Was The Book Better?

THE BOOK OF ELI-2010-In this strange big budget post-apocalyptic movie co-producer Denzel Washington is Eli, a violent loner trekking across the devastated US protecting a secret sacred book.

From what he says it seems to be....The Bible!

He kills a lot of scum with a sword, gun and bow and arrow and talks about "the war" and a "hole in the sky". He enters a town run by Carnegie (Gary Oldman) who controls the water supply and is searching for the book Eli is conveniently coveting. After more killing he leaves the town with Solara (Mila Kunis) with Carnegie in hot pursuit. Michael Gambon and Frances del la Tour play a helpful cannibal couple. It's well directed but the story drags despite the killings and the surprise conclusion isn't really worth the wait (although you do get Malcolm McDowell in an un-credited role!). Also with Jennifer Beals, Tom Waits and Ray Stevenson.

The directing brother team of Allen and Albert Hughes had previously made FROM HELL, DEAD PRESIDENTS and MENACE II SOCIETY.

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Lost In Space...Again!

LOST IN SPACE-1998-As movie remakes of TV shows go this is pretty good. Gary Oldman is great as Dr. Smith. Dr. Robinson (William Hurt), his wife (Mimi Rogers) and their three children rocket off into space in a ship piloted by Don West (Matt LeBlanc). Heather Graham is older daughter Judy, a real egghead. Smith is a reluctant stowaway. They wind up being blasted into an alternate future where they meet an adult Will (Jared Harris) and his robot assistant Dr. Smith! Metal alien spiders figure in the plot.

Original series cast members June Lockhart, Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen and Angela Cartwright also appear. Edward Fox also has a small role.

Director Stephen Hopkins previous made PREDATOR 2, JUDGEMENT NIGHT and THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS. He later made THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS.


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