I Am Legend

Reviewer: Alyice Edrich

Movie

I Am Legend, 2007

Starring

Will Smith, and more.

Plot

Robert Neville, a military scientist, is immune to a deadly virus that not only transforms human beings into horrific creature of the night, but is also destroying earth as we know it. Now, three years later, it’s up to Neville to save the planet before the last remaining humans vanish forever.

The Review

Richard Matheson’s novel, I Am Legend, reaches epic proportions as screenwriters turn a classic science fiction story into a modern day suspense and action filled drama. It’s true that I Am Legend, the movie, strays from the original story in which the film was based, but considering the era in which the book was first written and the advances in technology it only seemed fitting.

A month before we watched I Am Legend, starring Will Smith, my family and I watched The Last Man On Earth starring Vincent Price (one of my favorite actors of his time) and I must say that there is absolutely no comparing the two. Vincent Price does a great job with the original film, but it drags. Perhaps we’re so used to living in a world that moves at a fast pace that we can’t truly appreciate the genius behind the simplicity and progression of the original film, but I find I Am Legend to be far more enjoyable.

What I found truly amazing was the fact that Will Smith was able to carry the film so well. I was so engrossed with his personal struggles and his interaction with his dog, Sam, and the mannequins that I completely forgot he was the only actor in the first half of the film.

It all begins with a cure for cancer. The cure, however, was too good to be true and becomes a deadly virus that not only begins to wipe out mankind but transforms man into creatures of the night; creatures that resemble blood thirsty vampires who can’t stand the sun. Only all human consciousness is lost in the transformation and these creatures survive simply to feed.

Neville, a military scientist, is assigned the task of finding a cure and saving mankind from utter distinction. Thinking he’s going to protect his wife and daughter, he sends them off in a helicopter only to watch them perish in an unfortunate accident. With nothing left to live for but saving mankind, Neville, along with his best friend, Sam, set out to find a cure.

By day Neville scouts his territory for food, rations, and specimens to try his experiments on. He tries to keep his sanity by playing with adult-sized dolls; positioning them in various parts of town and talking to them as though they were real human beings. But things are about to change…

After capturing a live female creature to perform what he hopes to be his final experiment, the creature’s mate decides to turn the table on Neville and use his own game of “cat and mouse” against him. This is where Neville loses the little bit of sanity he has left and snaps; which ultimately causes the demise of his beloved, Sam.

Unable to deal with the loss of the only living friend he had, Neville sets out to self-destruct. But his afternoon radio messages pays off because another human being enters the scene and saves Neville. Injured, Neville is taken back to his apartment, err fortress. But there’s only one problem. The newcomer didn’t listen to Neville. She didn’t wait until sunrise and now the creatures know where Neville lives and have come to put an end to the monster that kills them by day.

Honestly, I would have preferred a different ending. But I sort of like happy endings that are neatly tied up with a bow. That being said, the ending leaves an opening for a sequel, only don’t count on Will Smith playing a part in it.

Order I Am Legend today!