For those of you that don’t already know, this is actually a film version of a book. A pretty old book in fact, I believe it was written in the 50s.
The premise here is that the year is 2012. Several years before, scientists had invented what was supposed to be the cure for cancer. Much to everybody’s dismay, once injected with this “cure,” people eventually started either dying or turning into some sort of mutant zombie/vampire creature. Three years later, Dr. Robert Neville remains the last man on earth. He lives his days building up supplies, broadcasting his existence on the radio, and waiting for any other people that may have survived this viral holocaust. He also conducts experiments in his basement laboratory, hoping to eventually find a cure. At night, he bunkers himself up in his home and waits for morning, as nighttime is when the creatures are free to roam the streets.
I had started reading the book before seeing this movie to try and get some context. While I didn’t finish it, I can say that Will Smith portrays his role quite differently than the character in the book. In the novel, Neville is not directly referenced as a scientist, nor does he own a dog as he does in the film. Instead, he is established as a hopelessly depressed alcoholic who uses liquor as an escape to cope with the nightly taunting of the “vampires” banging and shouting at him outside his door. This behavior is only alluded to here. He doesn’t really drink, however he is shown frequently talking to his canine companion and having conversations with various mannequins he finds in the city. As the movie progresses, one senses that the endless days of isolation are making him lose his mind a bit.
This movie is a bit slow in its first half but there are a couple of tense moments. The creatures are a little different than other vampires or zombies we’ve all seen before. The backstory of the main character is filled in slowly and you start to really feel for him. The ending is slightly disappointing and some may be put off by its slow start and lack of action moments until the last few scenes. If you go in without too many high expectations I think you can enjoy it. I wouldn’t recommend full price though. Either see a matinee or wait for DVD.
Oh, and if any of you ladies enjoyed seeing Will Smith’s naked butt in I, Robot, you will enjoy his topless work-out scene in I Am Legend. Personally though, I think it just shows that hes getting a bit old. You can tell.
