen Gleiberman over at EW seems to have it in for Eli, Whitta, and the very concept of video game "writers" in general.

http://movie-critics.ew.com/2010/01/14/videogame-writers-plus-eric-rohmer/

The article just descends into a weird, condescending rant.

I bet he was reading the GAF thread lololol

Label · Jan 15, 2010

Going to go and see this tonight! I cannot wait

VisionaryQuest0 · Jan 15, 2010

Hey Gary, want to congratulate you on your success! I will definitely be in line to see your movie.

I can't even begin to imagine how it must feel to have something that poured out of your head realized in such a major fashion.

Good luck on any future projects and fingers crossed that you will be the first movie to take down the three headed monster known as Avatar.

Frenck · Jan 15, 2010

Catalix said:
Owen Gleiberman over at EW seems to have it in for Eli, Whitta, and the very concept of video game "writers" in general.

http://movie-critics.ew.com/2010/01/14/videogame-writers-plus-eric-rohmer/

The article just descends into a weird, condescending rant.

Wow, what an asshole and what a mess of an article.

I guess I understand why videogames need "writers"

You can't get more pretentious than that.

Solo · Jan 15, 2010

Frenck said:
You can't get more pretentious than that.

Its fairly pretentious, but lets be real: the writing in 99% of games is terrible.

Darklord · Jan 15, 2010

I'm a bit iffy about seeing this now. There have been quite a few negative reviews saying it's too much of a bible basher and not enough action. One of the good reviews was happy because of was promoting Christianity and all about the bible, ugh, no thanks. I dunno I'll wait and see, maybe I'll rent it. I do love Denzel and Oldman, you can't get a better cast than that.

By the way Gary, I'm not trying to offend you in this post this is just my opinion. I thought I'd just add that.

D4Danger · Jan 15, 2010

Costanza said:
I wouldn't mind doing it. Unless Gary wants to.

Or we could just keep using this thread.

GoutPatrol · Jan 15, 2010

Dunno if the New Yorker review is up here yet...

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/cinema/2010/01/18/100118crci_cinema_denby

The script, by Gary Whitta, was not so much written as reveaedl. Yet Whitta is confused. No one could attack the importance he attaches to the book of books, but it's not clear why he think that the Bible will lead to renewal, since the previous civilization had the Bible, too, and still destroyed itself. "The Book of Eli" combines the maximum in hollow piety with remorseless violence. It's a true American comerical product, overflowing with barbarous acts and improving bromides.

Deadly Cyclone · Jan 15, 2010

Going to see it tonight, from the reviews it seems you will either love it or hate it and the majority of people here love it, so I have high hopes.

Congrats Gary, have seen you post here many times, but had no idea you wrote for games/movies. Must be an amazing job, you should send me yours and Denzel's autograph on an Eli movie poster.

Chorazin · Jan 15, 2010

Darklord said:
I'm a bit iffy about seeing this now. There have been quite a few negative reviews saying it's too much of a bible basher and not enough action. One of the good reviews was happy because of was promoting Christianity and all about the bible, ugh, no thanks. I dunno I'll wait and see, maybe I'll rent it. I do love Denzel and Oldman, you can't get a better cast than that.

By the way Gary, I'm not trying to offend you in this post this is just my opinion. I thought I'd just add that.

You're not alone. I was INSANELY psyched for the movie until I found out about all that. It really, really turned me off.

It's gonna have to be a Netflix rental for me.

LabouredSubterfuge · Jan 15, 2010

New Yorker said:
The script, by Gary Whitta, was not so much written as revealed. Yet Whitta is confused. No one could attack the importance he attaches to the book of books, but it's not clear why he think that the Bible will lead to renewal, since the previous civilization had the Bible, too, and still destroyed itself. "The Book of Eli" combines the maximum in hollow piety with remorseless violence. It's a true American comerical product, overflowing with barbarous acts and improving bromides.

This worries me quite a bit in terms of my own enjoyment.

If the central premise is that on delivery the Bible will magically mollify humanity's worst traits, then I can only say that it is a demonstrably and intellectually dishonest (not to mention harmful) precept. I fear I may come out of movie wishing people harm.

Probably a pass for me.

Az · Jan 15, 2010

I will stay away from reviews and rotten tomatoes for this one. The wife and I are really looking forward to this movie and I want to post my opinion first.

Woodsy · Jan 15, 2010

Oh god the Wall Street Journal review:

'The Book of Eli'
Religious overtones slowly grow into the dominant tone of "The Book of Eli," a bizarre and sententious pastichepart Samurai legend, part postapocalyptic western with a surprise endingstarring Denzel Washington as a wanderer heading westward with a Bible in his dusty backpack. It's not just any Bible, but the last one on earth; and Eli isn't just any wanderer, but a master swordsman/archer/gunslinger who'll do anything that's required to protect his book. The story requires a greater leap of faith than I was willing or able to muster, since Eli is also a saintly pilgrim on a God-given mission to save a ruined world.

Worse movies than this one have been taken seriously, and "The Book of Eli," which is being marketed heavily though not exclusively to Christian audiences, has the virtue of audacity; it's "The Road" with a message of hope. The directors were the Hughes brothers, Allen and Albert (the twins' last film, shot almost a decade ago, was the Jack the Ripper thriller "From Hell"), working from a script by Gary Whitta, and the elaborate production was given a distinctive sepia look by the cinematographer Don Burgess. Mr. Washington manages to sustain a heroic aura in the face of some serious silliness. Gary Oldman is scruffily impressiveand, praise be, occasionally funnyas Carnegie, an outlaw turned local despot who's determined to separate Eli from his book because, in a perverse way, he recognizes the Bible's power: "It's a weapon," Carnegie says, "aimed right at the weak and the desperate."

But the movie is aimed at two targets moving in different directionspeople of faith and fans of violence. While the religious content makes itself felt, sometimes strongly, the heavy action quotientthe story of Eli the slashertears feelings to tatters. Jennifer Beals is Carnegie's blind wife, Claudia, and Mila Kunis is Solara, his sexy stepdaughter. In the midst of a veritable valley of death, Solara looks and sounds like a Valley Girl.

I'm not sure I understand the reviewer's disconnect, since religion is the root of mass violence in many cases.

MightyHedgehog · Jan 15, 2010

Honestly, the religious element almost feels like a red herring as far as things to focus any real attention on. The real tricky bit for those who can manage to walk and chew bubble gum at the same time without tripping themselves up and exploding on their own personal grenades is the

Zatoichi shit

that might be hard to completely buy into since there are so many scenes where you wonder about it's believability on a conscious level after the fact once fully revealed to be the case in the final third. I'm thinking about watching it this weekend just to carefully watch all scenes with

Eli's interactions

for its consistency even though I guessed it before it happened to be made clear thanks to many clues

(like Eli bumping into stuff and looking in odd directions)

and reiteration of

Eli's

tendencies in observing things

via an acute sense of smell and hearing

. Bible bashing? Nah. Maybe there are some comments about the reality of its use and misuse, but nothing singling out that book and slice of organized belief in an unfair way that couldn't be argued fair and square using history and unvarnished reality as a main reference. The message is certainly going to be tinged with whatever negative or positive tone you can come up with based on your own thoughts and feelings on the subject and whether you'll be automatically defensive or not about it. The movie is practically pure

sci-fi

territory by the very end.

I suppose the thing for me that was well-executed was how quickly you could be willing to believe in the

magic trick or rather the supernatural explanation in the beginning shots of the town shooting

scene based on pure contrast of characters in a situation with where they seem to be on one side of things or another in terms of who is right and who is wrong...perhaps based in the desire to see one overcome extreme adversity that the willingness to skip past more logical explanations if you only noticed the things that might or might not be obvious to you by that point...playing a bit more fair than a

Sixth Sense

-like revelation.

Wes · Jan 15, 2010

Mark Kermode is reviewing it now on 5live.

"Not without flaws, very strange, but very, very watchable." was the gist.

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