I Am Legend (Film) Review

I can help. I can save you. I can save everybody. - Dr. Robert Neville

A Great Post-Apocalyptic Film Minus the Ending​

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 When I first watched the very first I Am Legend trailer, I was immediately hooked. The eeriness sent chills down my spine. No doubt it was something special. Will Smith plays Dr. Robert Neville who is immune to the Krippin Virus, a disease that was intended to cure cancer but turned those who were given a dose into vampires. Dr. Neville’s ultimate goal is find a cure while trying to survive on his own in post-apocalyptic New York. It is a must watch especially if you are a lover of post-apocalyptic movies and horror. You will not be disappointed in those themes. However, my biggest gripe from the entire movie was the ending which has been the center of debate and criticism since its release in 2007. The original ending tarnished whatever the film had built up to.

PLOT:
    As mentioned, Dr. Neville is immune to the virus while trying to find a cure and surviving on his own with the Darkseekers (the infected as they are called) lingering in the city. The quietness and isolation reminded me of the movie Castaway since both movies involve the protagonist mostly talking mostly to himself and they have a companion. In I Am Legend, Dr. Nevile is accompanied by Sam the dog. I admire the scenes with Dr. Neville and Sam and the quietness of the city and the overgrown grass and trees overtaking the streets. It reminds me a lot of The Last of Us.'The Last of Us'
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    The pacing is perfect as no scene feels like it drags for too long. Each scene gives me a different vibe. Some give me hope such as Neville and his relationship with Sam. Some make me pessimistic that there is no hope such as when Neville’s family dies during a really well shown flashback sequences. Some makes my skin crawl especially when the Darkseekers are shown for the very first time inside that creepy dark building. The film really does have a great range of emotions even making us weep when Sam dies after being bitten by rabid dogs. This was perhaps the most heartbreaking death of an animal in any movie. This scene always gets to me no matter how many times I watch this movie. If you didn’t feel anything in this scene, then you have no heart, period.'death'
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    The ending to this film however is very controversial in its own right. Even when I watched it the first time, I thought it was a bit anti climactic and unnecessary. It kind of put a bad taste in my mouth especially after watching the alternate ending for the first time. For one, the original ending is cliche and not interesting in hindsight. Neville sacrifices himself to allow Anna and her son escape with the cure. He dies needlessly because it turns out that the alpha male of the Darkseekers only wanted his “girlfriend” back with him. I guess you can call it a Shakesperian ending and I don’t like those type of endings because they are mundane (cough *Game of Thrones* cough). In the much better alternate ending, Neville gets through the alpha male of the Darkseekers by talking him through it that he in fact has a cure. The alpha stops and listens to Neville and checks on his “girlfriend” seeing that she is recovering from the virus. The Darkseekers show to have similar human emotions thus questioning whether or not Neville was doing the right thing to find a cure. It’s much more deeper and a lot unique to other post-apocalyptic films which would allow to stand better on its own, but the original ending threw that promise all away.

Plot Grade (w/original ending): B-
Plot Grade (w/alternate ending): A-

CHARACTERS:
    Will Smith plays Dr. Neville brilliantly. There aren’t too many terrible roles from Will Smith. He can be serious and humorous at the same time as Dr. Neville which is entertaining. Since most of the acting came when he was in isolation, he made the most of it. The other major character is Anna who is super religious and believes that God gave her a purpose to go and visit Dr. Neville in New York. I don’t think it was as interesting with just Neville and Sam once she and her son Ethan came into the picture. She serves a bigger purpose in the original ending since she delivers the cure herself but serves little to no purpose in the alternate ending. She is okay but not a stand out.

Character Grade: B

AESTHETICS:
    The view of a post-apocalyptic New York is amazing and I get the Last of Us vibes from it. It is a gorgeous sight to look at. The CGI used in the movie is okay for a 2007 film but has somewhat aged over time. I just can’t stop thinking about the views. If there was more of New York or maybe the dark damp structures with the Darkseekers, then the better. The use of music is also good especially in the suspenseful moments. In a way, I wished there was some sort of sequel with these kind of infected.'The Last of Us'
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Aesthetics Grade: B+

OVERALL:
    It is satisfying and nostalgic to watch I Am Legend today. It is a more modern take of the post-apocalyptic genre. I haven’t forgotten about the hype of the movie back in 2006-2007. It looked like to be one of the greatest movies ever until the original ending ruined it. What gets to me in this movie is the sense of isolation. I Am Legend does a really good job of it. I feel like this is exactly what it would feel like being in a post-apocalyptic world after the majority of the human population is decimated by a virus. Is I Am Legend my favorite post-apocalyptic film of all time? Maybe, but that original ending tainted my opinion severely. Is it the best post-apocalyptic film, TV show, or video game. I say no, but it is up there. In the end, I Am Legend is worth your time and money. If only I could watch the movie for the first time and with the alternate ending.

Overall Grade: B