All of you who crave new films in the apocalyptic category, you must see this one!

Rating: 8/10 (13 March 2008)

A major scientist (Emma Thompson) goes on television to announce that a cure for cancer has been discovered. Although it involves fighting the virus with a designer virus, it is working magnificently. Flash forward three years. Dr. Robert (Will Smith) and his most loyal dog, Samantha are out on the streets of New York City. It soon becomes clear that they are the only ones walking the by-ways, as their sole encounters are with a herd of deer and, surprisingly, a lion and her cubs. Wait, in New York City, home to 8 million people? That is correct. It seems that the designer virus mutated and caused the death of nearly every human being on the planet. Only Dr. Robert is alive and immune in the Big Apple. When he makes his way back home, however, he does two surprising things. One, he heads for his lab, where there are some extremely agitated rats in cages. Looking them over, Robert makes note of the fact that one of the rats appears calmer and more like a typical rodent. This please the doctor, as he has been struggling to find a vaccine that would bring all of the rats back to normalcy from their present, rabid-like state. The second noteworthy action of the doctor is that, at sunset, he pulls steel curtains in front of all of the glass windows, and sleeps with a loaded gun in his hands, with Sam resting nearby. Strange. Even stranger noises, like bat voices, emanate from the outside. Yet, the next day, Dr. Robert is back on the streets, communicating via radio that he is alive and hoping to contact any other survivors out in the world. Unfortunately, an accident renders him out on the streets as the sun starts to disappear over the horizon. The strange, horrific voices return. Are Dr. Robert and Sam really alone in the city? Maybe not! This is another entry into the glorious repertoire of apocalyptic cinema. In the tradition of The Road Warrior, Strange Days, The Terminator and company, Legend is a fine, but not exceptional, film. It has an interesting story, although one that is not without its flaws. For example, how is it that a noted doctor and scientist happens to be the one survivor in Manhattan, instead of, let's say, a member of the garbage crew? Even so, the tale has some merit, as the man-playing-God strategy in the world of science is bound to cause problems from time to time. Also, as evidenced by the bird flu, viruses are the bane of human existence, as fighting them is a huge problem. As the main character, Smith is great, for he exhibits courage and intelligence in a big way. Other actors appear in the film, in flashback, mostly, and most worthily, too, although they are primarily a group of unknown thespians. The sets are amazing, for here is a New York City, with all of its buildings, but without a human being in sight. The settings, along with the remarkable cinematography, contribute heavily to the film's success. As for the direction, it is a bit uneven, as there are moments when the film lags into brief interludes of boredom for the viewer. However, when the action heats up, it is powerful. All in all, after a showing, most viewers will leave the theater a bit spent, emotionally. Do you adore futuristic films where civilization has degenerated into chaos and despair, only to have a hero or heroine emerge to "save the world"? Then, don't miss I Am Legend, as you will be enthralled with its take on the fall of humankind.