The Book of Eli

[Jimmy Odom]

So guys I just got to to work and I first have to thank my lovely spouse for allowing me to leave for work early so i could catch a 4:30pm showing for The Book of Eli.

I couldn't wait to post this thread once I finished watching it, so as soon as I got to work here it is, lol.

First I want to start by saying I LOVED the movie. Not just because it was shot on the RED, which of course meant it LOOKED PHENOMENAL, but mainly because of the subject matter.

Over the past few weeks, and presumably thought this entire new decade I prophesy that we will see an abundant amount of (Post Apocalyptic) films being produced, which is simply due to the overarching climate the world has entered into.But this was indeed one of the most substantial ones I've seen, recently.

As a bit of a disclaimer I feel I have to state that my opinion on the subject of this film may, and possibly for a certainty is biased, due to my faith. I am a Christian, and an outward one as well, lol, not to mean anything by it, just that I want to have placed complete disclosure to those reading this.

Anyway as for this film, I realize that many may not have seen it, so I WILL NOT go into details but, I just want to say that faith in troubling times is extremely important, and the film expounds on it beautifully.

As for the look, I honestly don't believe any other camera could have obtained this particular look, as well as the RED did. I just loved it.

I'm usually not one to go on ranting about films on boards, but this movie just stirred me up from within, so much so that I wanted to make sure that "I was still carrying the fire".

Have a look at the movie if you haven't and if you have I'd like to know two things.

1. Firstly what did you think about the look of the film, and how much more excited have you became, due to seeing it, for the eventual release of both Epic and Scarlet?

2. Secondly what did you think of the story? (NO SPOILERS) Just opinions, w/o grave detail, have respect for your fellow colleagues, and allow them to enjoy their film, just as we did.

[Ben Brainerd]

Just got back from seeing it myself. And I think you can rest assured that your faith isn't clouding the issue, Jimmy. As a non-religious person, I still feel that the film was moving and powerful.

It definitely wasn't as actiony as I'd expected from the trailers. On the other hand, it was a lot more thinky, which I feel is an excellent trade-off.

The VFX and compositing were very mediocre, but that's my only minor gripe about the technical aspects. It looked fantastic. I was a bit confused by the credits, with the whole "Shot on Panavision Cameras and Lenses", but apparently we've hashed that out on RedUser (http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=39113)

As far as the story goes, it's the first movie in a long time that made me go "Wait, what?" at the end. Hard to talk about it more without any spoilers. :P

[Jimmy Odom]

Honestly Ben, its a great feeling to hear you say that. I also felt the VFX were mediocre, but for me that was the beautiful part. I say that because as a Director, who also does VFX and compositing, I find it so exciting that this was not only Shot one the RED ONE, and has been globaly distributed, and the VFX were good enough that they went ahead with the release, but once we get ahold to Scarlet, OMG, the sky's the limit.

There is, nor will there ever be ANYTHING they can tell us we cannot do. And when I mean us I mean Indie/Cosmetic/Micro-budget Filmmakers, lol.

I mean look at this film, and think if we wanted to put that together we could arguably, and realistically also reach an end product such as that, once we get ahold to the Scarlet. And to me thats one of the exciting things about what RED Team is doing for us low budget filmmakers. Their giving us the tools that will allow us to obtain the best quality image we can possibly have, at a given price point, and I did that. I dig it so much so that I've sold my 7D, and all the gear with it so I can start over, in a sense I put my $$$ where my mouth is.

I've made a couple bucks off the 7D now, and decided I was sick of just settling for lest than the best, and sold it, pushed 2 upcoming projects back until Summer/Mid-Summer so that we can shoot with Scarlet, which i know was difficult to do, but it's for the better. Better to get off a sinking ship BEFORE everyone notices its going down, and all the life rafts are a plenty, than to wait until the alarm sounds and everyone flocks, so that there is no room for anyone to get off, and thats what I did. I decided to sell my investment before Scarlet was just around the corner, and even before people got glimpses of footage coming from it, because I felt that once that happens the Cannon 7D and 5D Mark ll will began to plummet in value. i.E. Canon just dropped the 5D's price the other day, so whats that tell you will happen with the 7D.

And... I digress, but as I was saying I'm going in with RED on this trip, and I'll continue to hone my craft, write better products, which in turn will excite others to want to be apart of them, which will offer fuel to the fire to let them know we're BTW gonna shoot it on Scarlet. Nothing but green pastures from here on out, all we need now is for the RED Team to come through this year, and we'll make history with the rest. While THE TEAM continues to develop the technology, I'll do my part and continue to develop the stories, and scripts, so that once the tech is in place, the last thing needing to be done will be setting dates.

This movie got me fired up, how about you?

[Joe Taylor]

I just got back from the film and was very impressed with the look. I tried paying attention to shots that were no obviously composite shots, mostly the interiors, and was very satisfied that the RED ONE is more than capable with standing toe to toe with 35mm. I thought I was going to see it projected digitally, only because most multiplexes film projectors are so lousy I find digital projection better overall, but the print I saw looked great.

It's obvious that the WAY dramatic clouds, which I liked very much, were composited, I can only guess that that they too were shot with the RED. It's also obvious that most of the cloud-dramatic sky shots, were shot slightly over-cranked, which is very easy to do with the RED.

The big twist at the end was sort of gash, but at least he didn't give Gary a child's picture book, which I thought I saw coming from a mile away.

[Jimmy Odom]

Yeah mianly the clouds were what I was referencing, but like I said overall it looked good, regarding the VFX. Also those few MattePainted Background scenes looked good, and on theFilm Print I saw it also looked good, but I can imagine that if I were to see that same scene on a Digital projection that background might be slightly more discernible. I think when I take the Mrs. to see it next weekend I'll make sure we go to a Digital Projection theater here in Chicago.

Also about the ending, I definitely didn't see it coming, actually kinda made the movie, and story that much more impactful. I wish I could leave work right now and see it again, but alas gotta work so I can earn the extra $$$ needed to make my own, The Book of Eli.

[Jeremy Hughes]

I was a bit confused by the credits, with the whole "Shot on Panavision Cameras and Lenses", but apparently we've hashed that out on RedUser (http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=39113)

Yeah, that was a little confusing. I was expecting a big RED logo at the end like with Knowing.

I was hoping to go to Toronto to see this on the 4K projectors, but apparently it's not showing at the Yonge and Dundas AMC, so I opted for a film-out version over a 2K projection.

I really liked the grey sky throughout the movie. The visuals were amazing. But there were some shots that seemed like miniatures... like some of the over-head shots of driving through the desert. Did they do miniatures or is that some sort of weird CG stuff?

Can't wait to get it on Blu-ray.

[Ryan S]

Can't wait to see it. Besides the fact that it's a Red film (that's the limit of my fanboyishness) I have much love for Gary Oldman. Glad to see some good reviews.

I'm assuming the "shot on Panavision cameras and lenses" comes from the fact that they were Panavised Reds and Primos. As far as I know, movies shot with the Panavised F900 have the same credit, despite it being a Sony Camera.

[Ben Brainerd]

I'm assuming the "shot on Panavision cameras and lenses" comes from the fact that they were Panavised Reds and Primos. As far as I know, movies shot with the Panavised F900 have the same credit, despite it being a Sony Camera.

That seems to be the size of it. I'm pretty sure that the "Shot on Panavision" thing is a contractual requirement. Which is why you see if all the time, and the RED logo's kinda hit or miss. (Book of Eli - No, District 9 - Yes, etc)

One thing that makes me kinda curious is just how Panavised the REDs really were? I know Panavision rents at least some of their lenses in PL as well as their standard PV. Or they coulda just made a mount. Wonder if it voided their warranty like a Birger? :)

[Ryan S]

One thing that makes me kinda curious is just how Panavised the REDs really were? I know Panavision rents at least some of their lenses in PL as well as their standard PV. Or they coulda just made a mount. Wonder if it voided their warranty like a Birger? :)

I'm curious too. I figured it was just the lens mount, maybe they machined some of their own pieces to support the EVF, drives, batteries, etc.

[Ben Brainerd]

From the looks of some of the behind-the-scenes shots, it seems to be a pretty standard R1 build, which is why I was curious. I'm guessing a custom mount and that's about it.

Another bit of awesomeness is the soundtrack. There aren't a lot of orchestral soundtracks that really grab me anymore. After listening through a bunch of Hans Zimmer, they all start to blend together and sound the same, ya know? Whereas Atticus Ross's soundtrack is pretty damned amazing.