The Hughes brothers(Albert and Allen) directed this 118-min movie starring Denzel Washington, Mila Kunis, and Gary Oldman. Filmed using the RED digital camera, this bleak color-leached post-apocalyptic tale suffers from a serious case of plodding slow pacing. At almost 2 hours, it simply dragged on and on... and could have been shortened to 1.5hr with little loss to the plot. That said - the plot/story itself could be improved because there were a few glaring holes that would leave a intelligent movie-goer wondering 'huh???'. Gary Whitta's script needed major improvements. The action scenes were well-choreographed and the utilization of CGI was above average. Denzel's performance was lack-luster while Gary Oldman over-acted. Mila Kunis was a serious case of casting error - she looked too glam and totally out-of-place. Michael Gambon, Frances de la Tour, and Jennifer Beals turned in above-average performances. VERDICT: This movie needs a miracle. Wait for the DVD.

For post-apocalyptic fare, this is probably the best I have seen. Denzel humanizes a role that could have turned this film into just another blood and guts fight film. Great story, profound and clever. Great commentary on power of faith and misuse of religion. And it is great to see little Jackie from That 70s Show shine in a dramatic role. Gary Oldman was superb.

I read the negative reviews (view "the other side"), & boy, are those guys confused. But not too surprisingly. For those who have recognized the animosity building in our culture over the past 40 or so years against God/Christianity, it isn't a great stretch of the imagination to see the possibility of the Bible being banned by some future government of the USA, it's not too hard to envision a violent & Godless society then arising out of the rubble of a nuclear holocaust &, if you've had any direct or indirect experience with the living God & are familiar with the Bible, it's not inconceivable to think that God would protect His Word from extinction, or that there might be a strange twist or two, or that He might do it in the way it was portrayed in this movie, or that those opposing the man He chose to carry out this task would be cut down in nearly miraculous fashion. Okay, it doesn't line up with Daniel & Revelation, but that doesn?t mean it isn?t a cool storyline. Excellent movie.

this movie, contrary to those who cannot see past any religious reference, is not about religion. it is about our history and this country's history cannot be separated from the bible. this movie was about hope, literacy, determination, power (and it's tools) but it was not about god. without giving anything away, the main character is misguidedly driven for the first three quarters, he is neither inspiring nor heroic. his transformation has more to do with recapturing humanity than it has to do with scripture. the wisdom that he draws from his knowledge of the bible is common to every major and most minor religions in the history of civilization. that wisdom is inspirational and hopeful but is only biblical because he had the bible and not the koran, the torah, or the bagahvad gita. if you go to see this movie please pay attention to the meaning and not the symbols. One neat hint is to pay close attention to one of the last scenes: the other books on the shelf. GOOD LUCK.

One synopsis I read put it this way "one man (Denzel Washington) fights to protect that sacred tome that could hold the key to the survival of the human race". Another, "a lone warrior (Washington) must fight to bring civilization the knowledge that could be the key to its redemption and save the future of humanity" I kept waiting to see how the Bible he carried was going to lead to survival of the human race or save the future of humanity. I'm still waiting!!! (If you want good vs evil, rent Stephen King's "The Stand". A great book made into a pretty decent flick)