Although this came out and had most of its hype this past December, just a little over a month ago, I realized that it hadn’t been reviewed in the school paper, so, I thought I’d do it for this week’s paper and give it some late publicity in case there are people who still haven’t seen it. And the other reason is because I’m extremely behind on homework and extra-curriculars, so I didn’t have time to see a new movie this week (as if there was one I really wanted to see anyway).
The very quick breakdown of this film is to just go ahead and say this is the Will Smith version of Castaway. However, instead of having a volleyball to talk to and lose for dramatic effect, Smith has a cute, cuddly dog… which is a lot more painful to watch sacrifice itself for Smith’s well being then just watching a volleyball float away and “die” (as if it had ever been alive) while Tom Hanks freaks out. And instead of being trapped on an island, completely separated from society, which he is sure still exists Smith is trapped in a post-apocalyptic world where, as far as he knows, he is the sole survivor of the human race.
As far as the quality of the film, I have to say that it is quite amazing and is definitely one of the better films of 2007. The reason I related it to Castaway is because, just like Tom Hanks was amazing in that one man movie, so was Smith in this one. His interactions with his dog, Sam, are touching and just as real as it would be with another human. He sets up mannequins around the town in his most frequented spots which he not only interacts with, but seems to have growing relationships with as well (which is weird to watch, but kind of a cool look into his psyche).
And, the one aspect of the film I haven’t really touched on yet, is that of the monsters, or vampiritic creatures which was caused by a “cure” for cancer gone wrong. They look creepy, the scenes with them and Smith are intense, but, honestly, there isn’t much of them in the film until after the halfway point. But, the best part of the movie, I thought, was at the end of the film when the monsters and Smith just have an all out battle.
If you haven’t seen I Am Legend yet, then get out there, spend the money, and check it out in theaters. I guarantee that it will be a much cooler experience in theaters than it would be at home. But, if you think the end of the flick is a little too happy for how the rest of the film went; just know I’d agree with you.