The Book of Eli: Q2 Edition
 a TRUE FANEDIT by Q2 The studio version of The Book of Eli wasn’t bad it just suffered from the usual Hollywood excess. This version has stripped away subplots and other elements unnecessary to streamline what could have been an even better film. member ratings: |
(4 votes, average: 8.75 out of 10, rated)
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INTENTION:
I actually liked The Book of Eli when I saw it in the theater, but I did see several problems that could have easily been fixed. This version aims to fix and streamline the film by cutting nearly 20 minutes of material to tighten the narrative. The subplot of Redridge’s interest in Solara has been completely removed, as is the (heavenly) protection Eli receives, and the “twist” ending. The reveal of what the book is has been pushed back as well. What has hopefully been achieved is a more down-to-earth version of an already entertaining film.
CUTLIST:
- cut man hanging in closet, Eli dancing in dead man’s shoes, and Eli talking to the rat (again, all unnecessary)
- cut close up of bandits riding away after killing couple on the highway
- cut Solara going to get Eli’s canteen filled
- trimmed Eli and Solara saying grace together
- trimmed Carnegie talking to Solara and her mother
- tweaked gun battle as Eli tries to leave the town (removing shots of Eli getting shot)
- cut Solara negotiating with Eli and going to the fresh water spring
- cut Redridge telling Carnegie he wants Solara in exchange for his help
- cut Carnegie discussing with his men how Eli seems protected
- cut Solara trying to take the book from Eli while he’s sleeping
- cut Redridge pleading with Eli to help save Solara
- trimmed Eli and Solara at museum/library (primarily shortening the shot revealing the “twist”)
- tweaked overall ending so Eli’s voice over extends over footage of Carnegie
- pushed back the reveal of what the book is until later in the film
- cut Solara’s epilogue
- removed one too many bits of dialogue saying “the book” … I wish I could have cut more
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Always mentioning ‘the book’ pretty much gave every detail about the ending away half an hour into the film… I’m looking forward to this edit
Review by Radi0n — August 18, 2010 @ 8:29 pm
SPOILER WARNING
This is a great fanedit of a really confused film. First, I should give you my opinion on this movie, because it definitely influences my review of the fanedit.
The Book of Eli can’t decide who it wants for an audience. I guess virgin Christian males, 18-30, who like Jesus Metal and violent movies. Sorry, that’s an ad hominem attack, I know. I’m just so troubled by the message of this movie, which depicts the utmost pinnacle of Manichaean good-vs-evil simplicity and violence for its own sake, cloaked in a thin veil of morality (which only exists to permit the violence). That violence is only necessary because the bad guys are just so irredeemably bad, cartoon villains really, and the placid surety of Denzel’s character made him entirely unrelatable as a character. I would have greatly appreciated a little more nuance in the characterizations, maybe had Redridge decided to help Eli, maybe had Eli doubted for one scene. But either action would’ve been too human, not neat and tidy enough for this preachy Gorefest For Christ.
That being said (haha), I thought this was an excellent fanedit that went a long way toward improving the movie by restoring some ambiguity and lightening the heavy touch. Only two things I wish could’ve been different. For one, you left in my least favorite shot in the movie. During the ambush on the old couple’s house, the director suddenly decided he’s David Fincher and flies the virtual camera all over the place. That’s impossible to fix, save the worst shot: when the camera flies out of the house directly at the barrel of that big gun in the truck. It calls so much attention to itself, not least of which is the realization that no bullets are coming out of the gun because they would be hitting the camera. It breaks the fourth wall so hard, in such a negative way, it took me right out of the movie. I was hoping it would be gone here, but alas. My other gripe is probably less easy to fix. The ending is awful. So Eli is divinely lead to restore the KJV to an elitists’ bookshelf?
“Heeey!” said Jesus to his agent. “All these other jabloneys have their books out on Alcatraz Press. Where’s my re-release?”
God leaned back and put his snakeskin boots up on his desk. “Don’t worry, son. I got a guy,”
Review by asterisk8 — August 23, 2010 @ 7:07 am
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT
I was not aware (until shortly after the film came out) that this was inspired by a graphic novel. I was also unaware of the film’s plot. I saw the trailer once or twice (and being a fan of post apoc material it got my attention). It was not until I finally saw the film (dvd) that everything fell into place and despite some of the film’s overtones I think overall the feature worked well and I enjoyed it quite a bit (I would even go as far as saying I would love to see a super long extended cut of this someday, which some of the dvd’s deleted scenes suggest). Naturally when Thunderclap then gave us an edit of a film I thought was fine to begin with I had to check it out.
I really do not want to spoil anything and it makes writing up this very short review a bit more difficult. However I can break it down like this. The edit moves very smoothly along. I also did not miss anything he removed. In fact the film now has stronger pacing and I do prefer this over the original. The original’s twist ending is gone and though I liked that removal, Thunderclap’s fixing of this twist did not ruin the film and as he mentioned gives it a more realistic feel (no “supernatural overtone”). It worked well. He also ended this film where it should have (the original gave us what you thought was an ending only to extend it for another, not terrible at all, but not really needed scene).
Video, editing and audio were all a 9+ with no issues that I could notice. He also gives us an optional text commentary which I need to watch next.
My only real gripe is the film having no chapter stops at all
All in all if you did like the original I have a strong feeling you will enjoy this as well, and by the same merit if you did not like the original you might find this version to be a bit of fresh air
9 stars–
Review by tranzor — August 25, 2010 @ 9:29 pm
Great job i really enjoyed this fanedit
Review by jelio — September 1, 2010 @ 4:59 am
This is a very overlooked fan edit imo, with just 4 reviews and only 4 votes.
Personally this is one of my favorite fan edits. Q2 took a movie that i was not fond of…at all and turned it into a movie i can really enjoy.
The pacing in this edit was perfect, not once did i think that it was going to fast or to slow.
The cuts in this were completely seamless, and they took care of every issue i had with this movie, especially the HORRIBLE original ending and turned it into something completely amazing!
(this all coming from someone who has NOT read the comic, so i’m not sure if this edit is closer or further than the original source)
So if you have seen the original and weren’t happy with it give this fan edit a view.
Thanks Q2 for a job WELL DONE!
Review by videohead — August 25, 2011 @ 8:00 pm