I Am Legend Review

By: Richard Prodan

I Am Legend is the gripping tale of physical and mental survival by the last man on Earth, Robert Neville played by Will Smith. Neville is a military scientist who is attempting to find a cure for the K-V virus that has killed a majority of the population and turned the rest into blood-thirsty vampires that feed on flesh and disintegrate when encountering sunlight. The objective during the day is to thrive and the objective at night is to survive. Neville creates a routine during the day including a hunt for fresh meat, a trip to the video store, and clearing out houses one by one. As the sun goes down, he begins to lock up his apartment and attempts to stay safe from what lurks at night.

Acting: Will Smith was phenomenal as the last man on Earth. The emotional connection he created with the audience has been unmatched by any actor in some time. Smith co-star was a dog named Sam (Samantha). Sam was an amazing addition to the movie. The well-trained canine created a great on screen presence that allowed Smith to further his depiction of loneliness and exemplify the human necessity for companionship.

Directing: The direction of the film was different from other blockbusters. It felt like a camera was attached to Smith’s waist during certain scenes giving the audience the feeling that he was the last man on Earth and the film was more or a self-made documentary than a full length feature; except this documentary had a very high production value. The direction of the film gave the audience a realistic view of an apocalyptic future where one man must carry on. The shots of an abandoned New York were beautiful visually and the fight sequences were edited perfectly to create a controlled chaos where the film was thrilling but comprehendible. It was a strong directorial showing for Francis Lawrence who also directed Constantine.

Writing: Portraying the main character as a military scientist is the perfect fit for the movie. It allowed Neville to both survive from the zombie-like vampires and test different samples of possible antidotes in his basement laboratory. A military background gave plausibility to Neville’s rigged traps for capturing the creatures, his weapons training, and ability to stay alive. The writing was specifically well-crafted when discussing the scientific logistics of the K-V virus. The monologue about the virus was intelligent and scientific yet easily accessible.


Overall I give this movie an B+