Movie and Television Reviews

I am...impressed. The world's first adult, big budget zombie movie is a terrifying triumph filled with elevated thrills and an edifying, positive view of humanity.

I am Legend begins with an interview of a cancer researcher who has cured cancer with a virus, always a bad idea. The next scene is of Robert Neville (Will Smith), accompanied by his dog, Samantha; drive-by hunting for dear in a deserted New York. A series of flashbacks confirms our suspicion that the virus (I told you) is responsible for this state of affairs. Neville, obviously immune, barricades himself into his junk food-filled house and conducts anti-virus research on rats.

One day, after a day hitting golf balls off of an abandoned aircraft carrier, Sam runs into a house. Neville, well-terrified, runs in after him. Here's where we first see the zombies- and they are, indeed, frightening. Neville finds Sam and escapes. The next day, Neville has an accident with one of the traps he uses to capture subjects for his anti-viral testing, killing Sam. Neville suicidally attempts to exact his revenge on the zombies and, when things go awry (or, according to plan, if he was, indeed, suicidal), fellow survivor, Anna (Alice Braga), who's looking for a survivor colony in Vermont (I would have chosen Boston for its better restaurants), rescues him. Neville eventually helps Anna after some initial hostility caused by his dullened people skills (he's a Shrek-mumbling mess).

When a movie has such an interesting built-in concept like a post-zombie world, I always wonder how they're going to mess it up. Legend's creators don't. Legend is one of the best-written thinking horror movies I've seen. The introduction and buildup are superb. I didn't have any idea what was going to happen until the moment it did; the writers leave the possibilities open at each turn: "What happened?" and "Why does he bar his door" turn to "Was he the last person?" and then, "Will he find a cure?" "Will the mannequins spring to life" "Was the whole thing a conspiracy?" "Will Neville get along with Anna? "Is Anna a zombie?" "Can the zombies be reasoned with?" "Will they evolve?" "Is it a dream?" The suspense is unbearable at times.

Unlike the gabby Golden Compass, Legend explains parts that need explaining- like how many people died (90%), how the virus spread, how Neville is involved- with clever and unobtrusive combinations of dialog, flashbacks, video clips, and scenery (On his refrigerator, Neville has a cover of Time magazine with his picture.). I like when he goes through an almanac to find the sunset times.

Legend is legitimately frightening. I abused the edge of my seat when Neville first enters the "hive," a place where the terrifying, fast moving, thoughtless, biting-machine, zombies congregate- sort of like a post-apocalyptic Ron Paul campaign headquarters. The scene where he gets caught in one of his own traps as the sun goes down is a masterful sequence that had my wife gripping my arm (Or, the other way around.).

The filming is beautiful. Several long shots of post-zombie New York are quite lovely. The CG effects are very good, as one might expect. As the only actor in the movie, almost, Will Smith must carry the film by himself and he delivers his strongest performance to date.

If there's one criticism to be leveled at the movie it's that the ending is somewhat disappointing. Part of the reason is that what precedes it is so darn exciting that it's just hard to increase the intensity. It would be like turning up the volume to "11."

My wife says that Legend is about as scary as 28 Weeks Later and 28 Days Later. She also says that Legend is a better movie, but I suspect the main reason behind her enthusiasm is that we get to see Will Smith working out. My friend provides an excellent review of 28 Weeks Later here.

Politics/ Message:

Significantly, the cause of the virus isn't a government conspiracy. The idea of the "last man on Earth" is rich in philosophical vitamins and minerals. Would one wish to go on in such a circumstance? Do people need others to be happy? What would drive somebody in such a situation? Interesting stuff. I have to admit, the idea of being the last man on Earth didn't seem too bad at first: "I'd have more time to blog," I thought. Blogless, Neville never gives up the search for a cure and otherwise acts in a life-affirming manner.

The movie is pro-religion. Neville, understandably, isn't too grateful to God, but, earlier, he prays with his family. When Anna says the God sent her to Neville, she's not seen as ridiculous like the religious in Children of Men. In fact, Neville comes around to her point of view. (spoiler ahead) There's an American flag at the end.

In a post-apocalyptic zombie world, the last person will use a Mac.

Credits below:

Follow up:

Directed by
Francis Lawrence

Writing credits
(WGA)
Mark Protosevich (screenplay) and
Akiva Goldsman (screenplay)

Richard Matheson (novel)

John William Corrington (1971 screenplay) &
Joyce Hooper Corrington (1971 screenplay) (as Joyce Corrington)

Cast (in credits order)

Will Smith ... Robert Neville
Alice Braga ... Anna
Charlie Tahan ... Ethan
Salli Richardson ... Zoe

Willow Smith ... Marley

Darrell Foster ... Mike - Military Escort

April Grace ... TV Personality

Dash Mihok ... Alpha Male
Joanna Numata ... Alpha Female
Samuel Glen ... Military Driver - Jay

James Michael McCauley ... Male Evacuee (as James McCauley)

Marin Ireland ... Woman Evacuee
Pedro Mojica ... Sergeant
Anthony C. Mazza ... Evacuation Cop (as Anthony Mazza)

Steve Cirbus ... Military Police

Calista Hill ... Little Girl Evacuee #1
Gabriella Hill ... Little Girl Evacuee #2
Madeline Hill ... Little Girl Evacuee #3
Adhi Sharma ... Military Scanning Tech
Tyree Michael Simpson ... Evacuation Cop #2 (as Tyree Simpson)
Blake Lange ... Coast Guard Ground Crew
Alexander DiPersia ... Male Evacuee #2
Abraham Sparrow ... Male Evacuee #3

Pat Fraley ... President (as Patrick Fraley)

Caitlin McHugh ... Special Blond Model
Deborah Collins ... Civilian
Mike Patton ... Creature Vocals (voice) (as Michael A. Patton)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Katherine Brook ... Infected

Vince Cupone ... Infected

Lynna' Davis ... Infected
Anika Ellis ... Infected
Exo ... Infected

John Grady ... Infected
Moses Harris Jr. ... Infected
Kennis Hawkins ... Infected
Marc Inniss ... Infected
Eric Jenkins ... Infected
Reed Kelly ... Infected
Grasan Kingsberry ... Infected
Heather Lang ... Infected

Drew Leary ... Infected
Asa Liebmann ... Infected
Deborah Lohse ... Infected
Jon-Paul Mateo ... Infected

Ian Mclaughlin ... Infected
Luke Miller ... Infected
Courtney Munch ... Infected

Kimberly Shannon Murphy ... Infected
Okwui Okpokwasili ... Infected
Erin Owen ... Infected
Victor Paguia ... Infected

Paradox Pollack ... Infected
Will Rawls ... Infected
William Schultz ... Infected
Hollie K. Seidel ... Infected

Hannah Sim ... Infected
Eric Spear ... Infected

Mark Steger ... Infected
Charlie Sutton ... Infected
Anthony Vincent ... Infected

Greg Wattkis ... Infected
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Produced by
Akiva Goldsman .... producer
David Heyman .... producer
James Lassiter .... producer
Neal H. Moritz .... producer
Erwin Stoff .... producer
Michael Tadross .... executive producer
Jeffrey Wetzel .... co-producer

Original Music by
James Newton Howard