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Our on-staff movie buff Leanne McGrath shares her latest candid movie review. Email feedback to her at [email protected].

The Book of Eli ***

Stars: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis

Director: Allen and Albert Hughes

Rated: R

Showing: Speciality Cinema. Daily at 2:30/6:15/ 9:15pm

Runtime: 118 minutes

Action/drama

Thirty years ago, a nuclear war left the earth a lawless wasteland. To survive, you either kill or be killed.

Skilled warrior Eli (Denzel Washington) has walked across this wilderness since the apocalypse on a mission to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving mankind.

He arrives in a rundown town inhabited by criminals and ruled by ruthless thug Carnegie (Gary Oldman), who is desperate to get Eli's book at any cost.

The book is eventually revealed as the last Bible in existence but you work this out very quickly.

The movie has interesting themes about rebuilding society but they are not developed well enough.

For all its religious connotations, the movie is not as deep and meaningful as it thinks it is - at best it's a muddled action film.

Hughes brothers Allen and Albert direct and while they deliver good fight scenes, there is too much style over substance, like the constant use of slow motion - no wonder Eli still hasn't reached his destination after 30 years if he's been going at this snail's pace.

There are also numerous implausible elements - like why token babe Solara (Mila Kunis) looks immaculate despite growing up without shampoo, soap or make-up?

The redeeming feature is the cast, with Washington and Oldman giving exciting performances.

Watch if you liked: 2012, 28 Days Later.

For more information about film times, call 292-2135.[[In-content Ad]]

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