Question: I see this in nearly all post apocalyptic movies, and in spades in the Book of Eli. The dystopian world they live in is so devoid of necessities that things like chapstick and even water are extremely valuable. OK, fair enough. 30 years ago a nuclear war destroyed society. So how is it that in this world of extreme scarcity, that they are able to keep multiple vehicles running? Beyond gasoline, a car requires a working battery and multiple other fluids, not to mention parts.
Answer: Scavenge and cannibalize from all the derelict cars, and loot abandoned stores?
Question: In the scene right after Carnegie discovers Eli escaped his room and we see him doing something with the old shopkeeper, it looked like he was stealing the battery he needed for his MP3. Does anyone else have a different take? Maybe he bought it? (00:49:03)
Answer: He wasn't stealing the battery, the shopkeeper was purposely trying to stall him. That is what why Eli said "tell them I made you do it". Because he was being forced to stall him against his will.
Question: Since there was no vegetation to support grazing or browsing animals and apparently not enough water to support aquatic life what did the people eat if they weren't cannibals? Eli ate a cat, but what did the cat eat? Eli fed the mouse cat meat, but until then what did it eat?
Answer: In real life feral cats will eat just about anything they can catch: bugs, lizards, rodents etc. Wild mice will also eat about any scraps, grains or small creatures they can find - including each other. You are right though that in the movie it is not clear how large animals like humans will eat enough.
Question: Why didn't Eli want the hijacker leader to touch him?
Answer: Anyone experienced with hand to hand combat knows not to allow an opponent to lay hands on him. That almost always leads to escalation.
I thought he was simply defending himself since the hijacker leader, along with the other hijackers were probably dangerous men.
He probably considered the hijacker leader an opponent due to the way he was threatening him.
Answer: The hijacker messed up because he let Eli know exactly where he was and how close he was.
Question: Why does Eli run into the house and look out of the window where the old lady and man are just before the fight with Carnegie and his men? Surely if he was blind he would not look out of the window, he would at least put his ear to it.
Answer: Because he isn't blind. He was blind but his sight was returned so that he could complete his task. He doesn't become blind again until the end of the film, as shown by his eyes going gray.
That's incorrect. He's blind throughout the movie.
Question: Eli locks Solara in the spring after he dupes her to go back in to find his glasses. How does she escape?
Answer: She could have picked the lock. It was an old door, she could have used one of her weapons to open it. Plus, there was most likely a second hidden emergency escape hatch.
It was a known location by a few for obtaining water so eventually someone was bound to come by and open the door.
Answer: Like you said, society collapsed so the survivors scrounge for food, water, basic needs. Vehicles, their parts, and oil are not basic needs however and are only required when new, primitive, societies start up again. Sure individuals might use a vehicle, but plenty of cars lying around to use until they rust and then you go on to the next. But, these societies can, though crudely, create parts and collect fluids, based on their needs, from whatever they can scavenge. The technology and knowledge is still there, as is the skill to keep cars running. They'd go great lengths to keep them operational, sometimes moreso than food production.
lionhead
I can appreciate your answer, but 30-year-old gasoline? It just doesn't work. But then it dawned on me that an engine can run on other substances, like grain alcohol. Probably still hard to come by, but nowhere as difficult to create as gasoline would be. So, yep, you're right. Thanks.
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