VOA标准英语2010年-Denzel Washington Stars in Futuristic

Denzel Washington plays a prophet wandering a devastated¹ landscape on a spiritual mission in a dark, but ultimately hopeful futuristic drama.

He is a solitary² figure walking through the wasteland. Well-armed, because he has to be in order to survive a world where chaos³ reigns⁴; but he also carries a tattered⁵ satchel⁶ holding his most prized possession …one he is determined⁷ to protect at all costs:

It is not gold or jewels, but a leather-bound volume emblazoned with a large cross on the cover:

Denzel Washington stars as Eli, the wanderer on a mission; and the Oscar-winning actor also is producer of the film.

"People have asked me 'is this a movie about the bible?' I said no, this is a movie about power. In fact, here is a man who is on a mission, yet he becomes the most violent man in the world," he said. "At his most violent point this young innocent girl says 'stop!' Here is a man who, because he so focused on protecting, is killing⁸ any and everybody who gets in his way; but this innocent girl who doesn't know anything about God …who can't even read …opens him up in a way and reconnects him with his own humanity."

Mila Kunis co-stars as Solara, a young woman who becomes his traveling companion and disciple⁹ when he helps her escape the clutches of Carnegie, a petty despot who rules a small town and dreams of greater power …if he can only get his hands on that book:

Carnegie wants to bring a sense of order to the chaos, says English actor Gary Oldman plays the clever and manipulative villian. "I read "Eli" and I thought it was like a western. It reminded me of a western …sort of a post-apocalyptic western without horses, but with armored trucks."

Twin brothers Albert and Allen Hughes directed "The Book of Eli." Allen Hughes insists that the film does not preach or advocate a particular religious belief, but the spiritual aspect of the story is undeniable.

"The movie is about one man's personal faith and having that faith tested and what are you willing to sacrifice for that. We want people to view the movie the way you view the Bible or if you believe in the Koran or the Torah …people will read into it what they want to read into it. People read into the Bible what they bring to the Bible. We were trying to make a movie - it is entertainment as well - that whatever you bring into the theater is pretty much what you are going to take out of the theater, because that is what has happened with that book and that is the debate in the movie. It's tragic¹⁰ in the wrong hands. It's sad what people do with that."

"The Book of Eli" also features Ray Stevenson as Carnegie's conflicted lieutenant¹¹. Jennifer Beals plays a blind woman whose hope for her daughter's future keeps her strong. The screenplay is by Gary Whitta and the musical score is by Atticus Ross.

1 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

2 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

3 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

4 reigns   

n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期

参考例句：

• In these valleys night reigns. 夜色笼罩着那些山谷。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The Queen of Britain reigns, but she does not rule or govern. 英国女王是国家元首，但不治国事。 来自辞典例句

5 tattered   

adj.破旧的，衣衫破的

参考例句：

• Her tattered clothes in no way detracted from her beauty.她的破衣烂衫丝毫没有影响她的美貌。
• Their tattered clothing and broken furniture indicated their poverty.他们褴褛的衣服和破烂的家具显出他们的贫穷。

6 satchel   

n.(皮或帆布的)书包

参考例句：

• The school boy opened the door and flung his satchel in.那个男学生打开门，把他的书包甩了进去。
• She opened her satchel and took out her father's gloves.打开书箱，取出了她父亲的手套来。

7 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

8 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

9 disciple   

n.信徒，门徒，追随者

参考例句：

• Your disciple failed to welcome you.你的徒弟没能迎接你。
• He was an ardent disciple of Gandhi.他是甘地的忠实信徒。

10 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

11 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。