I AM LEGEND

WB

RELEASED 26 December 2007

Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a brilliant scientist, but even he could not contain the terrible virus that was unstoppable, incurable... and man-made. 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. For three years, Neville has spent his days scavenging for food and supplies and faithfully sending out radio messages, desperate to find any other survivors who might be out there. All the while, the Infected lurk in the shadows, watching Neville’s every move, waiting for him to make a fatal mistake. Perhaps mankind’s last, best hope, 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.

The big blockbuster for Christmas (let’s not count the oh-so-exciting-sounding ‘Golden Compass’!), it’s an unusual choice, sounding more like a Halloween release than something when we’re supposed to be all ‘goodwill to all men’. There’s not much goodwill to men in this movie - there’s only one man in it! It’s been a long time since a dog played the second main role in the film (remember all those dog movies like ‘K9’ and ‘Beethoven’), and isn’t it funny how dogs look like their owners - look at the size of those ears on Sam the dog, they’re almost as big as Will Smiths’.

Don’t expect too much action from ‘I Am Legend’, as this is a more contemplative story, sucessfully depicting just what it might be like to be totally alone in the world. There are some tense flashback scenes that involve the evacuation of New York (scenes at the Brooklyn Bridge involved over 1000 extras and various military vehicles and aircraft) and show what Dr Neville was like when he had his family around him. In fact, when the action does kick in towards the end, I found myself missing the long, lonely daily struggle Neville faced. The ‘infected’ are scary, but the decision to render them completely CGI may have been a mistake, as they simply move too fast and are too powerful. They were once human, and even though the virus turns them into a more powerful being, could the strongest man really shoulder-barge through a wall? I felt actors under make-up would have worked better. There’a also something of that digital rubbery look about the ‘infected’s faces that takes you out of the film a little.

If you’re a fan of the original 1954 novel, then this should at least satisfy you to some degree. Events and the ending have been changed, but the spirit of the book is retained. An empty and overgrown New York looks incredible, and Will Smith gives a really good performance, with not one single ‘I’m gonna kick your ass’ type line, even if he does get his obligatory ‘working out’ scene (yes, you’re still looking fit, Willard).

It’s not a movie to take the kids to, but if you’re after an entertaining, reflective popcorn movie after finishing off the turkey, then this could be for you.

THREE OUT OF FIVE