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Plot Summary:
It turns out that New York City is paved with good intentions too. Except, this time it spreads to the entire planet making life on Earth Hell.
Review:
The Last Man on Earth (1964), Omega Man (1971), and I Am Legend (2007) all have one thing in common. That is to say they were all adapted from the same short story written by Richard Matheson. Each film has its positive and negative aspects. In the latest incarnation, Will Smith takes his turn as the only remaining survivor not infected. For the sake of argument, the 2007 title I Am Omega was not considered as it was released directly to DVD.
Forty-three years have passed since the first film, and thankfully for us, the latest release excels in so many ways from its predecessors. Where the first installment lacked a budge, decent acting, and quality sets, the latest film is a visual masterpiece. Where Omega Man took place in Los Angeles, the story has migrated east and now takes place in New York City. I was extremely impressed with the look of the city as it was transformed from a thriving metropolis into a barren landscape where Mother Earth has begun to reclaim everything in sight. Cars have been abandoned, buildings are empty, shops are closed, not a soul in sight except for Dr. Robert Neville and his dog Sam. The direction and film crew have done an excellent job in showing us a bleak and desolate world. I felt that it was a clever and creative way the story was told in flashback sequences bringing the audience into the how the current circumstances of the our lonely doctor came to be.
Dr. Neville may be lonely, but he has at least one real companion and many others who are not so real. His relationship with his German Shepherd Sam is very special and emotional. There are some humorous scenes at the video store. Other interactions occur with the ravenous formerly normal people who inhabit the darkness during the day and only come out at night. There people will not listen to reason. They are the infected and are pissed off and will kill you in a New York minute in order to survive. These scenes are intense, chaotic, violent, and at times inspire hope. Whoever said city life was great was obviously mistaken. Neville is compelled to stay in order to continue his search for a cure.
My overall conclusion is that I Am Legend is by far the best of the three films. Will Smith is thoroughly engrossed in his character’s plight and is driven to make things better. Although a fairly heavy drama for a sci-fi film, Smith lends a lot of humanity to the role. The cinematography and CGI work was incredible. It was amazing how they brought New York City to unlife and showing off the expansive barrenness. I Am Legend ended up on my best films of 2007 list and it deserves admiration for its achievements. Despite all the despair and harshness, there is hope…there always will be.
Mike's Rating: 9 out of 10 Cures for Life (best adaptation)
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence
Running Time: 1 hour 41 minutes
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