Tuesday, February 2, 2010

My Date with Denzil...I Mean My Husband...

This weekend my husband and I went out on a date…and yes, I kiss on the first date. In his big ‘ol self-sacrificing heart he took me to see Denzil Washington’s new movie, The Book of Eli. I went in the theater expecting a cross between Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and a much, much, much better Babylon A.D. Sorry, Vin. I still love you but that movie stunk the joint up so bad I thought I had a garbage dump right under my chair! Phew! But I digress…Denzil wielding a sword... My God! Does it get better than that?

As a matter of fact, yes. It does.

The movie was simply awesome. While I did get to see Denzil lob off some hands and heads it was nothing like what I expected. Just a little background. Denzil played Eli, a mysterious traveler in a post-apocalyptic United States. In the thirty years since the ozone layer collapsed and the sun scorched earth to hell and back—pun intended—lawlessness has overtaken the land as man kills, steals and preys on one another just to survive a world where water is costly and safety is non-existent. I won’t spoil the movie, or at least try not to but at some point the film changed from Denzil skewering criminals like Leonidas mowing through Persians to a movie where the symbolism and message blew me away. My husband, who had entered the theater donning that I’m-taking-you-to-a-movie-where-you-can-drool-over-another-man-I-better-get-some-tonight look, was suddenly whispering, “Did you get that? Did you catch that? Oh wow!” in my ear.

There were two prevalent themes in The Book of Eli and both struck me where I live. One was faith-based . Okay…here I go trying not to spoil the end…Eli’s travels ended in the West, more specifically in a place where people were once imprisoned for their crimes. I instantly caught the symbolism. We are prisoners of sin set free by the Word of God. But there was another more subtle theme as well. This former prison had been converted into a center of restoration. The goal was to bring peace, purpose, conscience and order back to the earth. Their method? Books. Of every genre and by every author they could collect. See, the first things to be destroyed after the apocalypse were books. Knowledge. Ideas. Free-thinking. Creativity. Purpose. Joy. Escapism. Optimism. All are contained in books. And instead of the rare tome being pilfered and hoarded by a select few those focused on restoring the earth vowed to release people from the prison of their minds and miserable existence by sharing the freedom found between the pages of a book.

Sigh.

As a reader and author, all I could say was…Wow.

And did I mention Denzil was knuckle-biting fine?

18 comments:

Wynter said...

I'll take that as a thumbs up for the movie;-) And for Denzel! Gotta love a movie where even guys get the symbolism.

Cara McKenna said...

I love the look you described your husband giving you on the way in! My man's got a good poker face, but he knows the lovin' is a sure-bet if certain actors are making appearances in the evening's entertainment. I'm surprised he didn't slip a disc during the two months we freebased all of Battlestar Galactica. Tahmoh Penikett -- space fox!

Savannah Stuart said...

That movie was amazing. At the end, when I realized certain things about Eli.....(I can't spoil it) it blew me away. Like you, it wasn't what I expected, it was better. And I thought it was really cool what they did w/ Alcatraz. Love your post :)

Cecile Smutty Hussy said...

The man makes me melt every time I see him. Whew! I am glad that you enjoyed the movie... and Denzil!

Dalton Diaz said...

Oh no! DH and I went out to a movie on Sat. night - a minor miracle in itself - and it came down to the "Book of Eli" or "It's Complicated". We chose the latter. Also a very good movie, but crap, I coulda got some, too? Damn!

Anonymous said...

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Jina Bacarr said...

Fun but also thought-provoking post, Naima! I love the way you delve into the meaning of your subject but also accompany it with your wry observations.

Looking forward to seeing the flick. Denzel's character sounds like a ronin or masterless samurai--a universal theme that resonates today more than ever.

Naima Simone said...

Hi, Wynter!
Oh a definite thumbs up!!Like Training Day I saw Denzil in a completely different role and it only gave me another reason to drown in even more lust with him! Oh and my husband too! Hee-hee!

Naima Simone said...

LOL! Cara! See this is my take on it. My fantasies about a certain close-shaven, deep-throat--I mean voice! Voice! Deep voice! Hee-hee! A little slip of the tongue there.

Start over.

My perpetual running fantasy about a certain, close-shaven, deep-voice, diesel man whose posters I have hanging in me daughter's room, formerly my office, benefits him! He reaps the lust Vin has sown! LOL!

Naima Simone said...

Wasn't that awesome, Savannah? And that thing about him that we will not reveal was so cool! I didn't see it coming! I'm telling you while my husband and I were returning to the car our conversation went along the lines of "Oh yeah. Remember when he did (blank)? That's because he was (blank)!" Yeah, everyone! Go see it!!

Savannah, you and I are so "here" *swinging fingers back and forth between your eyes and mine* LOL!

Naima Simone said...

Cecile,
Two words: SEXY CHOCOLATE!! Hee-hee!

Naima Simone said...

Dalton,
Next time confer with me on the get-you-some-movies! That's one of the reasons why we're here for each other! Cuz...umm...*brushin' knuckles against front of shirt* I put out on th first date! LOL!! I'm such a hussy!

Naima Simone said...

Anonymous (Dang! That's how you spell it),
Cool! I'm glad I could help. But there's so much more! Like you can only bully and threaten men to follow you for so long. But you get their minds, hearts and passion behind you--or better yet convince them to grab onto the vision you're casting, you won't need intimdation. They will follow you willingly.

Whew! Sorry, Savannah! I had to get it out!

Naima Simone said...

Thank you so much, Jina!
I know you would definitely appreciate Denzil's role. In retrospect I would certainly label him a post-apocalyptic samurai. He had a code of honor he lived by, was extremely disciplined and could wield a sword like...wow! I've been saying that a lot, haven't I? LOL!

Michelle Polaris said...

Naima--If it wasn't already so late and my hubbie already in bed I'd grab him and run to the theater. What's better than both Denzel and a message about books. Sounds like this movie might be addicting and for purchase on a keeper shelf.

Naima Simone said...

Hi, Michelle!
It's definitely a keeper! When the movie ended there was a smattering of applause but then it just died out and everybody just stood there for several silent moments before filing out. I think they had the same thoughts my husband and I did. That was simply awesome!

It really brought home that it isn't might that civilizes us, it's our minds, beliefs and knowledge. Aw $*#@&#($!! There I go again sounding like "The Thinker"! LOL!

Stephanie Adkins said...

Wow ... I hadn't heard of this movie until now, but it definitely sounds like something I would love to see. Not to mention ... Denzel is a hottie. *grin*

Naima Simone said...

Hi Stephanie,
I mean the man looks hot scruffy! *sigh* LOL! I'm not sure which was the bonus: Denzil or the awesome movie! Hee-hee! The way I see it I got a two for one deal!