I Am Legend

This interesting story about the last man on earth due to a global epidemic has some good and some bad. Contrary to the scathing reviews bestowed by local critics, it was a very entertaining film, and well done. The flaws reside mainly in some of the director's visions and liberties taken regarding the story originally written in 1954 by Richard Matheson. Cinematic interpretations have been attempted before, as this is the third remake, but this one delves into a darker, more sinister empty world, and it causes a sort of claustrophobic introspection, which is surely the intent.

Will Smith plays Robert Neville, who spends most of the film alone, walking or driving the barren streets of Manhattan with his trusty sidekick, a German Shepherd named Sam. Being a dog-lover, I thought the performance by the canine was fantastic, and an emotionally charged fight scene with the "dark seekers" (aka, the super-human mutant zombies) left me with a little lump in my throat. In the midst of his seemingly bleak existence of hunting, gathering, watching DVD's and pilfering canned goods and gas, he fortifies his townhouse each night at sundown so that the dark seekers can't infiltrate his life. Did I mention that they are susceptible to severe burns if they encounter ultra-violet light? And that Neville is a brilliant virologist and retired military officer? A perfect combination for someone trying to find the anti-virus.

The scenery is depressing, but accurate in a world of plant overgrowth and abandoned cars lining the streets. Neville has flashbacks in the form of nightly dreams (or nightmares) that paints the picture as to how he found himself in such a grim predicament. I appreciated the back story, and it adds a human touch to an otherwise characterless endeavor. Smith carries the film in the way that Hanks did with Castaway. He plays a believable poor soul on the brink of some sort of psychotic breakdown. However, he survives day to day, with the weight of the world resting squarely on his shoulders.

The dark seekers are hairless animals formerly known as people or dogs who seem to enjoy making lots of noise and baring their teeth. With the special and visual effects of recent films, I was quite a bit disappointed with the way they were presented, and with the continuity in that they are evolving over the course of the film enough to set a trap that Neville falls for, but they still bang their heads against doors and windows instead of opening them. They are scary from the isolated perspective, but they still just aren't convincing.

Overall, this was an entertaining movie that takes you down fantasy lane with the question "what would you do?" Smith does a great job, the Shepherd does even better, and ultimately there is some disappointment with the ending. I would recommend this for holiday entertainment, but don't expect anything more than some building suspense and a big letdown at the end. 6/10.