Despite some less than stellar CGI, I am Legend is an entertaining film and features a strong performance from Will Smith. The film may lack some in the scares and action (even though the trailers made it look like a fright fest), but the story will keep you hooked.
I am Legend’s screenplay was written by Mark Protosevich and Akiva Goldsman. It is the latest adaptation of Richard Matheson’s classic sci-fi novel - which has was also brought to screen in 1971's The Omega Man and 1964's The Last Man on Earth.
This version of the story stars Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Salli Richardson, and Willow Smith (yes, Will Smith's daughter). There is also a brief appearance by the great Emma Thompson.
Set in 2012, the film follows a plague (which was supposed to cure cancer) that wipes out most of humanity and transforms the survivors into some kind of zombie-like creatures who die in sunlight and are full of rage. They are also very hungry.
Robert Neville (Smith) is a military scientist who believes he is the lone survivor living in New York City. For some reason, he was immune to the disease, and now roams the streets (with his dog) looking for other survivors, hunting for food, and searching for a cure – which sometimes involves grabbing one of the creatures for medical experiments.
Neville believes the creatures have only base brain functions (hunt and eat), and have no kind of society functions. He discovers he was wrong when one of the creatures starts to stalk him after Neville kidnaps the creature’s girlfriend. He also learns that he is not the only survivor when Anna and Ethan (who also have immunity to the plague) show up and tell him of a colony where the plague didn’t reach.
The movie then kicks into overdrive as Neville figures out he might be able to cure the plague and return the creatures to normal; and is attacked by “Alpha Male” - who leads a pack of creatures and wants his girlfriend back!
When examining the plot, it is rather silly and even a bit familiar (a plague wiping out a city has been done before and it reminded me at times of 28 Days Later). However, Smith’s performance gives the film weight, and keeps you emotionally involved in what is happening on the screen.
Smith proves he still has the charm that made him a box office champ, and he has the skills to make you believe this guy is totally on his own. Smith roams the town with just a dog (creating a relationship that reminded me of the Tom Hanks/Wilson relationship of Cast Away), and has friendships with mannequins that he has set up throughout the city.
Director Francis Lawrence (Constantine) uses a series of flashbacks to show how the plague took Smith’s family, and the emergence of Anna and Ethan to demonstrate how far from normal humanity Smith has fallen.
When Anna and Ethan first come to Smith, he is unable to accept that they are real, and immediately gets upset over the fact they are eating his bacon – which he was saving for a special occasion. He then rattles off the lines to Shrek as Ethan watches it (he has been renting movies from the local video store and Shrek is one of his favorites).
Smith delivers these scenes (and scenes with his dog) with lots of heart and helps sell how much being the “last man on Earth” has taken its toll on his character.
However, Smith’s performance cannot help the film overcome horrible CGI which leaves its zombie creatures looking like something out of a Scooby Doo cartoon. Granted, the creatures didn’t have to be the most frightening thing ever brought to film, but the bad CGI totally ruins the emotional impact the film had on me.
Instead of getting on the edge of my seat when Smith entered a dark building to rescue his dog, I was laughing as the cartoon creature growled and snarled.
Surely a film with this kind of action star and budget could have come up with something better. What is wrong with just putting some actors in make-up and letting them run around? It worked for 28 Days Later.
The fact that the last part of the film is a bit of creature overload just ruins any emotion and tension the film built earlier and almost killed it for me. I still think it was very entertaining and is worth watching, but be prepared to be letdown by bad effects.
The Two-Disc Special Edition comes loaded with bonus features and an alternate version of the film with a “controversial ending.” From my understanding, the new footage on the alternate version is strictly at the end of the film. Personally, I liked the theatrical ending better, and thought it had a bigger emotional impact. The DVD also includes four animated comics, and bonus DVD-ROM features. It also has a bonus digital copy of the film.
I am Legend manages to keep you entertained from start to finish, and delivers a story with lots of heart thanks to Smith’s performance. However, the bad CGI might ruin the enjoyment for some viewers and does take away some of the story’s impact and tension.
I Am Legend (Two-Disc Special Edition) is now available at Amazon . It is available for pre-order at AmazonUK for an April 21st release. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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