The Book of Eli

The post-apocalyptic western should by rights be it's own sub genre, and probably would be if not for the fact that it's rarely done well, and indeed is often done very, very badly. I'm looking at you, Costner.

But here it has been done really rather well indeed. Enough western conventions to make the theme clear, enough smart touches to sell the sci fi and never breaks down into mindless action in the way that decimates so very many films. Wonderful.

The plot is essentially Shane with a whole bunch of Outer Limits thrown at it. It's very referential, which could be describe as fairly contrived, but I'm of the opinion they balanced it well.

I felt the twist (and related powers) was a little much, I think it would have been stronger if it had been more ambiguous, though it did allow for action more extreme than I'd probably suspend disbelief for otherwise.

I'm really struggling to come up with anything wrong with it, which is about the highest compliment I can level at a film. It was a bit heavy handed in places, but it turns out it's basically a fantasy sci fi, and so needs to be.

It might just be that it was enough like Fallout to make me happy throughout.