Rated PG-13 – “I Am legend” (starring Will Smith) is about a scientist/military officer named Robert Neville, who is the lone survivor of a virus that has wiped out all of humanity.
This is a remake of the 1971 classic “The Omega Man”, which stars Charlton Heston.
As a scientist, Dr. Robert Neville (Smith) struggles to find a cure for a “virus” that has all but wiped out the human race. But as a military officer, Neville has to fight mutant, nocturnal, zombie-like creatures that the “virus” has left behind. These monsters are violent, empty shells of their former human selves that have physically and emotionally devolved over the last three years. They lack any and all humanity, and are unfortunate people that were not killed but changed by a rabies-like “virus” that steals away their “soul”, and replaces it with only rage and malcontent. They are over-aggressive, and physically stronger than any normal human. Their only real weaknesses are their lack of intelligence, and the sunlight, which severely burns them after only seconds of exposure, and forces them to be nocturnal.
Let me just start by saying that this really is a good movie, but there were, in my opinion, some pretty bothersome flaws too. For starters, there is no real back story to this movie.
In the beginning, you see Neville and his family rushing away from inner New York City with a large military entourage trying to escape obvious entrapment. In the very next scene , it is three years later and Neville and his dog are in a Ford Mustang driving through the abandoned streets of New York hunting for food. Throughout the entire film he has some relatively small flashbacks and dreams of what happened, but nothing that really tells us how the virus evolved, or if he was affiliated with it. I gathered after watching for a bit, that he was in some way connected to the virus, but only because he is so adamant about finding a cure and fixing everything(as if he was partially responsible for the outbreak). All we are really made aware of is that a female scientist discovers what is believed to be a cure for cancer, seemingly curing over 10,000 people by using some mutated strain of the measles. But apparently the initial tests turn horribly wrong, and go bad very quickly.
I just have a hard time with the fact that he never ventures outside of New York City to look for any other survivors. All he does is broadcast on A.M. radio frequencies on a daily basis to let any possible survivors know that he is still alive, and that he can provide food and shelter for any people still living. I would certainly think that someone who believes he is the last man on earth would want to at least search for any other possible survivors. After all, human beings are social creatures by nature. We need interaction from other humans to validate our own existence. Not being around anyone else for over three years would result in some serious emotional, and mental problems. Anyway, back on point.
Here is what I do like about this movie.
Will Smith delivers a good performance, and is pretty believable as this character. He also delivers his usual “star power”to the film. I like the special effects as well, they are not not top tier, but definitely not the worst I’ve seen either. It’s a fun movie to watch and delivers some pretty good theatrics and jump scenes. It’s a little bit predictable, but not too obvious at the same time. The best thing about it is maybe also the worst thing. The simple fact that we could possibly create something similar to this virus ourselves is quite scary. Though in the beginning, it is the apparent cure for cancer, with as much use of experimental procedures that we risk, who knows what we could possibly create? For that reason alone, it makes this movie a lot scarier than originally intended.
I thought this would be more of an action movie and less of a sci-fi flick than it was, but the action sequences that it does contain are very good, and keep you on the go, and the sci-fi aspect is also very good. Another good point to note on in this movie is that it is not really boring at any point, and keeps you interested for the most part. Other than the afore mentioned flaws, I was pretty entertained. This movie starts in chaos and ends in the ultimate sacrifice. Bearing in mind that remakes are usually no good, this one for the most part does deliver. I just hope they do not try some stupid attempt at a sequel or two. Leave it alone!
Overall I give it 3.5 out of 5.
Let me know what you think!
Later,
L.I.
