The last man on earth is the popular plot line Richard
Matheson came up with for his classic novel, I Am Legend. Novelist
Richard Matheson would also reuse this plot line even for the
Twilight Zone episodes he had written. Hollywood has made I Am
Legend twice before: one with Vincent Price and the other with
Charlton Heston. This is a more modern take on the novel, I Am
Legend, because of its social commentary on 9/11 and the anthrax
scares in the subways of New
York.
Will Smith, plays Robert Neville, the last living and breathing
human in New York. He spends most of his mornings waiting for a sign
of another human life. The most impressive scenes of the movie are
when we watch him hunt for deer in the streets of New York. The
production design spent a lot of time making certain areas of New
York look rundown and covered in grass. At night though, Robert
Neville hides from the monsters lurking in the darkness.
I think I
would have liked this movie better had it not been for the CGI
vampires. I felt no suspense when these CGI vampires were on the
attack. The CGI vampires just weren’t scary for me. Did this ruin
the movie for me? No, not at the least. Why? Because a lot of the
focus was on the story. This is credit to screenwriter Akiva
Goldsman, who wrote the adaptation of the novel.
We are watching Will Smith, all alone, for most of
the entire movie. We have seen movies try to deal with a one-man
show before, such as Phone Booth and Cast Away. Phone Booth worked
because Colin Farrell was not a big star at the time and this movie
was a chance for him to prove he could become one. Cast Away had a
big movie star with Tom Hanks but I felt some scenes were a hit and
miss; especially when Wilson showed up.
I Am Legend works because of Will Smith’s charisma. He spent 10
years on this project and he put a lot of effort into making this
movie work. A few of these scenes are difficult for any actor to
hold up alone. During the movie, Will Smith has to talk to
mannequins because this is a way for the isolated character to
socialize. This could have been hysterical if not done right. On one
level Will Smith's creepy but on another level, he is able to depict
sadness.
I Am Legend starts out as an unconventional horror movie. In the
opening sequence, we are given scenes with no dialogue and no music.
Director Francis Lawrence just does one thing: he lets his actor
act. Will Smith was up for the challenge and this is why he gives a
rare, captivating performance. Even though the CGI vampires hinder
the movie, I Am Legend represents when a good story is dominant than
the special effects.
The release date for I Am Legend is this December;
I'm looking forward to it, I must admit. Will
Smith rarely disappoints, and the previews look
great, so I'm projecting a super rating for
it.
The last man on
earth...isn't alone. What else is new.
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