- Release Date: 14 December 2007
- Runtime: 101 mins
- I Am Legend on IMDB
- 5 Cheers(out of 5):
Based off an adaptation of Richard Matheson’s novel of the same name, I Am Legend is the story of Robert Neville(Smith), a military virologist living in New York city. The entire world has been devastated by a man-made virus once thought to be the miracle cure for cancer. This virus, instead of curing their cancer, kills it’s host in 90% of cases. Of those remaining, more than 9% don’t die, yet are turned into something else; something no longer human.
Neville has a natural immunity to the virus which he tries to use to create a way to reverse its horrific effects. Under constant danger of attack from the Infected, Neville maintains a strict daily regime to keep his sanity. Being the only man alive will take it’s toll on your psyche. Pressed for time, Neville knows that if the Infected don’t get him first, his own mind will destroy him.
It is hard for me to review I Am Legend without giving away too much of the story. Realistically, there isn’t a whole lot to the story beyond what I summarized above, and that is part of the charm. While the story is so simple, if you think about it, there is so much more that is left unsaid. While yes, Will Smith is on-screen by himself (Sam, his dog, is also there) for about 80 minutes of the film, it is 80 minutes well spent. Brief dream sequences tell the back story which is pleasant, not too much information, not too little.
For what it tries to convey, Legend out-performs expectations. The idea of what it would be like living as the last man on Earth is very convincingly portrayed by Smith. Simple things like, going to rent movies everyday or maintaining a daily schedule are impressively woven into the story. The idea of keeping a routine to ward off insanity is something that isn’t overt in the film, but it there if you know to look for it. Also, major life changes like hunting deer from a Ford Mustang to competing for food against lions are things you wouldn’t expect, but are present in the film.
In the end, this is a film that quickly shot to the top of my favorites list. If I could buy the DVD after walking out of the theatre, I would have. It’s that good.