At first glance the Book of Eli looked to be well filmed and carry a strong storyline, however in a period of film releases that concentrate on the fall of human kind in the future this particular film seemed to be overshadowed by the Road and Avatar. But I was drawn to the film for the reasons that it was obviously an action film (this was gathered from the guns and knifes showed in the trailer) but also because its back drop seemed to be a world in struggle. This was ideal for using as inspiration because of how realistic it looked even with the most complex of settings, the post apocalyptic earth.

The film is set in a time period roughly 30 years after a global war that saw the earth's population turn in on its self and conduct in massive nuclear Armageddon. this caused a revolt against religion which was blamed for the mass destruction of billions of people. In this revolt all religious texts and books with any references were destroyed. This gave cause to Eli to guard the last remaining bible and start travelling west for reasons which Eli gives as a voice telling his heart what to do. During the film we follow Eli who passes a town ran by a ruthless leader in search of the last bible so he can give the people he rules over hope, however Eli determined to travel west fights back against the leader and all his men. This obviously means several fight scenes entail where Eli kills almost all his enemies with brutal accuracy and impossible feats of skill.

The film is largely set in sand ridden places covered in a dust that ruins everything and gives the best representation of a world torn apart by nuclear destruction. The realism, however, comes in the desperation we see in every person throughout the film, this is best shown by the weariness each character has other people and how even the strongest of morals can be broken to survive. The most shocking feature of this is the cannibalism often mentioned.

Overall I will use the film's outstanding realism and gritty dialogue to enhance my opening scene's gritty nature.