HybridLogic

I Am Legend

I Am Legend left me feeling unsure of how I felt about it. On the one hand it's another basic action film from Hollywood with heavy use of CGI, big name actor and a basic plot. But unlike the vast majority of the other drivel out right now, it feels like a deeper movie, as if it actually has some backbone for once.

The overgrown ruins of New York have been beautifully realised.

The vampire genre has been done to death, but the original premise, a sole survivor left to survive in a hostile environment, adds a fresh breath of life. Indeed for the first part of the movie the only other humans seen are in flashbacks which help tell a slight narrative story in how not only the world came to be how it is, but how Will Smith's character ended up so isolated. Smith's pet dog adds much needed companionship to the film, allowing the actor to maintain some sanity while also providing a crucial plot point later on.

In fact, once you look past the vampires you can actually see a story underneath it all. I won't ruin the ending because quite frankly it's a great one, even if it does leave you a little lost afterward, but needless to say it's a great culmination. While the first half of the movie may feel slow you realise it's just building up a picture, showing how and why this man is doing what he does to survive.

The effects and the direction itself are also top-notch. Night scenes and darkened interiors are terrifying, unlike the awful 30 Days of Night, with only a small torch and quick camera cuts adding to the frantic scenes. The vampires themselves, even when seen up close look brilliant, not to mention the other animals dotted about the overgrown New York that has been brilliantly realised.

All in all, I Am Legend is a good film. It doesn't feel like a classic, nor does it have the sheer depth it could have done with, but it's still definitely worth watching.

2 Responses

Phillip Marlowe AKA PlanetPhillip opines

17:52 1st January 2008

I watched this last night and have been delaying watching it becasue I really enjoyed Omega Man which was made in 1971 staring Charlton Heston.

It's a great film and based of the same book by Richard Matheson published in 1954 called "I am Legend".

In fact a filmed had already been released in 1964 staring Vincent Price which apparently stuck closer to the book.

Enough about the history, what about the film. As always when you make comparisons it's had to view a film freshly.

Personally I preferred the 1974 version for a number of reasons. Mostly becasue it was more realistic. I don't want to explain that because it would entail spoilers.

I partly agree with your assessment of the ending but would be interested to see the supposed alternative ending shot. (No spoilers!)

I got the feeling that the editors of this movie were told to cut a lot out, that could have explained more details.

In fact I actually wish there is a director's cut becasue I feel they should have explored the emotions of a man who feels he is all alone.

My ideal movie would have been less action and more emotion.

Luke L opines

18:18 1st January 2008

Yes, I also felt they left a lot out, the characterisation (I really can't say more without spoiling the ending) could have been much more deeply developed. It's still a good film though and I'll have to check out the previous two versions.