Critics Are So Wrong About This Denzel Washington Action Movie

Need I say more? The seasoned actor carried this entire film on his shoulders, thanks to his incredible portrayal of the lone wanderer, Eli. His character is an extremely skilled fighter and his survival skills are next level. He also stands by his convictions and possesses a quiet strength that makes him stand out in any crowd. If you've seen any of Washington's movies, then you already know that he has a knack for stealing every scene with his mere presence and piercing gaze. The same rings true in this case.

Well, more specifically, it has a lot to say about the foundational text for Christianity, the Bible. Although some were turned off by the movie's religiosity, I was so fascinated by it. It posed some interesting questions about the impact of religion and divinely inspired writings, which, as we see in the film, largely depends on people's intentions and interpretations, more so than the actual belief system.

In this case, Eli feels called to deliver the holy book to someone trustworthy and in a place where it would be used for the common good. Meanwhile, the warlord (played brilliantly by Gary Oldman) intends to manipulate the words and use them as weapons to control a community. Now, I don't know about you, but I was instantly reminded of how people have twisted divinely inspired writings to justify their own egregious actions throughout history. (Like when pro-slavery advocates used misinterpretations of the bible to justify slavery during the 19th century.)

Guys, I still think about that scene where Eli fights against multiple opponents in an underpass. All you can see are the silhouettes dropping one by one as Eli masterfully uses his blade against them. Then, of course, there's his face-off with Carnegie's minions when they try to intimidate him at the bar. Washington slays these bad guys with such ease that he makes outmaneuvering his opponents—while being outnumbered—look easy.

Don't worry, I won't spoil the ending for you. However, I will say that the twist at the end made my jaw drop—and it made me want to rewatch the entire film.

It's one of those movies that includes just enough subtle hints to lead up to the big reveal, but it's not until you actually see the big reveal that certain details start to make sense. And guys, that only makes this underrated gem all the more thrilling.