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Movie Review - I Am Legend (2007)
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(What this rating means)
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| Director: |
Francis Lawrence |
| Starring: |
Will Smith, Alice Braga, a dog |
| Rated: |
PG-13 (for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence) |
| Length: |
101 minutes |
| Genre: |
Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi |
| Tagline: |
The last man on earth is not alone |
| Studio: |
Warner Bros. |
| Website: |
I Am Legend |
| Release: |
December 14, 2007 |
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PLOT
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Robert Neville (Smith) is a brilliant scientist. So brilliant that he was inexplicably immune to a virus that eradicated all of New York City. Unfortunately, he wasn't quite bright
enough to stop the roughshod sprint that the once-hailed "cancer cure" has orchestrated. In a desperate attempt to locate other survivors, Neville sends out daily radio messages, detailing
his whereabouts. He's been doing this for three years, and it's starting to take its toll.
Neville isn't completely alone though. Mutant victims of the KV virus wait in the dark; ready to pounce the moment Neville makes the slightest regrettable mistake. The only thing the Fresh
Prince can do is capture "Dark Seekers," when possible, and use them as guinea pigs as he attempts to use his own immune blood to reverse the effects of the virus. Can he accomplish his
mission before he runs out of time ... or sanity? Will Smith's one-man show ensues.
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JOHNNY'S TAKE
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Show of hands - who here has ever been the last person on earth in a post-apocalyptic world? Laslo, put your hand down. Utah isn't that sparse. I haven't either, so I'm not
exactly sure how I'd react daily within the confines of a completely desolate modern urban environment. However, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't start talking to mannequins. Such
desperate efforts to force dialogue do nothing but create an awkward atmosphere, one in which I became immediately desensitized to the situation surrounding Robert Neville.
Considering Will Smith is required to carry the first act of the movie solely on his expressions and behavior, he does an admirable job, but after a while it is simply too difficult
to argue with your dog about eating vegetables to keep from looking silly.
Perhaps I Am Legend's biggest downfall is that it possesses too much potential. A level that it really has no chance of reaching. One man alone in New York City trying to
avoid dark-dwelling mutants and reverse the effects of a virus all at the same time? Sign me up and pass the popcorn, baby! Um, so why are we forced to experience so much of Neville's
daily menial tasks? And where is the character development? There's basically no exposition on why Smith is immune to the virus (even the press notes just say he is "somehow immune"),
nor is there any explanation why one of the "Dark Seekers" (though still inhuman) seems to be capable of base leadership and raw cognitive skills. I spent too much of
the movie asking "why?" but the movie felt no need to utilize any of its time answering with anything other than "because."
Despite my complaints, the movie certainly provides its moments of entertainment. The "Dark Seekers" and their attacks offer plenty of tense moments, and the brief forays into action
are quite exciting. I enjoyed what I was given, but I couldn't help but want more. As the anti-climactic ending delivered a rushed sense of closure and the credits rolled, I couldn't
help but think that while I Am Legend wasn't a wasted experience, it wasn't a particularly satisfying one either.
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SIDE-HUG SAM'S TWO CENTS
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My friend Johnny B took me on my first movie screening. Apparently all you need is a notebook, pen and an air of confidence to get free admission to a movie. We walked right into the
movie but had a bit of a time finding a seat. I had to sit on something resembling a kitchen chair. After about 20 minutes and a numb rear-end, I was absolutely sure it was a kitchen
chair.
Hmmm... how do I start? Let me say, it is very difficult to pull off a movie that's almost entirely a monologue (see Castaway). The first 25 minutes we get to see Will Smith, aka
Army Lieutenant Colonel Robert Neville, looting New York City. Although, there is a cool animal sequence in there.
We learn the future is bleak on alternative fuel sources. Gas has soared to $6.95 a gallon in the year 2009. The pharmaceutical companies cure cancer which has a mild side-effect.
You've seen the commercial right? "Doctor recommended Cramitall may cause headache, nosebleed, intense bleeding of the ears, religious experience and suicide." The cancer "cure,"
known as the KV Virus, causes "rabies-like symptoms" in humans and animals.
>
Don't get me started on how they do or don't explain why Will Smith is immune to this virus, but he is one of the 'lucky' survivors. The other survivors are mannequins strategically
placed throughout the movie for him to interact with (kinda like Wilson in Castaway). Sadly, this doesn't quite work. LTC Dr. Robert Neville has some strange interaction with
these mannequins and it's supposed to portray his fragile state of mind. Mostly these interactions were met with laughter from the audience.
When he isn't looting, Will Smith is trying to find a cure for the cure. He has a basement lab where he still has full electricity and all the supplies he needs. It does show a
generator in the movie, but with all the electricity he uses, he would need to refuel it about every half hour. While in the lab, he injects his subjects multiple times with needles
and we aren't always told WHAT he injects them with.
While he isn't looting or finding a cure for the cure, he's fighting the infected humans (think 28 Days Later). Although the Night Walkers (Johnny's note: it's Dark Seekers) have
something similar to rabies and act as if you just called their momma an unmentionable, they also exhibit cunning abilities and set up traps and stalk our friend Dr. Neville.
This leads to some really cool fight sequences. The graphics are very good. The sound is also pretty freaky. The scare factor will get you a couple of times.
The ending just blows. I'll come out and say that. It's so bad that a narrator has to tell you why the movie is called I Am Legend.
Overall, I would say go see it if you don't have much to do over the holidays and want something to make you jump and laugh inappropriately. I won't be purchasing this for my DVD
collection though.
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ODDS & ENDS
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- Based on Richard Matheson's 1954 novel of the same name.
- There have been two previous adaptations: 1964's The Last Man on Earth, starring Vincent Price, and 1971's The Omega Man, starring Charlton Heston.
- At one time, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ridley Scott were attached to the project. But one must assume that Scott saw the opportunity to work with Josh Brolin on
American Gangster and jumped at it.
- Will Smith wanted Guillermo del Toro to direct, but del Toro was not interested.
- Mentions of God (as noted by Side-Hug Sam):
* Posters around New York City after everyone dies says "God Still Loves Us"
* Dr. Robert Neville's family prays before they leave each other. Wife apparently is Christian.
* Will Smith loudly and clearly shouts "THERE IS NO GOD" a few times toward the end of the movie. I wonder how he reconciles that with his own personal faith off screen.
Money is a powerful thing.
* Possible reference when he gives a 'cure to the cure' to Anna and says 'you were brought here for a reason' at the end of the movie.
- Music Side-Hug Sam listened to while writing his review:
* Kings of Leon - Four Kicks
* Lovedrug - Salt of the Earth
* Chris Tomlin - Amazing Grace
* Silverchair - Across the Night
- Will Smith was in Men in Black with Tommy Lee Jones who was in No Country for Old Men with Josh Brolin who was in Hollow
Man with Kevin Bacon.
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MAMA'S APPROVAL
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I don't remember any profanity at all, and there is no nudity, but there are definitely some scary sequences that aren't appropriate for younger audiences. My 13-year-old brother attended
the screening and has thus far shown no ill side effects.
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TRAILER COMPARISON
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Doesn't drastically mislead you regarding what to expect.
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THE GIST
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I'm pretty much middle-of-the-road on I Am Legend. Sure, there are some solidly entertaining moments, but I couldn't help but walk away disappointed and wanting more than I was
ultimately given. Check it out during a matinee, or wait for the rental.
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