Movie Review: I Am Legend
Published December 27, 2007
Since the '70s, Warner Bros. Pictures has put Richard Matheson’s novel I Am Legend through the wringer. After its initial adaptation in 1971 (titled The Omega Man staring Charlton Heston), the rights to I Am Legend sat on the studio’s shelf until the 1990s. At this point, an adaptation (this time titled I Am Legend) was slated to star Arnold Schwarzenegger with Ridley Scott in the director’s chair. Needless to say, this project fell through.
Since 2002, Will Smith has been attached to I Am Legend in the lead role. So, why did it then take five years for the feature to make it to “post-production” status? Well, it was a case of juggling directors. From Michael Bay, to Will Smith’s requested director Guillermo Del Toro, the studio finally decided on music video director and director of Constantine, Francis Lawrence.
In retracing Warner Bros.' footsteps in bringing I Am Legend to light, the studio has finally succeeded and proved that no missteps were taken. I Am Legend contains action, Will Smith, impressive images of a barren Times Square, and mutated CGI humans. What more could you ask for?
The year is 2012 and New York City’s population is one. That one is a military scientist, Dr. Robert Neville (Will Smith). When the sun is visible, Robert hunts with his dog Sam and waits on the pier in hopes of finding other human survivors. When the sun sets, Robert hides in his boarded home from the creatures that own the night. Exactly what these creatures are and how this current state came to be is gradually revealed through a series of flashbacks.
Amid these flashbacks we are informed that a so-called “cure” for cancer was administered to a control group of humans. The “cure” then mutated and resulted in a new breed of human — aggressive, sensitive to light, and thirsty for blood. This group of mutated humans then doubled as a plague and killed the human race by the masses.
Not since Cast Away has a motion picture delved into the mind of a main character so confined to solitude. Equipped with food, shelter, and weapons, Neville’s only complaint is in the lack of human life and socialization. As I Am Legend’s main character transforms mentally, he finds companionship in both a German shepherd (instead of a volleyball) and a series of mannequins that he names creatively. Determined to stay on the NY island, Neville strives to “fix” the problem instead of escape. Even with these vast differences in survival, I Am Legend is just as intriguing a character study as Cast Away.
- Movie Review: I Am Legend
- Published: December 27, 2007
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Action, Video: Thriller
- Writer: Brandon Valentine
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Comments
THIS MOVIE HAD A GOOD STORY LINE !
IT STARTED GREAT...BUT ENDED NOT SO GOOD!
Mary,
The worst movie you have ever seen? No purpose or subject? Don't you think that may be a stretch? I don't doubt that you disliked the picture, but seriously?
While there are plenty of films worthy of your words, I don't believe that I Am Legend is one of them. But don't worry, I'm not here to "pormote" the movie. I just offer my opinion, much like you did.
To be honest, I thought this film was one of the best I have ever seen (no comments like ''You musn't have seen many films then'', because I've seen more than most). It was emotional, clever, had action in it and made me want to shout out to Robert, even though I was in a full cinema. It CLEARLY has a storyline etc. The ending wasn't too great but the rest of the film more than made up for it.
**MAJOR SPOILERS**
I thought the film was good. When I saw the Trailers I thought it will either be amazing or very much a waste of my time. I went to watch it this evening and it started very well. I found it believable that the Virus could spread in the way it did. Unfortunatly I thought the CGI was a bit pants. When you look at films made recently, and then look at the Lion attacking the Deer in the City Centre, it's all round crap. And the Zombies aswell, for such a high budget film they should have done make-up instead of CGI.
The film seemed to go downhill after you got used to the fact he had to gather, hunt (notice how he never caught anything?) and basically survive.
What was the 'God' line all about? Completly lost me and thought it was unecessary. Also, the Shrek line miming? Funny at first, but went on too long.
So i'd give it 7/10
I really enjoyed the movie. Although, I was not expecting it to be that suspenseful, but it was intriguing and thought provoking.
As for the effects (Miss Lisa) I disagree. For one not all of the monsters were fake all though the movie. Second if they had just put people in costumes then the "dark seekers" could not have popped the way they did, and would not have been as inhuman (which they were supposed to be). Also the Shrek line it symbolized the way the Neville felt/the way he was acting, hello, think outside the box.
For anyone interested,
As I found out from my dad I Am Legend was based off of another movie called The Omega Man, which was based off another movie called The Last Man on Earth, which was based off of a novel called I Am Legend. According to my dad The Omega Man is better than I Am Legend. Personally I have not seen the others but I would like to, how about you?
I thought it was very good.
Well, all three films are based off the same book, they aren't based off each other.
I have seen all three and think that The Last Man on Earth with V Price is the best of them.
I Am Legend is good, but the last act goes way downhill. I am not that crazy about the way they change the meaning of the title.
The mimicking was done in Omega Man as Heston sits in a theater watching a Woodstock documentary.
This movie was spectacular, Will Smith out did himself. "Frank is that you??" Frank how did you get out here!
The movie is an instant classic for all time. anyone who disagrees needs to see this again and again. sometimes people dont know a classic, until years later but this is one of the best movies i have ever seen in my years. Good show.
I must say this is one of the worst films I have watched, like it if you may but I can't see how anybody could like this film.
Personally i think this is THE best film i have ever seen, i think the film really affects your feeling about life and really makes you think. Dont hesitate just go and see it because i think you will agree with me.
huh. just watched it. the subtext of "spiritual warfare" promoted these days by various american christian fundamentalist groups now propagated via mainstream sci-fi fx film. interesting. and way scary - the future possibility (and long history) of violent rapture-deluded and armed religious freaks hunting non-christians that is.
This is the WORST MOVIE EVER! it is a big blockbuster movie made for retarded people who dont follow plot or think for that matter. There are so many plot pitholes in this movie it's almost hysterical if it wasnt so sad.for example if he is immune how can there be a colony of survivors? it has killed all of humanity and yet there are a still living through all these years? if its been 3 years with no people how can he have running water and vegetables adn electricity? oh wait are there secret farmers and electricians and people operating the hydro systems? and in three short years there are animals running wild, animals like gazelles who have been trained for generations never to set foot in an urban setting..so its THAT wild, yet its still dosmesticated with running water and food. i can go scene by scene and find a problem.and the scene where he's crawling after getting stabbed, really really couldnt get up and walk- whats wrong with his other leg? but after two minutes he was able to get up..did he really have spend allthat time crawling? adn if the zombie dogs were able to come out, why not the zombie human beings?the sun was down. for people who think this movie is good, clearly you are not truly film goers..you probably liked i know who killed me and the scary movie series too, right? this is just a stupid movie the writers and producers rewrote, being to lazy to fill in the story properly. its a movie dumbed down for brainless americans. how pathetic are you if you like this movie. god.
also i loved how the producers have everyone fooled with the "deep underlying meaning" of the film... the parallels between technology and nature. medicine and life. give me a fucking break. if you think this blockbuster is thought provoking, you probably have not done much thinking in your life before





This is the worst movie that I have ever seen. There is no purpose, no subject. There is nothing just a group of people who scream and eat other people. Please do not pormote this movie