The Book of Eli

I've been tricked a few times lately at the box office.   You know what I mean - movies that are hyped to be one thing, and then turn out to be something totally different.


Well, I just watched Denzel's The Book of Eli.  This thing is an apocalyptic action movie that ends up delivering as strong a message as most moviegoers can probably handle.

*** Disclaimer:  Please be advised - this is an action movie made in traditional Hollywood style.  The brutality and the language in this movie give it an "R" rating - so my boys won't see it until I can rent it and play it at home on ClearPlay.   If you're uncomfortable with knife fights, gun battles and realistic depictions of death, then apocalyptic films like this are not for you. ***

Denzel appears as Eli, the stereotypical Mad Max character.  Sure, Max is in there somewhere.  But Eli's older, humbler and has a curious singleness of purpose about him.  He's all that, of course, mixed with echoes of Clint Eastwood and Bruce Lee.

He's traveling west across a post-nuclear-war America with a particular book - one he reads from every night.  This book holds, in his mind, the key to the recreation and restoration of mankind after the near annihilation of civilization.

Gary Oldman plays Carnegie - the antagonist - the power figure in a small western town who's bent on finding the book.  Carnegie sends his gang of thugs on regular but unsuccessful reconnaissance missions to find a copy, killing and pillaging as they go.

Whether it's serendipity, fate or Providence - Eli and Carnegie meet.  And in the tension between these two, the message of Eli is unveiled.      

Maybe I didn't dig hard enough for reviews before I went and saw Eli.  Maybe I didn't pay enough attention before I walked through the door tonight.  OK, I admit it - I didn't do my customary homework before we watched.

So I found myself at first thinking "Nah, he can't be going there...".  Then a bit later, "Not possible.  No way is this thing moving in that direction...".  Then, when it really began to unfold, I'm mentally shouting "NO STINKIN' WAY THIS MOVIE'S GOING THERE!"

And then, sure enough, it did.

It did, in a way I've never seen done by any movie before.  There was no way out - straight up and in our faces - BOOM.  Crystal clear - no one's gonna miss the message of this film.

But it's not just Eli's message itself - the story line spins interestingly as well.  You get a one-two punch consisting of an unexpected plot twist, along with a hidden element of Eli's character you're hit with near the end.

WOW.

I'm often in the minority on movie opinions.  So my guess is that the average moviegoer will not like this movie.  I'll go one step more and predict that you'll either love it or hate it - there's no middle ground.

And frankly the ol' Hollywood switch-a-roo marketing trick is usually a real turn off to me as well.  But this time the surprise was not only pleasant, but because of my worldview and because of what I'm living my life towards - it was downright invigorating.

My hat's off to Denzel for The Book of Eli!

The Spell of the Typical

One of my favorite songs is Typical by Mute Math.



Some folks close to me have wondered why a mild-mannered midwestern guy like me would pursue things that aren't Typical for people with my background.

Stuff like mountaineering - like climbing rock and ice - like skiing not just downhill, but uphill as well - like shooting things at unimaginable distances - like doing all this in the truly wild places of our land, and like a bunch of other odd things I pursue.   Mind you, I'm not saying I'm a pro at all of this.  But I continue to practice, practice, practice.

The question is, "Why?".

Well, I've studied a few people that have made a big difference in the world.  Each of them have had the capacity to critically evaluate themselves and their surroundings.  They seem to be keenly aware of what they likely can do, and what they likely cannot do.

And when they're not sure - more often than not they decide in favor of the more adventurous route.

They can take risks.  They choose adventure over safety-at-any-cost.   They're not afraid.

This puts them in a class almost by themselves and they become our heroes.  When we see their exploits, we ask ourselves, "How can they do stuff like that?" or "Why didn't I think of that?".

So over the last several years I've been in training.  In business, in ministry and in life - I've been training myself to be more like these "difference-makers" and less like my old self.  It's a conscious effort to learn to make better decisions, to take appropriate risks and to live free from fear.

Some days and some decisions are better than others - but I'm gonna keep at it.  Not because I want to be cool (I quit worrying about that a long time ago).  Not because I want to climb better and faster than anyone else (I'm too old for that).  Not because I want to satisfy some extreme urge to dance on the edge and defy death (that's just silly).

I just want to live free - free from the limitations of my own preconceptions and free from the limitations others might enjoy placing on me.  And most of all I want to complete that part of the Great Project that I've been uniquely created for.

"Come on, can’t I dream for one day
There’s nothing that can’t be done
But how long should it take somebody
Before they can be someone?

‘Cause I know there’s got to be another level
Somewhere closer to the other side
And I’m feeling like it’s now or never
Can I break the spell of the typical?"

So this new year - why not consider joining me on this road?  You've got a significant chunk to complete of that same Great Project.  You've got a unique set of gifts and passions.  The Kingdom just won't be the same if you don't do and become what God has made you to do and to be.

Whaddya say?