"Outstanding" is putting it lightly

Rating: 9/10 (25 December 2007)

I have recently been under the suspicion that good films are no longer made and that profit is the sole motivation for modern filmmakers. I am relieved to discover that there are still films that go beyond drugs, sex, and violence to impress audiences. "I am Legend" is one of those films.
In the film, Dr. Robert Neville, an army colonel and a scientist, survives a worldwide viral outbreak due to his natural immunity. He spends three years alone with his dog Sam searching for a cure while hiding from hoards of infected humans trying to kill him. He spends his days trying to live as normally as possible (except for the casual deer hunt) and rides out the nights when the infected creatures roam free. Every day, he tests potential cures for the virus to no avail. His life changes when he discovers that he is not the only human immune to the virus as a woman and her son join him and subsequently compromise his hiding place. Neville must survive and discover the cure that only he can find.
I was worried at first that director Francis Lawrence, who is known to favor action over plot, would make this into another "Resident Evil" but surprisingly, he did not. The plot was very well thought out and events were put together in a non-confusing order that adheres to the standards of continuity editing. The greatest challenge in writing the script for this kind of film is giving enough back story and relevant events to the audience without overwhelming or confusing them.
The very first scene, featuring the interview with the virus researcher, sets the foundation for the rest of the action and hints to the audience why a man is all alone in New York City. Casual flashbacks to New York in panic, which are spread out over the duration of the film, offer us bits and pieces of the puzzle instead of leaving us high and dry or telling us everything up front. The plot was very unpredictable; you could not anticipate what was to happen next and if you tried, you soon found out you were wrong.
Knowing that the film featured zombie-like creatures, I was once again dreading that it would be another "Resident Evil" or "Dawn of the Dead". However, the creatures in this film were intelligent, or at least they seemed to be getting more intelligent to the audience's dismay. We find comfort in knowing that we are at least smarter than they beast-like creatures, in this film, however, the fear of brute violence is amplified with the fear of facing monsters that can use cunning and have problem-solving abilities. Though some of the creatures were portrayed using real actors, the majority were computer generated. Though this allows them to perform superhuman stunts, it takes away from their horrific effect. Let's face it, no matter how true-to-life animation gets, we can still spot it and convince ourselves that it's not real. The appearance of the creatures was truly terrifying: I was shaking during the scene where Dr. Neville (Smith) discovers one of their dark shelters and gets attacked by them.
*Major spoiler warning* Will Smith was absolutely brilliant in this film; I have never seen him perform better. He creates a sense of camaraderie with the viewer especially after the death of his dog and closest friend Sam. During the scene where Neville murders him (since he became infected), the theatre went silent except for the sound of sobbing. I have not cried in a film since Titanic and this one drags on that heartache for as long as possible to show audiences that they are not as desensitized as they thought.
This film will make you laugh, cry, and grip your seat in suspense. It is definitely worth the admission ticket and will leave you fully satisfied. If you are a fan of horror, sci-fi, suspense thrillers, or epics, go see this film.