Review of I Am Legend (2007) by Wes L — 23 Jun 2013

A man on a mission. A mission to reverse the effects of his past work while somehow managing to hold on to hope. A proclaimed cure for cancer goes horribly wrong leaving Robert Neville as the only man alive in New York City. Mr. Neville is a scientist who is partially to blame for the outbreak which deeply haunts him in this movie. His nightmares and regret come not only because of this reason but becuase his wife and daughter were killed. Killed as they were trying to escape the madness and get to safety. Mr. Neville is only left to watch as the helicopter spins out of control and eventually crashes. He has to live everyday with these images running through his head.

This movie succeeds mainly because of Will Smith. His portrayal of a man on the edge of losing his mind while at the same time trying to save the rest of the world was great. It was a terribly sad moment when he lost his dog. Having to kill with his bare hands the last living thing he loved in the world provokes a lot of emotion. Knowing that his dog was once his best friend and would still be if it wasn't for a powerful virus that he himself helped create. This had to be utterly devastating.

In the end, Mr. Neville finds a cure. After years of trying he is able to come up with a way to reverse the affects of the virus. But the timing for this could not of been worse. The infected survivors have found out where he lives. And on this night they are coming to get him. The intelligent and savage survivors that act similar to vampires, storm the house. He and two people that are staying with him have to eventually seek refuge downstairs. Mr. Neville gives them a vial of the cured patients blood and lets them into a safer area where they will be able to survive. The vial contains the cure and that will be his legend. Why didnt he just join them in the safe area and survive? This may be a question you ask yourself but as an audience we are lead to believe that the zombies want Neville and wont leave until they kill him. Neville then goes down fighting and the other two humans are able to make it to a village of survivors in Vermont. With them, they carry the vial, restoring hope to civilization as they open the walls for them. I Am Legend contains an intriguing plot, legendary performance from Smith, and is a powerfully moving movie to watch. Seeing the empty streets of New York is chilling. Seeing a smart and ambitious man broken down to the point where he has to talk to manicans captures what Neville has gone through. This movie brings to life what many of us have thought about at some point. What would it be like to be the only one left?