Special effects are both a gift and a curse. They’re a gift when they can create the stunning, empty vistas of New York as depicted in I Am Legend. They’re a curse when used to create something such as a human-like vampire that could have just as easily been done practically. While the blatantly obvious CG effects take away from the action, they cannot replace or change the intense, emotional performance of Will Smith that carries this sci-fi drama.
Based on a book by Richard Matheson which has been filmed multiple times prior to this 2007 update, the story of the supposed last man on Earth is consistently gripping. Robert Neville is immune to a man-made virus, and struggles to survive in a barren wasteland of New York. Infected people who survived the outbreak, originally thought to be a cure for cancer, have turned into flesh-eating nightwalkers.
Shots of Neville in New York are brilliant. Times Square is now littered with tall grass, buildings are covered with quarantine zone tags, and telephone poles are littered with notes and signs from the religious asking people no longer there to repent. The details are amazing, and immerse the viewer further into the story.
Events that happened prior to day 1,000 of Neville’s sole survivor routine are told in flashback. These are equally intense and involving. However, they’re brief and could easily have been longer. The chaos of the situation, with thousands of the sick, dying, and well converging on a single point is compelling. These shots carry a sense of realism behind them, and the idea that mistakes are being consistently made furthers the pandemonium.
Character development is mostly done in the background. While the flashback scenes cover the basics, numerous little clues are strewn about the frame as to Neville’s history. His refrigerator has magazine covers claiming him to be mankind’s savior. A room in his home is left untouched for reasons revealed later in the film. Small potential plot holes are closed in this manner too, rewarding those paying attention.
Article comments
1 - Ethan Meadow
One of the best movies of 2007. Academy Award winning? Questionable? There are moments when Will Smith seems to connect completly with his character and other times that he can't figure out how to react to blue screened CGI monster. Loved the movie on the whole though. Thanks for the great review. Here is a great I Am Legend Movie Fan Site that readers will be into.