Great Legend

Rating: 9/10 (21 December 2007)

In the opening of "I Am Legend" Will Smith as Robert Neville along with his dog Sam races through the desolate streets of New York City. We see the striking images of New York City over grown with vegetation, wild deer, and no people. This is Director Francis Lawrence grim post viral infected world of 2012. My bud Ron had told me that "I Am Legend" was remake of "Omega Man" starring Charlton Heston, based on a novella from the 1950's. Mark Protosevich and Akiva Goldsman wrote the screenplay for "I Am Legend" based on the Richard Matheson novel. I have enjoyed "Omega Man". "I Am Legend" is more science fiction thriller than action movie. The action in "I Am Legend" is intense and spectacular. Will Smith is stark and powerful. It is just Smith for virtually the first half of the movie.
In 2009 a doctor played the Emma Thompson announces a breakthrough virus that may be the cure for cancer. However, something goes awry. Soon New York City becomes a military quarantine zone with families desperately scrambling to leave Manhattan. Among those is Col. Neville (Smith), his wife Zoe (Salli Richardson), and daughter Marley (Willow SmithWill's daughter). Neville knows that the virus is now airborne, imposing a deadly threat.
Fast-forward 3 years later. Neville tells fellow survivor Anna (Alice Braga), "Everyone you know is dead!" The virus killed 90% of the world's 6 billion people. Less than 5% survived, because of their built in immunity. The remainder of the population mutated into vicious nocturnal creatures. Meanwhile, Neville has so far been unsuccessful in discovering cure for the viral mutation using the DNA of his own blood. This seems to be Neville's mission and curse. He says, "God didn't do this. We did." This is Will Smith's action tour de force. The trimmed and chiseled Smith is in amazing shape, and performs the action with skill and pathos. He engages and enrolls us in Neville's plight and curse as a man on the verge of forfeiting his sanity and humanity. Smith has a poignantly heartbreaking scene with his dog Sam. The charismatic Smith embodies hero in Neville. Beautiful Alice Braga is great as the strong and smart Anna.
This does not give away too much. "I Am Legend" acknowledges the courage and the possibility of humanity in people. Everyone can be a hero, we all need to discover and reclaim this in ourselves. Director Lawrence and Smith tell a great and timeless story.