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Rated: 2.67/5 | Votes: 3 | Views: 128 |Submitted: 12/16/07

I AM LEGEND

There's usually one of two ways to go with a post-apocalyptic tale. One is to either let the main character wallow in his or her misery, generated by being the sole person left standing in the vicinity. The other is to pit a small band of survivors dressed in clothing from Tommy Hilfiger's Armageddon Chic division against swarms of mutated baddies that they have to blast to kingdom come. It's these two styles that I Am Legend tries blending together in an attempt to create a flick appealing to both arthouse dwellers and gorehounds alike. The film has more success at bringing out the best in one storytelling mindset than the other, but as far as ambitious blockbusters go, I Am Legend actually packs a pretty entertaining punch.

In the not-too-distant future (no "MST3K" jokes, please), scientists have found a way to genetically alter a virus into a miraculous cancer cure. But as is typical in scenarios such as this, the virus mutates rapidly, turning those it infects into bald, albino, bloodthirsty creatures with an aversion to sunlight. When the year 2012 rolls around, military scientist Robert Neville (Will Smith) finds himself leading a painfully solitary existence as seemingly the last person in New York City. His days consist of hunting and gathering food with his trusty dog, while nights are spent locked up in his house, hiding from the ghoulish shells of human beings that walk the streets. Nevertheless, Neville works tirelessly to find a cure to reverse the virus' damage, each day bringing him closer and closer to finding success -- while, at the same time, the nocturnal threat outside grows more and more dangerous.

The first thing I thought of as I watched I Am Legend (and I suspect many viewers will have the same idea) was how similar the film felt to 2000's Tom Hanks blockbuster Cast Away. Sure, it's a switch going from America's golden boy battling the elements and the isolation to the Fresh Prince shooting the shit out of what look to be vampire/zombie hybrids, but the core themes are the same and conveyed just as strongly, not to mention in a consistently entertaining fashion to boot. I Am Legend is all about living life as virtually the last person on the planet, with the weight of the world's sins resting firmly upon your shoulders. Director Francis Lawrence, who previously made Constantine into a better film than something with Keanu Reeves brandishing a crucifix-shaped shotgun deserved to be, does a smooth job of capturing the philosophical dilemma Neville finds himself in. With having played a part in the virus' genesis to start, does he risk life and limb to work towards a chance at maybe turning things around, or does he say "Fuck it" to the world and cave into his encroaching insanity?

Right about now, I Am Legend is starting to sound a lot like Gerry with a healthy dose of Big Willie Style, but don't worry, it's not anything that's going to make you wish you theater-hopped over to see August Rush. Not only does Lawrence combine the "last man on earth" loneliness aspect of the story with a "survival horror" edge (resulting in some very tense scenes when Neville is out on his daily scavenging rounds), but Smith provides a compelling performance more than deserving of the viewer's sympathy and interest. He fares very well as a man at odds with himself and the wasteland he inhabits, coming up gangbusters with a role that's part action hero and part introspective loner.

Still, despite its eerie visuals and compelling lead performance, I Am Legend isn't without a few hang-ups. There's a little twist in the climax that, not to spoil anything, will further enrage those pissed off at a similar plot device used in M. Night Shyamalan's Signs. Also, the lead-in to the climax is a little clunky, so don't be surprised if you feel thrown into the thick of the plot at the drop of a hat. The worst offender, though, are the special effects used to create the antagonistic beasties. It's not that hard to make humanoid creatures driven by a primal urge for blood scary, but in an age when a fairly low-budget creeper like The Descent uses the same sort of villains to even scarier effect, it's amazing to see a project of this scale drop the effects ball this badly. I mean, The Mummy Returns badly.

I've never seen the previous screen incarnations of Richard Matheson's Hollywood-friendly novel (those being The Last Man on Earth and The Omega Man), so I can't say how they compare to I Am Legend. But as is, it's an uncommonly deep and, God forbid, intelligent high-profile blockbuster. It's nothing that you can't wait to catch on DVD, but if you've already seen the far superior Beowulf enough times to make you hurl your mead, then I Am Legend is a tall tale worth listening to.

MY RATING: *** (out of ****)

Reviewer: A.J. Hakari

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