I AM LEGEND is a spectacular movie. A remake of Last Man on Earth and all the other movies that have been made based on the book. I myself have never read the book but I’m glad Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t end up doing this movie when that was the plan in the early 90s with Ridley Scott rumored to be directing the project. No actor could’ve done as good a job as… Will Smith in this post-apocalypse thriller. The movie keeps you at the edge of your seat. It’ll get you scared but satisfied. I AM LEGEND helps 2007 go out with a bang!
Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a brilliant scientist, but even he could not contain the terrible virus that was unstoppable, incurable… and manmade. Somehow immune, Neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City… and maybe the world. But he is not alone. He is surrounded by “the Infected”-victims of the plague who have mutated into carnivorous beings who can only exist in the dark and who will devour or infect anyone or anything in their path.
Neville is driven by only one remaining mission: to find a way to reverse the effects of the virus using his own immune blood. But his blood is also what The Infected hunt, and Neville knows he is outnumbered and quickly running out of time.
Will Smith is a damn good actor! Hands down, he gave his best performance yet and left no room for mistakes.
As a soldier/scientist, Will gets into the character and makes sure that his determination, frustration, and upset reach the audiences and never let go.
What I really like about this movie is that it doesn’t have to show gore to show us how gory it can be. What I mean by that is that the movie does a very excellent job of leaving the rest to our imagination. No need for unnecessary disturbing graphic details just to be scary.
It effectively uses the surprise element and not waste any shock attack possible.
It depends highly on ‘close calls’
Those heart pounding moments when it feels like the monsters are getting closer and closer as they run and jump from one spot to another as fast as the wind.
Like I said, I’ve never read the book but from what I observed during the screening, another aspect I like is that the movie deals with what makes a man changes from someone who prays with his family…. into someone who doesn’t believe in God at all. A man on the brink of losing faith in his research, in hope of cure and in himself.
It’s not all fast-paced action, sometimes we get treated with how well Will Smith capture the silence as he walks the dusty, abandoned street or when he’s waiting and keeping himself busy when the sun is highest in the sky.
This isn’t your typical zombie/mutant movie, because unlike them,.. I AM LEGEND’s got heart.
The story builds up the situation and the background in a way that each scene seems to have a fair share in the 1 hour and 40 minute time slot, with most of it just Will carrying the film solo…. successfully I might add.
* Place the cursor on the picture below to check my grade for this film
