Denzel Washington Is a 'Killing Machine'

By Bryan Alexander Posted Jan 7th 2010 12:25PM

The sword-wielding, butt-kicking Denzel Washington is one of the highlights of' 'The Book of Eli,' and the veteran actor has asked PopEater to send a message about his "killing machine" fight scenes. "It's me," Washington says from the 'Eli' junket. "That's all me... It's no stunt man."

Yes, the sword-led can of butt-whooping is opened onscreen by the 54-year-old actor, who underwent intense Japanese sword training with stuntman Jeff Imada. "He trained me. Four or five months out, we started stretching and moving with our eyes closed. Getting into the whole vibe," says Washington.

Learning to let the energy of an opponent come to him during a fight was a pretty important lesson. But for a man of Washington's years, so was stretching. "When you get older, stretching is good. I don't do it enough," says Washington "It helped a lot."

That's clear on screen -- whether it's laying waste to foes at a last-chance saloon or along a Mad Max-esque highway. But Washington has not continued the training for butt-kicking on a life-basis.

"There's a part of you that wants to continue, then there's the actor part that says I have to put that down, I have to play another guy."

So for history and for all his hard work, Washington wanted to make sure everyone knows he was the on-screen sword master -- even if it came to briefly disagreeing with directors Albert and Allen Hughes in one fight scene. "At one point they were going to shoot me in silhouette. I was like you're not even going to show me after all of that?" Washington asks incredulously.

"Get closer or something," he recalls saying. "I was like, 'Make sure they know it's me.'"

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Denzel Washington Photos

Denzel Washington attends a game between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. More photos >>

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Denzel Washington Photos

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 09: Denzel Washington attends a game between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 9, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Denzel Washington *** Local Caption *** Denzel Washington

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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 09: Denzel Washington (L) and Daniel Negreanu (R) attend a game between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 9, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Denzel Washington;Daniel Negreanu

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Actor Denzel Washington, left, chares a laugh with former NBA player Norm Nixon during the first half of NBA basketball game between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 9: Actor Denzel Washington (L) and former NBA player Norm Nixon attend a game between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 9, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Denzel Washington;Norm Nixon

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A Denzel Washington wax figure is seen at Madame Tussauds in Hollywood, California, on August 27, 2009. Marie Tussaud, born Anna Maria Grosholtz (1761�1850) was born in Strasbourg, France. Tussaud created her first wax figure, of Voltaire, in 1777. Other famous people she modelled at that time include Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Benjamin Franklin. During the French Revolution she modelled many prominent victims. In her memoirs she claims that she would search through corpses to find the decapitated heads of executed citizens, from which she would make death masks. Madame Tussaud's wax museum has now grown to become a major tourist attraction in London, it has expanded with branches in Amsterdam, Berlin, Las Vegas, New York City, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Washington, D.C., and Hollywood since 2009. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

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Tags: Book of Eli, BookOfEli, denzel washington, DenzelWashington

Comments

(28)

Thursday 07 January

By maser

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Can't stand him, according to sources, he is lazy and demanding on sets

By mensplayground.com

I agree, seems to be a bit of a diva.

By leroy

well..just look at him..he looks like a criminal..Im sure he was just going on natural instinct..people like him have killer in their blood..all of them do..just look at the prisons..they are filled with guys that look just like him..UH UH UH

By suz

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

None of you know him or anything about him. he dosen't seem like a diva or lazy or demanding. He dosen't "look" like a criminal. Good lord what gall. He seems to me to have more class than most of the actors in Hollywood.

By Shamika

Vote down Vote up Report this

WHAT U B SAYIN THAT FOR ?? ARE YOU SAYIN CAUSE HE BLACK THAT MAKES HIM A KILLER ??? YOU NOTHING BUT A STUPID WHITE BOY..IF I EVER SEE YOU I`LL KILL YOU MYSELF..DON`T YOU LET SHAMIKA CATCH U PUNK..

By Leah

Ignorant

Friday 08 January

By fowler

Stupid phuck

By Earleen James

Why does everyone continue to associate a persons PRIVATE woes w/ business?

By RC

It's the stuntman "Jeff Imada"

By Bryan

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Fix made, and appreciate your civil tone (rare).

By pooperscoop

he may have been an ass but at least he cares about what he is doing...you know he's just not "phoning it in"

By Tony

I will definitely see this movie

By Carly

Mr. Washington is all class.

By shelly

He's not 54. He's 55.

By theovercomer99

He's a killing machine? Yea right. Only hollywood could make him that. I have family that are the real deal. They are in the US Army. Go and dream some more Mr. Washington.

By Bagcap

Outstanding actor, producer and director. I will be going to see this movie.

By Kits

Denzel is a great actor and person. Also he is so FINE!!!!

By leon

Denzel Washington Is a 'Killing Machine'........... cool hire him to go after Osama bin Laden.

By raggedyman

"I'm just a killing machine,
and I won't work for nobody but you."

By Janice

Mr. Washington came to a small town in Texas and donated a lot of money to a college so they could debate again, now that is a nice person. I don't know him personally, but actions do speak louder than words.

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