Determined To Succeed

“The Book of Eli” & “Legion” – Three Buckets of Popcorn out of Four for “The Book of Eli” and Two-and-three-quarters Buckets of Popcorn out of Four for “Legion”

Writing these reviews was tough. I saw both of these movies on the same day without even thinking both were primarily about the same thing – the salvation of humanity through faith (or at least some aspect of faith). The reason writing this review was tough is because I can’t really write separate reviews. Well, OK. I could write separate reviews but both are so similar in message that I feel compelled to join them both into one.

Let’s start with the plots of each:

In “Legion,” an out-of-the-way diner in Paradise Falls (get it?) becomes the unlikely battleground for the survival of the human race. When God loses faith in humankind, he sends his legion of angels to bring on the Apocalypse. Humanity’s only hope lies in a group of strangers trapped in a desert diner with the Archangel Michael (Paul Bettany) as their only protection.

In “The Book of Eli,” Eli (Denzel Washington) has been on a journey for 30 years, walking west across America after a cataclysmic war that turned the earth into a total wasteland. The world has become a lawless civilization where people must kill or be killed. The barren roads belong to gangs of cutthroats who rob and kill for water, a pair of shoes, a lighter, or just for fun. Eli is a peaceful man who only acts in self defense, and becomes a warrior with unbelievable killing skills when he is challenged. After the war and the “Big Flash”, Eli was guided by a higher power to a hidden book and given the task of protecting the book and taking it to its final destination. Eli guards the book with his life, because he knows that the book is the only hope that humanity has for its future.

Separately, I liked “Eli” more than I liked “Legion.” I thought it had better action and wasn’t as silly as “Legion.” “Legion,” while having some cool special effects (like an ass-kicking, fanged grandma who’d just as soon kill ya and eat ya as to look at ya, and angels’ wings used as both flying mechanisms and shields against bullets) was silly at times, had big, gaping logic holes and acting so bad at times it was laughable. Kind of like 80s movies but with a higher budget and better cast. Eli had seemingly big holes, too. That is until the very end when the secret of the movie is revealed and all makes sense very much like “The Sixth Sense.” What prevents me from liking “Eli” more was its blatant stealing of “I am Legend,” “Mad Max” and “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.” Even the bad guy (played by Gary Oldman) who runs the only decent human town left reminded me too much of the fantastic Tina Turner in “Thunderdome.”

What struck me most about both films is the subtext of humanity, its need to be saved and us always looking to something to save us. In “Legion,” God, Himself, has lost faith in humankind and He and the survivors in the diner NEED a baby to be born (presumably the Christ child reborn) as proof mankind can be saved. In “The Book of Eli,” salvation is an actual book carried and protected by Eli. Further, Gary Oldman’s bad guy will stop at nothing to have it because of the power it will have over those looking for salvation, strength and hope in post-apocalyptic times. “Eli” also had some cool subtextual things to say about televangelists and their use of their respective pulpits to gain false power over people – people who seemingly need it the most.

Is humanity that far gone? On some days I would say yes. I mean how can televangelist Pat Robertson dare say that the tragedies of Haiti and Hurricane Katrina were brought on by the people themselves? Bastard. How can there be suicide bombers in the Middle East, people shooting up former places of employment and Osama bin Laden (bigger bastard) if the world weren’t in need of saving? I wish I knew. But I also know that people have been, are and can be not just good but great and that that greatness comes from their hearts, minds and souls.

As entertainments, both movies are pretty cool. I would readily watch “Legion” at night on cable (unlike the abysmal “Daybreakers” which should have all its prints destroyed) and I’d watch “The Book of Eli” anytime. It’s good. Not great, but good.

As for humanity, I really do hope I see in my lifetime such a great good I can go to my final resting place knowing the world will be OK. Even though close to $500 million has been donated to Haiti I want to see it finally get to its people. I want to see Port-au-Prince and New Orleans and the 9^th Ward rebuilt stronger than ever. I also want to see the world’s poor peoples have fresh water, fresh foods and a chance at real life and not just survival. I want to see hatred go away, at least a part of it. And I want to see people unite not just because of a tragedy like Hurricane Katrina or Haiti but because we WANT to.

That is the faith people need in and of themselves. That is of what both movies speak. That is the truest hope for all humankind and that is the strength we will need to prove to God in “Legion,” to prove to Oldman’s character in “Eli” and to the rest of people out there who have lost their faith.

We have it. It’s just waiting for us to finally use it not because we have to but because we finally WANT to.

“Legion” – Rated R for strong bloody violence, and language.

Runtime: 100 min

Paul Bettany     …         Michael

Lucas Black      …         Jeep Hanson

Tyrese Gibson   …         Kyle Williams

Adrianne Palicki            …         Charlie

Charles S. Dutton          …         Percy Walker

Kevin Durand   …         Gabriel

Jon Tenney       …         Howard Anderson

Willa Holland    …         Audrey Anderson

Kate Walsh       …         Sandra Anderson

Dennis Quaid    …         Bob Hanson

“The Book of Eli” – Rated R for some brutal violence and language

Runtime: 118 min

Denzel Washington        …         Eli

Gary Oldman    …         Carnegie

Mila Kunis        …         Solara

Ray Stevenson  …         Redridge

Jennifer Beals   …         Claudia

Evan Jones       …         Martz

Joe Pingue        …         Hoyt

Frances de la Tour        …         Martha

Michael Gambon           …         George

Tom Waits        …         Engineer

Happy Friday my friends. First, a huge shout-out to all the peeps out there visiting from all across the United States and Canada and abroad. Everywhere from Spain to Thailand, the U.K. to India and South Africa. Thank you all. Please keep coming back. I appreciate you all. And tell others to check in. We are in this together.

Well, here we are at the end of the week. I am back down to 235, just ten pounds above my goal weight (thank God) and working out every day. I’ve gotta say it’s a pain but I do it. There are so many days I don’t wanna get up and work out, but I do. I have to or the food I ate yesterday will go straight to my ass and thighs and add weight to me.

And not for nothin’ I have to tape a segment for the Philadelphia ABC affiliate, WPVI-TV, on Monday so I have to try to look my best. OK, that sounded vain but I do try to do my best to work out and maintain my weight. Not for them but for myself. The segment which will air next month will be on me and two others who have lost more than 100lbs. and have kept it off and how we are helping people to do the same. I will let you guys know how it goes and send links as soon as it airs.

Other random thoughts…

I was on the elliptical this morning and was riveted to the television coverage by CNN of the earthquake in Haiti. Their reporter was live from Port-au-Prince where rescue workers were trying to dig out a little girl who was screaming in agony. It was gut-wrenching and my heart went out to her and the tens-of-thousands of others. They might have to amputate her leg just to free her. My God. We must all do what we can to help, and even a small monetary donation can go to provide life saving salt pills that go for just $.07 each. That’s it. Seven measly cents.

I am going to start culling together the “Worth The Splurge” recommendations I’ve received so far and am always ALWAYS looking for more. No matter where you are in the world let me know what foods you enjoy and where they are. I’d love to hear about them. After all, if we’re going to blow calories on a meal it better be a damned good one. Right?

Going to start my next column I think on bariatric surgery. While I never had it done I know so many people who have. It would be so interesting to talk to a few of them and get their take on it and how it is affecting their lives. It took me three-and-a-half years to lose my weight which I think is great because I didn’t want to go under the knife. But it works for some.

OK, there I go rambling. So sorry about that. My mind is a bit scattered today.Remember, as we begin the weekend to be thankful for all we have in our lives. We may be trying to improve our health and bring down our weight but always keep in mind our ability to be able to do that. Have the foods we want and the means to get them. I am appreciative of that every day.

And to the good people of Haiti, please hold on. The world hears you and we are on the way…

I have to admit I don’t know exactly what to write about today. I attended a Twitter conference last night in Philly which was amazing. I met great people, some for the first time and some face-to-face to put a Twitter “handle” with the name. But almost all of us through the wonder of social media got the word about Haiti as we all participated, networked and schmoozed.

All while trying so very hard to at least be somewhat good in my food choices in a bar (which I was for the most part).

I usually don’t bring news into my daily blog but it’s impossible not to be thinking about Haiti this morning. With most of Port-au-Prince destroyed this is one of those times where you take stock of the blessings around you and be thankful for each and every one of them.

How does this relate to weight loss? On one hand, in no way at all. On the other hand, in every way imaginable.

We are all on this weight loss journey together. And if you are on a weight loss journey you are watching what you eat, exercising, or both. That means we have a commonality and it’s too bad when we in today’s world when we forget or set aside our commonalities in favor of highlighting what is different and running from it.

We are all on this one big, gigantic world together. Sure we have differences, but a world full of the same would be blah and not very exciting.

This is just one of those days where I am mindful of the blessings we have. Food on our table. A roof over our head. Basic human resources like bathrooms, running water and transportation. The ability to visit a hospital. All of these, my friends are in short, short supply in Haiti today. So for the rest of the week I am going to donate at least one fast food meal’s worth of money to the Red Cross or other support agency to help others with whom we share this planet.

Take some time today to tell others you love them, treasure them and appreciate them. As the earthquake and other events prove time and time again. Life is short and we must make the most of each and every precious moment. Also, take the time to love yourself today, too. Because if we don’t take the best care of ourselves we can those precious moments will slip away and we will never get them back.