I Am Legend

Here is the other perspective on the MyFilmVault class trip to see Will Smith's latest. Well, not so much another perspective as we almost agree entirely.

I had heard reviews saying that the first hour or so of I Am Legend are brilliant and the last half hour ropey. And, as my colleague says, that is absolutely spot on. I do not generally find myself in agreement with the film-reviewing community, and I'm not sure my colleague does either, but this time it is hard not to agree.

The first hour is brilliant, A grade, material. Smith is good, the atmosphere is taught and gripping, the post-apocalyptic New York looks visually stunning, and the character of Robert Neville is very well developed indeed. As in Cast Away, a non-human character is used to excellent effect and is a central part of the film's best scene. Unfortunately, this best scene also signals the film's turning point.

The last half hour is ropey, and it is possibly even ropier if I have misunderstood part of the ending (which I won't spoil), but I'll give the film the benefit of the doubt. God comes into it very unnecessarily and the whole chance/fate/free will thing is dealt with pretty poorly. It is handled much better and much more effectively, for example, in the excellent and underrated Signs.

I would go a couple of steps further than my colleague and say that the CGI monsters are pretty damn terrible and unconvincing, which doesn't help when you're on fictitous sci-fi territory anyway. Monsters need to convince if they are to frighten. It felt like all of the budget went on making New York look as good as it does and a few quid went on the mutants. Disappointing.

However, the good bits outweigh the flaws and it is, to be honest, worth watching for the first hour alone, an excellent and, at times, very moving character study on the themes of loneliness, isolation and tragedy. So, therefore, it is fully worthy of a

B

I am Legend

Well my piece on actors vs actresses left no doubt about who the most bankable star in the world of cinema was and Will Smith has done it again, breaking records for December opening weekends and smashing through the $200 million dollar mark in a little over 3 weeks.

I am Legend is the 3^rd adaptation of the Richard Matheson novel about the last man on earth. Ridley Scott was slated to direct Arnold Schwarzanegger in this film (or a variation thereof) back in the 90s but however much I love Ridley Scott, I can’t help thinking it was probably best that this film was made instead.

It’s not perfect – in fact I thought the entire second half was a bit of a let down, however Will Smith is one of the few actors that can be on screen on his own for 2 hours and for that not to become a little stale. He’s not quite at his best here – a couple of scenes don’t convince, particularly when he has a bit of a meltdown. However he shows once again why the public will pay to see him and for the first 60 minutes this is a grade A action film.

New York has never been portrayed quite like this. In fact it probably surpasses Ridley Scott’s own take on New York earlier this year in American Gangster. The latter was a brilliant retro look at 70s New York, and it was totally convincing. This though is a look at an apocalyptic New York and looks even better (if you’ll forgive the slightly pointless comparison!). Grass grows in the pavement cracks, plants have grown to 8 foot tall, deer wander along deserted avenues. It’s brilliant. A big gold star for the CGI guys on that one.

A big black mark for the same guys though (if indeed it was the same guys) for the zombified human mutants. They’re not quite right – not appalling mind you, just not quite up to scratch.

I stated that the entire 2^nd half is a bit of a let down. There’s a mention of God at just over the halfway point that totally gives away the ending. I didn’t imagine God would be proved wrong in an American blockbuster and indeed he is not. It’s a pointless and stupid mention and really irritated me. However, for all its flaws I find myself preferring to concentrate on the good points and I guess that’s testament to how well they pulled much of it off. Not the perfect action film but worth seeing on the big screen.

B-

I Can't Wait To See...

I Am Legend

And, sadly, I'm going to be waiting quite a while as this Will Smith fronted number doesn't appear until the new year. Still it sounds very interesting indeed.
Smith plays the last man alive on earth after he has created a virus that has wiped out humanity. The story, by Richard Matheson, has been made into a film twice before - The Last Man on Earth (1964) and The Omega Man (1971)- but this promises much. Smith himself has hinted that this is more arthouse than Hollywood blockbuster which suggests character above action, though Smith might, of course, be exaggerating. However, there is certainly room and potential here for an interesting character story about isolation and its effects (set against a fascinating backdrop) as Smith's character struggles to find an antidote whilst fighting off the effects of the virus. In the form of killer vampires. Oh dear, I hear you collectively scream (unless you like vampire movies, which I kind of do). But apparently the director says they're not vampires. Or zombies. So we'll have to wait and see on that one but it is a worry as poor creature effects can ruin a movie and a good premise (cf. The Descent; Alien Resurrection). However, I certainly like the idea of the last human left alive on earth being claustrophobically locked away in his room/house and fighting the effects of both loneliness and guilt.
One final worry. Smith's character is a scientist looking to discover and cure for the disease he's helped to create and there is definitely potential here for ropey endings, but hopefully they'll pull the whole thing off well. It certainly promises much, I just hope it delivers and, if it does, it could be a classic. Oh, and it has an actor called Paradox Pollack so it can't be bad.

Hope you enjoy the trailer...