I Am Legend is a truly monumental film in its genre, which is still not out of date for a minute and still capable of bringing pleasure. This is the story of a lonely man stuck in the middle of a once noisy metropolis, now populated only by wild animals and bloodthirsty creatures crawling out of their burrows at night.
Perhaps this is one of the most unusual tapes on the topic of infection, because in the first place is still a person with his personal drama. The man is endlessly lonely, whose company is only a faithful dog and mannequins arranged around the city, only confirming the developing madness of Dr. Neville.
The film is rich in beautiful, even in something soothing post-apocalyptic views - without the presence of people, nature takes its course, but the tension in the tape is enough. The last person now and then finds himself in a difficult situation for himself, and the picture skillfully catches up with suspense, forcing him to move to the screen and hold his breath together with the character of Will Smith.
“I am a legend” still looks good visually. It would seem to be 2007, but the graphics and effects are still not as sharp as in some already modern comic books. Lost technology of the ancients, not otherwise.
Oh yes, the original novel "I am a legend" has a rather indirect relationship, and personally I am very pleased. Richard Matheson wrote a story where the accents are placed quite differently, but the novel itself I can not call fascinating.
What's the result? I Am Legend is a truly legendary film, one of Will Smith’s best projects and, in general, almost reference fiction. One little 'but' - the tape looks much better with the director's ending rather than the theatrical one, so keep in mind.
Directed by Francis Lawrence, I Am Legend is a fascinating and truly stunning look at a post-apocalyptic world. Building its story on the dark roots of Richard Matheson’s novel, the film leaves deep impressions on the viewer due to its unique atmosphere and wise understanding of human nature in the face of the collapse of civilization.
The successful staging of the scenery, the detailed visuals and the grim beauty of post-apocalyptic New York City capture attention from the start. The unique style and atmosphere of the film underscore the despair and loneliness of the last man on the planet to survive an epidemic that turned people into bloodthirsty monsters.
Will Smith's acting as Robert Neville is impeccable. Smith explores the depths of human emotion and despair, bringing complexity and authenticity to the character. His relationship with the dog, essentially his only companion, adds layers to the story and reveals his human side.
The plot of the film is thought out and fascinating. While the film has all the standard elements of the horror and action genre, it also raises important questions about human nature and survival in extreme conditions. Questions about the meaning of life and hope permeate every scene, making the film more meaningful than just a post-apocalyptic action movie.
However, for all its merits, the film suffers somewhat from some superficial character characteristics and predictability at certain points in the plot.
In general, I Am Legend is a dark and emotional film that makes you think about the meaning of human life and the meaning of hope. And although it has its drawbacks, it leaves a strong impression and is definitely worth a look.
9 out of 10
The film “I’m Legend” and the novel of the same name by Matheson are deeply different works from each other. In the film, unlike the book, there is no comparison of the main character with Jesus, the execution and the motive for the ambiguity of the actions of the central character (in the movie, the infected are sick, despite the far from complete loss of humanity). The film is dominated by other themes. Therefore, we will not engage in a detailed comparison of the two works, but will stop at the analysis of Lawrence’s painting.
The first thing that catches the eye is a vivid transmission of the inner world of the protagonist and his worldview. As a major Russian philologist Zhirmunsky once wrote, literature can be divided into two types: classical (the emphasis in the narrative on the external) and romantic (the emphasis on the story of the “I” of the character). In front of us, of course, the work is romantic. The viewer sees how the main character is fixated on finding a vaccine, how classifying infected people as “wild” prevents them from seeing their humanity, etc. Also, the person watching the film watches explosive appearances of feelings and acts of loss of control over the central character. Lawrence and the team use both direct speech and other audiovisual media to reflect the above: noises, screen blackouts, close-ups, tearful music, sign language, etc. Of course, this aspect of the film was successful at 5+
The second thing we will talk about is the story. It is simple and fits into one not too long sentence. The narrative is mostly linear, with flashback inserts. Jumping into the past is through dreams. Lawrence and the team are not trying to play with sleep as a manifestation of the unconscious. Flashbacks are clear and clear, presented as objectively occurring events. There is no symbolic language in dreams. In the film, although much is tied to the action, but the lion’s share in it is occupied by dialogue. They can be divided into four types: with oneself, with a dog, with people, with non-living objects. Conversations are mostly simple, sometimes moralizing and confessional shades are added. Summarizing the above, the filmmakers have a simple and easily accessible narrative.
Thus, the film "I-Legend" can be said that it focuses primarily on the impact on the feelings of the viewer, and not on the transmission of complex ideas. The film is not a manifesto or a project. This is more of a sentimental movie, which is suitable for evening non-binding viewing.
I Am Legend tells the story of Robert Neville, who is the only person alive in New York City. In the ruined metropolis, he searches for survivors every day, and also hosts a radio program where he offers shelter and food to the uninfected. His only companion is the good dog Sam. And after a few years of loneliness, Robert begins to go crazy, brightening up his gray everyday life with dummies with whom he communicates as with real people. In parallel, he is developing a vaccine that could cure all those infected. And in dreams, he sees the turmoil that was happening before the epidemic began.
"I Am Legend" does a good job of showing a deserted and overgrown New York. Decorations in the form of empty huge buildings or cars frozen in traffic on the roads perfectly immerse in the atmosphere of disaster. The soundtrack mainly plays in important plot moments, leaving the viewer in the main time of the picture in complete silence. There are no complaints about directing, camera work and fighting scenes, everything is done at the level. The fighting scenes here are in moderation, and most of the time we have just Will Smith hanging out in New York. But computer graphics in the form of infected now looks somewhat outdated, since now you can make the same creatures many times better. Although the film here is about a zombie apocalypse, it is not scary and unstressful, and you can safely include it as a movie for the evening. Will Smith in this film plays Will Smith from any other science fiction film with Will Smith.
The ending of the theatrical version, since it does not follow the motive of the original source in the form of a book, leaves some blurred feeling that it is made in such a way as to please the widest audience and play on their feelings. In the director’s version, it is slightly better, but according to the story of a friend who read the book, even it is not as good as the original twist (I myself did not get acquainted with the original source).
In the end, we get just a good Will Smith movie that can be included if you want a light heavy movie. There is nothing supernatural about it, which is why the film could get such a high rating on the Kinopoisk. There are paintings that are much better on the topic of the zombie apocalypse and have a rating lower than this. But this film takes a worthy place in its setting.
I decided to watch the film I Am Legend 1 after learning about the release of the second part of it, and it was surprising and annoying to me that for some reason I did not watch or even hear about it, although Will Smith, who is pretty to me, starred there. Yes, I still like him no matter what happened at the last Oscars and what was inflated in the best traditions of secular gossip. Smith is a cool actor and a real man, and that’s where I put a big point – no, not in my review of the film, but in my assessment of Will Smith. And he played in “I am a legend” a character very similar to himself – impetuous, sharp non-conformist. Instead of Smith, Arnie could be on the screen, and thank God that didn’t happen. This role is absolutely not for him and requires more from the actor than just playing with muscles. In addition, my opinion of Arnie was thoroughly undermined by his recent “deep-minded” message to the people of Russia. Mind your own business, Arni, as they say.
Although the film was made in 2007, I cannot say that the special effects used in it are hopelessly outdated. Thriller with elements of horror turned out to be quite strong and not so primitive, as some rascals claim. In the film, as in the book, absolutely objectively demonstrated the phenomenon when some people for inexplicable reasons have natural immunity to certain pathogens, which was also shown to us in the domestic TV series “Epidemic”. And as for the differences between the film and the book, then read the credits carefully, good gentlemen: the script has been revised, i.e. adapted, so the differences have a place and the right to be.
And here's what's interesting - the blockbuster combines with everyday life not only the second part of it, but also the message of the film. In my understanding, “I am a legend” so simply shouts that you should not so unconditionally trust the latest achievements of science and medicine and hastily elevate them to the rank of panacea, because the consequences of such blind trust can be truly unpredictable, as it happened on the screen, and as happens in real life, when the fight against coronavirus was made on understudied vaccines. “It wasn’t God who created it,” says Smith. And the truth: a man-made KV virus and a coronavirus created in the laboratory. The parallels are obvious...
By analogy with another film with the participation of Smith - "Enemy of the state" - Will is no stranger to playing deprived people who suddenly lose everything: work, status, family, and the very opportunity to be in human society, without which it is difficult to live even the most hardened misanthrope. We often don’t notice how many contacts we make every day in everyday life, literally without thinking, on autopilot. And when such contacts completely disappear, a person, as a collective being, begins to experience deprivation syndrome in the absence of society, as we see in the example of Robert Neville, acting as a modern Robinson Crusoe (only instead of Friday he has a dog). About how original Neville tries to cope with the problem, I better not spoiler, if you see it yourself in the prequel to the second part. Only Crusoe performed by Smith is not abandoned on a desert island, he is in the very center of civilization - the city of New York, but there is no one around him and animals, and even those who crawl out of the shadows at sunset.
In the process of working on a tool that would reverse the apocalypse, Dr. Neville observes the rate at which dehumanization (i.e., the reverse course of evolution) of those creatures into which humans have become a result of a fatal medical error. Neville doesn’t think very highly of them and thinks they dehumanized quite quickly. However, the chain of events makes us see through the eyes of the protagonist that even zombies can feel a sense of affection and love. And this, in my opinion, is a revolutionary new move in the traditional depiction of zombies in cinema.
The highlight of the film is its alternative ending, and from the choice of one or another ending of the film, its perception completely changes, these two endings carry such a different ideological load.
Humanity has made enough mistakes and it is time to stop. Stop and at least watch a 2007 film containing a caveat for the year 2022. I would especially recommend this film to people in power who are involved in making important decisions on which the lives of many depend. I have heard many times that some Hollywood works (not necessarily fantastic – the same “Simpsons”, for example) show our not so distant future, as if their creators have the opportunity to look into this very future. Catastrophes and apocalypses have already been shown us enough, now it would be a good idea to show us ways out of these cataclysms. “I am a legend” is one of those ways. It's human courage, self-sacrifice, when you think, "Who if not me?" This is how legends are born.
I Am Legend is a film released in 2007 and has become as legendary as its protagonist for the world he saved. The director in his film, which lasts not so long, less than two hours, in such a short period of time touched upon a huge number of topics and fully managed to reveal them.
In the world created by Francis Lawrence, an epidemic broke out. An unknown virus completely destroyed the existing world order. A huge percentage of people died. But there are two categories: those who carry immunity and those who have turned from a person into a monster. The protagonist is Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Robert Neville, the only survivor in New York City. Together with his dog Samantha, he tries to find a cure that will save humanity.
The subject of loneliness. Without talking to anyone for a long time, a person can slowly go crazy. In the conditions in which Dr. Neville lives, you can not relax for a second. Madness can lead to terrible consequences, you must always keep your finger on the pulse. “You don’t know how to talk to people, do you?” asked Robert.
The subject of friendship. A dog is a man's best friend. “The more I get to know people, the more I like dogs,” Chekhov said. In a town with no one left, Sam became the Doctor's only soul mate. They do not move away from each other one step, they are both immune and both have no one but each other.
Love theme. There are people to whom we dedicate our lives. We give everything for their sake. We set ourselves great goals so that those who are close and infinitely dear will be proud of us. Robert fulfills his mission, dedicating this path to his family.
Religion. God is showing us the way. Nothing just happens. It is believed that God could not allow all the horrors that happened. That's why there is no God. “It wasn’t God, it was us,” says the protagonist. But who but God sent him here to save the world?
Science and duty. Scientists are the people to whom the harsh truth of life is revealed first. On their shoulders they carry a heavy burden of responsibility to all mankind. Everything in the world is twofold: there are secrets that should not be made public, discoveries that should be forever hidden in a distant box and never shown to anyone, in order to avoid something terrible; and there is something that all people need for salvation. Dr. Robert Neville has to deal with the consequences of the catastrophe, which led to the seemingly well-intentioned representatives of the scientific community. He's looking for a vaccine that could cure those who have gone through complete degeneration, bring them back to life, make them human again. This is his mission, and the lieutenant colonel fulfills it.
Now it is worth talking about props and effects. The costumes, scenery and music are well-chosen. The appearance of Bob Marley in the film caused some surprise at first, but the author was able to indicate its place, and I agree with him: “Mad people who try to make our world worse never rest, how can I...light up the darkness!” Special effects are at the level of 2007 and then, probably, looked good and pleased the eye of still inexperienced in this regard viewers. I, in turn, try not to pay much attention to them. For me, there is always a person in the foreground, and he overshadows everything else.
Robert Neville is the great man who will save the world. We must distinguish these people and help them, then all evil will be defeated.
Throughout his career, Will Smith has been involved in many projects. There are among his films and comedies, and melodramas, and thrillers. Choice for every taste, but for me to this day, his most memorable works are the superhero parody “Hancock” and the zombie action movie “I Am Legend” (yes, even despite “Men in Black”).
“I am a legend” was released back in 2007, but the quality of shooting and originality of the plot will be able to give odds to many modern paintings on the same topic. For the most part, of course, it is the merit of the writer Richard Matheson, who owns the novel of the same name in 1954 edition. However, we must pay tribute to the director Francis Lawrence and screenwriter Mark Protosevich, who managed to “weed out” the extra for the big screen and leave only the most necessary. Thanks to this, an hour and a half fly at the speed of light, as the necessary intensity of passions and drama is preserved.
Now the theme of the mutated virus in the movies is no surprise, but here rather important was the emotional component. After all, the picture is essentially a performance of one actor. The only companions of the main character are a dog and bloodthirsty monsters, once human. What in such a situation can happen to the human psyche is scary to imagine, but Will Smith managed to plausibly show the torment of the soul and the struggle for survival. Although rather superficial due to limited timekeeping. At the same time, the main characteristic of the former lieutenant colonel of the US medical service Robert Neville remains that despite all the adversity, he continues to think about the survival of all mankind. He does not seek salvation for himself in other closed cities, he seeks salvation for all in the growing New York. And the way to it is a cure for infection, which can only be created by experimenting with vampire-like creatures.
Francis Lawrence created an oppressive and devastated atmosphere, while filling it with interesting details like the life of the main character and the secrets of his survival. And only when all the tricks have already been used, on the very edge, when “I am a legend” could go into the category of “boring movies”, other live people appear in the frame. After so many years of solitude, Neville has a new friend, and the bond with him is much stronger than the one that could be formed in a normal situation.
I Am Legend is not a one-time movie. Even I watched it, despite the fact that I do not consider myself a lover of horror thrillers. Those who have read the original can say that the film lacks psychological depth, but for the average viewer it is quite enough. And Hollywood is not about that at all. A beautiful picture, a magnificent play of actors, a suffocating atmosphere of horror – that’s how a successful project turned out. And the brave shepherd became a kind of icing on the cake, which I, despite all the efforts of Will Smith, still felt more sorry for everyone.
9 out of 10
This film can not be perceived without recollection that almost a year after the release of this film in the rental world broke out “terrible pandemic of swine flu”, which in Russia almost did not notice, but in Western countries it was heated to the fullest.
From the standpoint of product placement, you can explain the incredible discrepancy with the original novel by Richard Matheson and many inconsistencies in the plot and incredible box office – it is obvious that the film was very well promoted. The film’s message is that the value of the vaccine is being presented as something incredible. And even the very idea that a "terrible virus" was made somewhere in the lab thickens the colors. If you remove from the film the advertising of a viral pandemic and a life-saving vaccine, what will remain in it?
It's the same zombie apocalypse. Busted to exhaustion. Yes, the scenes of empty New York are beautiful. The character of Will Smith is rather incomprehensible, as is the plot itself. After all, high-budget films simply have to carry some high morals. And high morale is present in the alternative ending of the film. And the plot becomes almost a biblical story: the hero begins to hear the “silent voice of God.” And the plot sags cease to be sagging, they are quite explainable, as it should be - at the end. But the movie came out the way it came out. And in the form in which we were presented.
Is it worth watching? For the beautiful shots of desert New York and good work of Will Smith.
And I would give the film a low rating. But there is an alternative ending. The review is neutral.
By analogy with Zack Snyder's Justice League, I'm Legend Francis Lawrence, especially since it's the director of Constantine: Lord of Darkness.
What was that?</b I put off watching this movie for a long time. But since it consistently enters the ratings of the best science fiction films, still decided to watch. In the middle, I wanted to quit, but then I looked - and for good reason. In the end, the madness went completely off the scale. Will Smith is handsome. But that seems like the only good thing to say about this movie. Boring action and a lot of logical inconsistencies. In the city that has been empty for three years, electricity is working properly, water is pouring out of the taps, and gas stations are probably working. The hero can not find canned meat in empty shops, but somehow replenishes the supply of ammunition, and managed to create an advanced laboratory in his basement. . . There are herds of zombie deer, hares and kangaroos in the city - what do they eat, I wonder? Crazy Zombies are able to somehow organize themselves, and even arrange tricky traps - and not for game, but specifically for Will Smith. In general, inconsistencies can be listed for a long time. But the phrase suddenly appeared young lady, who managed to beat off the hero from zombies in time (sorry for the spoiler) that God told her about the colony of survivors - this is generally beyond good and evil. . So you have to ask the question in the title, "What was that?"
It’s a reassuring thing – a cancer vaccine has finally been invented! But it wasn't there -- something went wrong, and now, 3 years later, there's only one person alive in New York City. And now our hero with breakneck speed, on the cleanest car, like after a car wash, rolls around the city and arranges a safari on wild animals. But, apparently, he's damn unlucky, as he and his dog are always forced to eat vegetables, and some of the ham he has in stock, he keeps for some special occasion. However, in the rest of life Neville was successful - despite the "end of the world", he enjoys all the benefits of civilization. There is water in the tap, electricity in the socket (what you want - New York is always New York!). He drives luxury cars, plays golf, watches TV, listens to CDs, has guns and ammunition. Wine and whiskey are getting better over the years. Why not a loner's paradise? Well, you just need to follow a few rules: do not leave the house after sunset and sometimes sleep in the bathroom! The little things of life... Well, the lack of communication can be compensated by talking with the dog and mannequins. That's the way to screw up Richard Burton Matheson's novel! He certainly wouldn't like it. . .
So I don't like thrillers, action movies, or horror movies (with rare exceptions), but when recently showed ' I'm a legend' on CTC-World, I was shocked! At first, it was unclear what happened and why strange animals were running around the extinct city. At first I mistook them for kangaroos, then for deer. And then, when they began to show directly the first memory of the main character, where they said about the cause of universal extinction - VIRUS, I became interested, especially when the first Zombara rushed to the car of then little Neville. Then it turned out that this virus is transmitted from infected people and animals through a bite. So similar to the biomechanism of rabies virus transmission!
In some ways I saw the similarity of this very successful in my opinion horror film with the adaptation of 'Cujo' Stephen King with the difference that there are many more cases, and there is only one dog of the kindest breed, that's the difference. No one knows what viruses mutate into over time. Also ' I am a legend' the plot clearly echoes the film ' The Tale of Louis Pasteur' where there was also a scientist who also sought/created a vaccine against a deadly disease.
In general, in my opinion, the horror film turned out to be very good, although not quite realistic, after all, similar things can happen to any of us. After all, there is a real disease in nature, so similar to what the director showed us in the film & #39; I am a legend & #39; and the name of this disease is Madness. So, welcome your animals and welcome yourself, so that neither you nor they turn into zombies like monsters from this movie! After all, it is a deadly and incurable disease! One bite from a sick dog and you're in the grave!
The appearance of the actor, who played the main role in this film, still more disposed to participate in political militants, heaped with elements of the classical American worldview. There are such projects in his filmography. But, nevertheless, the distinguishing feature of Willard Carroll Smith Jr. (in the common people of Will Smith) is unpredictability (this quality is inherent in all film artists who do not bother the audience with monotonous roles).
Having tried almost all the cinematic images (homeless, policeman, pilot, cowboy, etc.), Will finally got to the ordinary person who is trying to invent a vaccine against the universal disaster that befell mankind in the near future - a strange virus that provokes terrible genetic mutations, as a result of which people and animals turn literally into the living dead. Reflecting corpses naturally like to be saturated with living flesh and blood. That's what they live on. Like vampires, they do not like sunlight, so they only go hunting at night, and during the day they hide in the darkness of empty buildings. And only one character of Will Smith remained human, because he, fortunately, has a strong immunity to this infection. But the poor man has no one to talk to. In order not to finally go crazy, he placed mannequins all over the city, with which the poor man who is weaned from normal communication has something to talk about.
There are many similar plots, but in this case, the filmmakers, who could not avoid some stamping, managed to bring a certain freshness to the thematic basis of the film “I am a legend”. Clarity, clarity, logic and truthful film space distinguishes this film from all other films that try to scare the delicate, vulnerable psyche of Americans in one way or another ' apocalypse'.
The action of the film is tied, of course, to the greatest metropolis in the world - to New York.
New York, New York... What is not prophesied to this long-suffering city – and the ocean must swallow, and a meteorite from the sky to fall, and earthquake shake, and terrible epidemics to overwhelm. Such sentiments are said to have intensified in the United States after the terrorist attacks (in September, now back in 2001). . .
But the terrorist threat is not limited to technical attacks; another type of weapon, biological, can be used that is no better than atomic bombs and planes crashing into buildings. In the film I Am Legend, the problem of the possible destruction of America (and therefore the whole world) is revealed precisely with the help of artificially created viruses that distort human nature at the DNA level. Nothing could be worse than that. . .
Were there any jokes about "Lived a man with a dog, did not push"?
In fact, I watched this movie a long time ago, and it came to me. But a couple of months ago, I got my hands on the original Richard Matheson. So I consider this post as a comparison of a film with a book, with a small interruption to discuss the film.
The film was originally planned to be released in the 90s, with Ridley Scott in the director's chair and Iron Arnie in the title role. But this led to an increase in the budget, so these individuals chose to pursue other projects. Guillermo del Toro could also shoot the story, but in the end Francis Lawrence was responsible for directing - the guy who put a good film ' Constantine' and later became responsible for such squalor as 'The Hunger Games' and 'Red Sparrow'. The choice of Will Smith for the lead role looks a little cliche for a fantastic action movie, but we will talk about comparisons later.
After watching this movie, my imagination played out. Robert Neville is the last survivor in New York City. Every day he hunts deer, wanders through the deserted city, and engages in a kind of stalkership. His house is also equipped with a laboratory to find a vaccine against ghouls who are selected at night for food. That’s just from such a long loneliness, Robert seems to have a little damaged mind. Maybe a lot. Example: Neville goes on the radio every day looking for survivors. But when he finds a girl named Anna and she tells him about a colony of survivors, he insists that there is no colony. Pretty stupid moment.
Let’s break away from the movie and consider it an adaptation of the book. And I must say that to roll out the original story skating rink - it is necessary to try. Robert Neville was not a virologist. He is a simple worker, who in the first half of the book led a delusional lifestyle - drunk, listened to classical music, grieved for the dead family. I didn't try to get out of town, which, by the way, looks silly in the movie. There was no keen desire to wet monsters, sometimes he thought: ' And if you go outside and let yourself be bitten?' Speaking of monsters. In the book, they were vampires who did not lose their minds, but could even organize their own society. And how could they have turned them into brainless zombies?
Among other things, the book considered a good theory that vampirism is caused by bacteria, and it was in the fight against it that Robert raised a fifth point from the sofa and began to study the composition of blood, trying to find and neutralize the source of infection. And there's also a very cool philosophical part of the story that says why a person can become insane and all that. Stephen King himself noted that the novel ' I am a legend' is one of his favorites. And how could you have smacked the original? It turned out beautiful, maybe someone loves this film with all his heart, but the fact remains: the phrase ' the film is made based on motives. ..' has killed more than one blockbuster. One thing I can definitely praise is that Robert’s line of attachment to the dog has been revealed in more detail. In the novel, the hero met a stray dog, which he tried to tame, go out, but she still died of infection. Here the dog Neville lived side by side with him for three years, and it is clear that in the key scene, the emotions of the hero are felt by us.
And yes, I think it would be better to make vampires the scumbags of the movie. Not to follow the canon or anything like that. Just a year from now 'Twilight' will be out, after which most vampire movies react like bloodsuckers to sunlight. And that would give us a great story that kept the genre afloat.
Empty New York. Wild animals roaming the overgrown green city. The natural silence is no longer disturbed by the noise of cars. Only the lonely figure of a man and his faithful dog reminds that once this city was full of life.
'I am a legend' this is a cult film based on the novel of the same name, which, by the way, I liked less of the film adaptation. And from the original source, the tape borrowed only the basic concept, while changing many details, so that knowledge of the original text for understanding what is happening on the screen is absolutely not necessary. So what's going on on on this screen? Another virus that killed 90% of the world’s population, and turned most of the survivors into bloodthirsty brainless creatures afraid of the sun, spared only a negligible percentage of the population – people who showed natural immunity to the virus. One of the lucky ones is Robert Neville, brilliantly played by Will Smith. Every day trying to create a vaccine for the infection, and at night hiding in his house while the infected scour the city at night, Neville becomes increasingly mad, already desperate to find other living people.
'I'm a legend' I'm great at everything I do. There are excellent tense scenes that make you worry about the hero, and very strong dramatic episodes, a story that is fascinating from the first to the last minute - in general, the film is really good in everything. Separately, I want to note the already mentioned insanity of the main character, who has only a dog and mannequins, with whom Neville himself plays role scenes.
Magnificent and visual range, the picture is insanely good, the production and camera work deserve the highest praise. Graphics, of course, now looks quite cheap, and low-poly lions rather cause a smile, but besides this, the film is insanely beautiful.
It is worth noting the fact that the picture has two versions with different endings, and I recommend watching the alternative, because the theatrical finale is rather stupid, crumpled and goes against the main idea of the film.
To sum up - 'I'm a legend' it's a great movie to read regardless of the source. This is an interesting story with a well-built narrative and correctly placed accents, so that the viewer does not miss a minute. I definitely recommend watching.
Richard Matheson’s legendary novel I Am Legend has already been brought to the screens. And not only in a more or less classic version, but even as the Night of the Living Dead. George Romero in writing the script was inspired by the work of Matheson, and although much reworked in the horror can be seen the general idea of the science fiction about monsters and a small group of survivors. In the 90s, a new attempt was made to shoot I Am Legend with the help of computer special effects and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the title role. But something did not grow together, and only in 2007 the film was released, and its main star was Will Smith.
The action takes place in New York City after its residents turn into vampires. Part of the population was evacuated, but it did not help. An epidemic of a terrible virus has swept the planet and the protagonist, Dr. Robert Neville, feels like the last man on Earth. Surviving with the dog, Robert tries not to go out after sunset, as this is the time of vampires, and follows a set of inviolable rules to avoid becoming a victim. But all good things end sooner or later.
Trying to get used to the idea that he is not alone in New York, Neville thereby put himself in danger because he has someone to answer for. It is only important to soberly assess the situation and understand how to get out of it. But when strangers are with you, the likelihood of mistaken decisions increases and predicting tomorrow becomes very difficult.
The first thing that Francis Lawrence managed to do was make a really beautiful film. The big budget allowed to block part of the central streets of real New York to minimize computer graphics. The world of the Apocalypse is shown in detail, animals run through the streets, shops are empty in the absence of customers. And here we are with Robert Neville walking through these locations, and dreams come true.
But the drama of the film itself has blown up. Lawrence invested in visual moments, but failed to properly expose Neville's relationship with those who survived beyond him. It seems that everything develops clearly and easily, but somehow quickly and not quite exciting. Still, the timing allowed to increase the screen time of minor characters, but the director rushed to the final and quickly closed the bench, although no one chased him.
I really liked "I'm a legend." The film came out dynamic and spectacular, even vampires and not quite believable. Of course, the story will not receive the status of a classic from Francis Lawrence, but the audience will most likely remember it, and this is good.
7 out of 10
After the movie, I was immersed in it for another 3 hours. I realized that humanity could at any moment create a virus or something like that that could wipe out all humans. How easily human beauty and life can be destroyed in a matter of decades.
I don’t think this movie is fantastic. For me, this is a possible version of the history of human society. Sooner or later.
It is very difficult to see how the entire burden of responsibility for all mankind lies on the main character, he tries to find an antidote to the virus and any mistake threatens the extinction of people as a species. The film makes you wonder how often our actions can affect the lives of others.
I find that this is not an ordinary action movie or a thriller, this is a story about a man who corrected the mistakes of all mankind. Very sad and sad story.
I would like to point out that this film is mostly successful and good. Here's why. In this chamber work, the leading role is taken by the capable Will Smith, who completely coped with the transmission of the image of the last survivor tormented by loneliness. Empty from the pandemic, New York, overgrown with weed, looks attractive, believable. The deserted streets of the huge city are blocked by cars, the city is inhabited by animals that are not afraid of the presence of a rare person. But the night in this film plays a key role: in the dark, in search of prey, bloodthirsty vampires go hunting, not knowing the mercy in which humanity has become obsolete.
Robert Nevell, aka Will Smith, lives in a habit; he has his own laboratory, food in abundance, electricity, weapons, in short, prepared for the post-apocalypse. In his spare time, he, along with a devoted and intelligent dog Sam patrols the city and hunts animals to somehow diversify the diet, and also does not lose hope to create a vaccine against the virus. And yet the main character is burdened and suffers from loneliness, communicates with dummies and barely restrained, so as not to despair of a hopeless situation. To distract himself, he takes up various activities in every possible way, so that there is motivation to live.
All this is conveyed from an artistic point of view with dignity; the very idea of the last survivor is attractive, pleasant to understand and does not lose its originality twelve years after the release of the film, which has succeeded in both collections and positive ratings.
Alas, it remains a mystery how it happened that Robert Nevell was the only survivor for quite a long time, but perhaps the answer will be found in the prequel.
Towards the end of the film, he will still be lucky, because not only will he be rescued from a reckless situation, but he will be able to feel less abandoned for a while, because a friendly Anna will appear and, in my opinion, events will develop too quickly - that is, at least some joy of the main character from the presence of Anna and the boy Ethan will not be shown, despite the fact that the film is mostly about loneliness.
In conclusion, I will write that in the film there is a cheerful action, holding in suspense for the main character and, I think, with such an idea, it would still be possible to allocate an additional twenty minutes of timekeeping so that the ending seemed the most meaningful and complete. Nevertheless, this film is a convincing example of a qualitatively conveyed post-apocalypse. But, in the end, personally, I did not leave the feeling that, with all the pluses, something was missing, that the ending could be more interesting (possibly, together with the main character, the search for a new refuge and the rest of the survivors would be in place, along with the idea for a continuation).
I highly recommend it!
The empty streets of New York, everything is overgrown with grass, there is not a single living soul, it would seem that can be a movie with such things, but as I saw, it all depends on how to present the material. “I am a legend” is a living example of how a typical and worn-out post-apocalypse can blossom if there is a true professional behind it. I want to say in advance that I am aware that the film was made based on the novel by Richard Matheson “I am a legend”, but we will consider this film work as a separate product, not as a film adaptation, since there is no similarity with the book except for the end.
I have to give a separate paragraph to Francis Lawrence of I Am Legend. Everyone associates this personality with the Hunger Games franchise, but I, for example, associate it with this masterpiece of the film industry. Francis Lawrence is a brilliant person, he shot enough quality content, which is worth his "Constantine" or "The Hunger Games": And there will be flames and many other worthy representatives of their genres.
Before a detailed analysis, it is necessary to highlight the criteria by which we will conclude. What is important for horror movies? Of course, this is the atmosphere, the most important component of this genre. The atmosphere is conveyed by the plot, acting and soundtrack. For the subgenre of post-apocalypse, it is very important to show the scale of the entire event. I'll make a spoiler, there's everything I've listed.
Plot: They developed a cure for deadly diseases, it showed itself well during the trial on patients, but after a certain time side effects were found. The plot is worn to an impossible degree, the same scientists, the same trials, the same mistakes, the same side effects, the same out of control, but here it all takes on new colors. The storyline itself is very addictive, you really immerse yourself in this world, put yourself next to the main character. There's a lot of unexpected, sharp plot twists, and the most important thing is that there's logic in everything, it's not just a slide show, it's a whole story that you don't want it to end. The ending was a bombshell, something I never expected. What happened there just made me open my eyes in the size of the wheels of Belaz, it really shocked me.
Acting: incredibly, excellent, amazing and other adjectives of the delightful degree of English. The actors played just so fantastic that it seemed like a hero and an actor one person. I believed every emotion, every decision of the heroes was logical and justified, even the craziest of their antics. I'm also interested in how they got the German Shepherd to do this, and she played better than some of the actors in other movies. Will Smith played the role of Robert Neville. It’s no secret that Will Smith is a very talented person and he copes with his tasks always, whether it’s “After our era” or “I’m a legend”, he always plays his role without cheating, he was once even the highest paid Hollywood actor. His emotions in this film, how heartbreaking, how realistic they were, my eyes were just so tense, because the admiration could not blink, just bravo. Dash Majok, who played the role of an alpha in a pack of poor people who were lucky enough to try this medicine, he also did a wonderful job with his role, he was awe-inspiring, but he was also respectful, and you'll see what I mean when you see this masterpiece. All the other actors were amazing too.
Soundtrack: Very pleasant to hear music, very memorable. It used tracks for a wide range of people. It was particularly gratifying to hear Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" as a fan of rap and reggae in general. In addition, all the other tracks were just as great, conveying the emotions that the director wanted to convey to us. In one sentence, James Newton Howard did a great job, this is the composer "I am a legend."
Atmosphere: Chic plot, chic acting, chic soundtrack, hence not surprisingly and chic atmosphere. Again, I am completely immersed in this universe. In addition to these criteria, there was also a chic computer graphics, all wild animals were indistinguishable from real practically. But what made me more happy was the scale of the epidemic. These general bird's-eye views of New York overgrown with grass, these views of the Atlantic Ocean, urban skyscrapers and so on, you have no idea how this affects the atmosphere. Just no words.
So I'm Legend is one of the best horror movies I've been lucky enough to watch. This is not just a masterpiece, but a masterpiece twice as much. The film is not limited to one genre, it is a mixture of horror and thriller. But what was the last straw that I decided on 10? This is an original way of raising a massively social problem that originated a long time ago, its essence is that if someone does not resemble the majority, he or she becomes an outcast in society, or how in 1939-1945 he begins to be exterminated, in other words, the problem of discrimination on various aesthetic grounds, in Russia it is also very acute. We are shown here infected not as monsters, but as the same people who, because they differ from the general mass, were cornered and gradually exterminated. Imagine, in place of these innocent patients, any person of a different race or nationality, the attitude towards him immediately changes, because he is not like everyone else. My words can confirm the words of the main character, he said: “It was not God, it was us”, at first it may seem to be a human catastrophe, but you look at it more deeply, then you will understand what I mean. I recommend a mandatory viewing, everyone must see it, to realize all this I needed to review the film for the second time, which radically changed my idea of “I am a legend”.
10 out of 10
American writer Richard Matheson is a truly unique author. He worked in such literary genres as science fiction, fantasy, detective and horror. Moreover, he skillfully combined these genres within the framework of one work and this made his stories innovative and unlike anything else. The work of Richard Matheson had a great influence on other writers, he was admired by recognized classics of world literature, such as Stephen King and Ray Bradbury. Of course, such a colorful writer could not stay away from the attention of filmmakers. His books were repeatedly filmed, and he became a successful screenwriter.
The picture is based on perhaps the most famous novel of the same name by the eminent author. In fact, this book made a decisive contribution to the formation of modern ideas about vampires and zombies, and also popularized the concept of post-apocalypse. Everything we observe in modern films and literature on given topics has its roots in the cult novel by Richard Matheson. Two films have already been made based on this work. The Last Man on Earth (1964) and the Omega Man (1971). But those were pretty weak movies. And now in our time for the film adaptation took big people from Hollywood. The director was appointed clipmaker Francis Lawrence.
Before us is a post-apocalyptic, fantastic thriller on one side and a heavy life drama on the other. The film touches on many philosophical problems. Instead of the usual action movie, we see a much deeper work in which the theme of loneliness is well revealed. The picture is distinguished by subtle psychology. The inner experiences of the protagonist are worthy of deep psychological analysis. It’s certainly not an intellectual film, but a much smarter canvas than a standard blockbuster. At the same time, this is an exciting and spectacular film, shot for a wide range of viewers.
Of course, there is no escape from the comparison of the film and the book. If you watch the film without knowing anything about the literary source, it will make a very strong impression. That was my case, too. But people familiar with the book may not feel the screen version. When I read the book, I realized how much meaning the author put in his work. This is a deep, philosophical invention and talented rethinking of classic stories about vampires and other evil spirits. Therefore, I recommend watching the film from the beginning, and then reading a clever and original book.
Will Smith has a huge acting talent, which unfortunately can not always be realized on the big screen. In this case, he managed to brilliantly create the image of a man who remained the only representative of the human race. He causes sympathy and feelings for his hero, and this is an important indicator of acting.
I Am Legend is an atmospheric, spectacular, exciting and clever sci-fi thriller. In addition, we have a deep and tragic posapocalyptic drama of a man suffering from loneliness and seeking to find other people. Unfortunately, the film did not use the full potential of the literary source and cannot claim to be a great work. But in any case, it is a great movie, worthy of your viewing.
7 out of 10
The film I Am Legend was filmed in 2007. Then he made a lot of noise, and soon became a world-famous blockbuster. I remember watching him as a child, and he left indescribable emotions. And then I wanted to watch it again, and this is what the film shows.
Medicine has reached unprecedented heights in its field. Cancer is not such a terrible disease, a special vaccine has been invented for it, which everyone can use. But soon, hopes for recovery turned into a terrible virus, carried by air, also by contact.
Evacuation. Crowds of people. Panic. Everyone wants to survive. Charging control. It immediately becomes clear that someone survives, and someone will be infected. Quarantine zones are set, no one is allowed to pass until checked for infection.
It has been 3 years since that terrible incident. A deserted New York City that still has some wildlife. In dark corners live already lost all human instincts hemocytes-infected people. But amidst this chaos and hopelessness, there is one survivor. Robert Neville, a scientist who experimented on rats to find serum, and save the still surviving humanity. This loner appears to have immunity to the Cavey virus. Together with his dog, he tries to escape in this realm of madness and save others.
No matter how hard you try, after a rapidly spreading pandemic, there is little that could be done. An ordinary guy, unable to stop a disaster. The terrifying atmosphere of desolation and loneliness drives Robert crazy every day.
Of course, the film was not without mistakes. In viewing, there are many sensations of unprovedness, and some nebula. You totally believe they'll explain it to you right now, but no. Everything ends too quickly, and you are perplexed to watch the film.
Despite all this, I want to watch the movie. Brilliant performance of Will Smith, which shows that the actor gave all 110% to the film was good and excellent. He catches you with his mystery and his intriguing part. A very dramatic and heartbreaking story about the last survivor, the last bastion on salvation, the last legend. I wouldn’t say the film is perfect or masterpiece, but it’s good, just good.
Among fellow writers exploring the genre of sinister dystopia with a bitter taste of social horror, Richard Matheson was always distinguished by a special sense of style, frightening predictions and anxieties that made readers literally feel goosebumps. Devouring one page after another, fans of Matheson’s work elevated him to the rank of untouchables, and there is no doubt about such a high status of the writer. Feeling an irresistible craving for the pen, during his long and long career, Matheson wrote many truly worthy works, some of which at one time formed the basis of the television series “Twilight Zone”, and others were reflected in one of the first films of Steven Spielberg, tense and dynamic “Duely”. However, of all the incredibly extensive legacy of the writer, a special status stands out cold blood novel “I am a legend”, published in 1954. Returning to the favorite theme of horror, Matheson gave his creation an alarming shade, forcing readers once again to take up a sedative, in order to survive the misadventures of the main character, leading an unequal battle with nightmarish vampire-like monsters. Of course, such a significant work as “I am a legend” was obliged to migrate to the big screens, which happened, and repeatedly. "The Last Man on Earth" and "I Am Omega" interpreted Matheson's ideas in their own way, but they were deeply respectful of the original source. And in 2007, another version of the novel was released, a half-forgotten craftsmanship “I am a warrior” with the participation of Mark Dacascos, preceding the most expensive and spectacular version of “I am a legend” from Warner bros.
The idea to once again return to the world after the end of the world according to Richard Matheson originated in the heads of producers in the mid-90s, when Arnold Schwarzenegger himself was expected to play the leading role, which automatically turned a filigree thriller into a grinding action. However, for joy or luck, the preparatory process has stalled and the return of “I am a legend” had to be forgotten until director Francis Lawrence, once a confident director of status videos, reoriented to the full meter, entered the arena. Lawrence’s debut film, an adaptation of the comic book series Constantine, although disappointed orthodox fans of graphic novels, showed the exquisite visual flair of the director, who is able to recreate elegant scenes of action, captivating the audience with juicy inserts and elements from which it is impossible to take your eyes off. And since Lawrence was not responsible for the scripting tricks of Constantine, the film’s relative failure did not hurt his reputation, which eventually led him to Richard Matheson.
I Am Legend takes place three years after scientists announced a landmark medical discovery. According to the assurances of enthusiastic researchers, humanity has finally got a chance to get rid of such a hated infection as cancer, and now every patient will see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, such a presumptuous statement led to a series of nightmares that turned people into angry, bloodthirsty monsters, afraid of the light and driven only by a single feeling of endless hunger. One of the miracles of survivors of the epidemic people is a former lieutenant colonel of the US medical service, Robert Neville (Smith), who found himself in proud loneliness in the expanses of gradually overgrown green New York. The only friend of the lieutenant colonel remains his dog named Sam, an intelligent and fearless shepherd, repeatedly saving his owner from all sorts of misfortunes. Trying to resist the constantly creeping depression in the head from an annoying lack of communication, Neville still tries to find a way out of the situation and still stop the virus that lives in the bodies of night monsters.
It is not easy to make a major studio movie with a single hero at the head of the story, but Francis Lawrence has largely managed to do it. The main and most respected merit of the director can be called the establishment of an atmosphere of absolute emptiness that enveloped Robert Neville during his unsuccessful struggle with monsters. Slowly but logically and meticulously, Lawrence shows the life of the main character, reveals the secrets of his survival and shows how important it is to maintain a connection with society, even in the style of a fictional theater. Robert Neville was left alone, he no longer has relatives and friends, but he is not ready to put a bullet in his forehead, since the fire has not yet gone out in his heart. As long as he is able to continue his research, his inner struggle will not be over. And in order to warm up the tension that torments the hero, the director makes full use of the opportunities presented by the producers, creating from the City, which never actually sleeps only a desert of death, drowning in mud and vegetation without careful supervision of a person.
It is gratifying that in I Am Legend, Will Smith showed excellent dramatic qualities, who proved to his enemies and admirers that he can not only play carefree games like Agent Kay from Men in Black, but also complex images with ambiguous psychology. Robert Neville in his performance turned out to be a multifaceted, intriguing character, who you want to follow and live day by day in deserted New York together. And there was no better candidate for partner for such an unhappy and confused in his own labyrinth of fears of the hero, than shepherd Sam, loved by the audience almost more than Neville himself. The amazing friendship formed between Will Smith and Samantha gave the picture an emotional depth, which in turn smooths out some of the logical shortcomings of the story. In fact, this film is no longer needed.
The main drawback of the film can be considered the superficiality of the dramatic-semantic line, which does not go beyond the visual beauties demonstrated by the former clipmaker. History does not feel the struggle and doubts that were at the heart of a powerful source from Richard Matheson, from which it is impossible to believe in the drama of Robert Neville without reservations. For the most part, I Am Legend presents us as silent contemplatives, pleasing to the eyes with a magnificent picture and the sight of a clever dog. Of course, in some ways, this is enough to enjoy watching an expensive studio project, but in the case of Matheson’s legacy, I would like to get a little more meaning than it is. And the situation will not be corrected even by the ghostly promises of the creators one day to release a sequel that fills the white gaps in the narrative of the Lawrence tape. If they had something to say, it should be done right away, rather than looking for reasons to stretch the story for the sake of box office figures.
In the end, I want to say that “I am a legend”, this is quite decent, although far from perfect horror thriller, with excellent entourage, tolerable graphics, depicting monsters, tense atmosphere, confident play of Will Smith and Samantha, but not beyond simple entertainment, not even trying to seem like something more. Therefore, the tape of Francis Lawrence is best perceived as an eye attraction, holding attention to the final credits. As for questions of self-identification, life purpose and choice, it is better to discuss this with Richard Matheson, reading his cult novel.
8 out of 10
The recipe for any Hollywood blockbuster is spectacular action scenes, an impressive cast of very familiar names, and, as often happens, the familiar source material underlying the picture. Such projects, as a rule, attract a huge number of people to the cinemas – fans of the main stars, fans of the source material, and simply viewers who responded to such a curious material. But, in many ways, the creators of this picture did almost the impossible: they created an impressive, and box office blockbuster, where from the cast in fact only one person can be called a full-fledged hero, throughout the action being in a deserted metropolis, turned into a jungle, because of the living creatures here - only the main character, his dog and a bunch of angry mutants afraid of daylight. A very interesting post-apocalyptic beginning, which was duly embodied in the bright fantastic action movie I Am Legend (I Am Legend, 2007).
But what is he, the only performer of the main role! The brightest and one of the most charismatic actors in Hollywood, in fact turned into the number one star of American cinema – Will Smith. And, I must admit, in the film, he concentrates on himself perfectly. Almost all the screen time he spends in proud loneliness, but his face in the dirt did not hit, that is for sure. And, to be honest, watching his character, it even becomes somehow dreary and sad, because loneliness for him is worse than death.
And the film begins in the same way as any other post-apocalyptic movie. A terrible zombie epidemic is affecting America, and probably the whole world. Of the survivors, only a colonel in the American Armed Forces (and part-time, a military scientist trying to invent a vaccine), who was clearly helped in his survival by his military past. He takes care of his dog, who remains his only friend, and whom he is terribly afraid to lose. In fact, the whole film is devoted to his survival in the New York jungle full of mutants, as well as his development of an antidote vaccine. But the film doesn't get boring from a lack of dialogue. On the screen, something is constantly happening, and some episodes (like the first release of the main character in the radio) are surprisingly dramatic. The few, but long flashbacks went to the picture only for the benefit, because the tragic memories of the protagonist about the catastrophe that destroyed the whole world and his family only add to the picture of drama and complement the image of the main character, showing how difficult the situation he is in. The action scenes of the battle with mutants turned out very spectacular (although monsters could be depicted more realistically), a special pleasure to look at the unusually realistically depicted deserted New York. All these components go to the film only for the benefit, creating as a result a very high-quality and pleasing post-apocalyptic film.
On the other hand, there is some straightforwardness of the plot (albeit the film as a whole and original), because of which the film can not claim anything more than a spectacular fantastic blockbuster with a world-favorite actor in the lead role, for which you can have a great time. However, this does not beg for the fact that “I Am Legend” turns out to be an excellent example of a post-apocalyptic action movie, which can be revisited several times with pleasure.
The visual range of the picture is a separate plus. The film is full of bright colors that are a little blurred, but it goes to the film only for the benefit. The juicy picture is constantly pleasing to the eye, depicting that deserted New York, overgrown with wild plants and full of all kinds of animals, then Will Smith with a machine gun. By the way, a special thank you to the creators of the picture for the human hero, not the usual superhero, crumbling zombie mutants into cabbage.
In general, I want to say that “I am a legend” is the brightest post-apocalyptic blockbuster, which performs its function of an entertaining movie just perfectly, largely thanks to Will Smith in the lead role, who does not know how to play well, as well as thanks to the bright action and genuine drama of the tape, which makes the picture one of the most worthy representatives of post-apocalyptic cinema.
8 out of 10
He sincerely believed that racism and hatred in the literal sense could be cured. Heal by giving music and love to others.
Dr. Robert Neville, a black man who has lost his mind, is the only survivor of New York City. After a terrible genetic epidemic, which turned all other citizens into frisky ghouls. Dr. Robert Neville during the day is engaged in everyday life and tries to bring a vaccine against the virus that has destroyed humanity, and at night tries not to catch the eye of howling and roaring ghouls engaged in search of food in the deserted city.
The director of Constantine and the screenwriter of I, Robot worked together on the famous novel by Richard Matheson, which had already been filmed twice before (in 1964 and 1971). The result exceeded expectations - both financially and, most importantly, substantively.
The visual side of the picture resembles a cooled and grass-grown purgatory from Constantine. In a millionth, like a huge anthill, once boiling with life city, only mountains of conquered cars remained to inhabit, drawn into cloths with a sign of biological danger, buildings-bodies and flocks of antelopes. Lawrence’s empty New York is even more impressive than Boyle’s empty London from 28 Days Later: it may be more threatening to hordes of ghouls lurking in its darkness.
The ghouls in the film, by the way, strongly resemble self-robots: fully generated on a computer, they are even faster than the Boylov zombies, and twice as strong. "I, Robot" for nothing, which is similar to the title of "I'm Legend" - it feels like he greatly inspired the cgi-shniks of the film, especially when creating the final scenes. The ghouls’ invasion of Neville’s house is almost a one-to-one rebellion of the Goldman-Asimov NS-5, and the vampires’ climbing on the wall on the roof is very similar to the assault by robots on the building of the US Robotics Corporation.
Will Smith, perhaps, is the perfect choice for the role of Robert Neville: not like a superhero, emotional, but at the same time intelligent, strong, ironic and courageous, he fits perfectly into the image of the “guy from our backyard”, which was required for the modern legend about the last man. Smith is not just for 2009 - the highest-grossing and highest-paid actor: he harmoniously combined all the qualities that most viewers want to equal. He is a “man with a gun”, and a touching family man, and a positive joker, and a serious scientist engaged in the search for serum from vampirism, and all these roles of the same person do not contradict.
The emotional intensity of the film completely bears Smith: he intermittently breathes from the skin of a tangible nightmare, drops a tear, performs a lullaby and shyly meets in an empty department store with a brunette mannequin. Smith makes you feel sympathetic, infects with vigor, crushes with rage - and in general plays here in a way that no other person could in his place. The brilliant career of this actor will one day be crowned with an Oscar, I hope so! He deserves it anyway.
The decision to make vampires fully computerized in the "I Am Legend" was outstanding: firstly, no one else had such vampires, and secondly, their schematicity and certain "sameness" emphasizes their unity, mass, spilled in them "darkness" and their proliferation in the darkness. And the social metaphor of the picture becomes obvious: people are living closer and more aggressively towards each other.
Dr. Neville is the only one who has not been captured by the general escalation of callousness and cruelty, and who is not yet ready to let his dogs down on his neighbor. He is looking for a cure that would help people, but this search is so long and hopeless that it can make even the last survivor of civil chaos despair.
And Richard Matheson's novel is still so popular, probably because it parallels real life. At some point, you will surely find that you are alone, the wounds bleed, and all around are ghouls.
8.5 out of 10
Richard Burton Matheson wouldn't like it! The film is reassuring - a cancer vaccine has finally been invented! But it wasn’t there – something went wrong and here 3 years later in New York there was only one person alive. And fortunately, they are not some plumber or loader, but a scientist-biochemist – well, should someone invent a serum-antidote?! There is also a laboratory in the basement. And now our hero with breakneck speed, on the cleanest car after a car wash, rolls around the city and arranges a safari on wild animals. But apparently he's damn unlucky, since he and his dog are always forced to eat vegetables, and he keeps some of the ham he has in reserve for some special occasion. However, in the rest of life Neville was successful - despite the "end of the world" he enjoys all the benefits of civilization: the tap has water, and in the socket - electricity (what you want - New York is always New York!). He drives luxury cars, plays golf, watches TV, listens to CDs, has guns and ammunition. Wine and whiskey are getting better over the years. What's not a lone man's paradise? Well, you just need to follow a few rules – in particular, do not leave the house after sunset and sometimes sleep in the bathroom! The little things of life... Well, the lack of communication can be compensated by talking with the dog and mannequins. Yes, you need to be able to ruin the idea of a novel by Richard Burton Matheson! 6 out of 10 Original
Just because you’re one against everyone doesn’t mean you’re not right!
We’ve probably all imagined what it’s like to wake up one morning and realize that you’re the only person in this city or on this planet. In my head immediately there are questions about what I would do, where I went, how I spent my everyday life. Robert Neville was given such a great opportunity. But, he is still not completely alone, the company of him consists of aggressive creatures who want to tear him apart.
“I am a legend” has been seen by me countless times. But it's so well shot that every time I have almost the same experiences for Robert, every time I hope he doesn't go where he shouldn't go and things take a different turn. Despite this, I am well aware that this is just a movie, but describing my previous emotions, I just wanted to emphasize how masterfully directed the film.
"I am a legend" can be attributed to the genre of thriller with dramatic overtones. This is one of those rare films that has a soul. He really moments quite sad and dramatic, and moments tense and filled with suspense. The famous scene with the dog, no matter how many times I catch my eye, still causes tears.
I would like to applaud Will Smith for such a great talk. The role of Robert Neville is considered one of his best roles. I’m going to keep saying that not every actor is going to be able to stay focused throughout the film. I’ve always had a lot of respect for Smith, but remember, after this movie, he totally captivated me. Will skillfully conveys to the viewer all the feelings he feels. His thirst for companionship, heartache after loss, despair and anger are demonstrated at a high level.
“I’m a legend” was sometimes perceived by me not as a film with elements of fiction. Among us there are also similar individuals, aggressive, ready to sacrifice themselves in order to make others feel even worse.
This film is undeniably affecting. It also openly demonstrates man’s loneliness in society and his desire to fight alone for the truth. Of course, the finale is sad, but for those who want to see a positive ending, there is an alternative version.
The book on which the film was filmed became a milestone in the world of fiction. The only man on Earth, in the constant balance between life and death, has forever become a fertile theme for the contemplation of human nature. The main essence of the book lay much deeper than the life of the main character. When the world is flooded with vampires, who were once only an ancient legend, humanity is invisible to Neville, took a step in evolution. This caused only anger and indignation in the main character, forcing him to cruelly deal with the creatures of the night. And in their understanding, he became the evil that comes to their souls when they sleep. Vampires became a reality and man became a legend. Here is the red thread of the book, the meaning to which the plot led us, preconceived in the title. Did the writers bring it to the film? Of course not. What is the main idea of the film? Will Smith is a legend, and his halo knocks down the highest-growing apples in autumn. Not Robert Neville, the protagonist, but Smith.
I am not going to find fault with the fact that only the name of the main character remains from the plot of the book in the film. Vampires became zombies, the main character from a rural working man turned into a high-ranking doctor, and the atmosphere of loneliness was replaced by a charming shepherd. The film is an independent work, and, obviously, the focus was not on the plot. I want to disassemble the film itself without any bias.
So, the film's budget is $150 million. What were they spent on? Special effects? Nope. Computer graphics do not reach even the average level, and the action scenes in the film are completely devoid of scale. Staff? The soundtrack is weak, the script is shaky. Actors' fees? Nope. A film about the only person on Earth, did you get it?
The lion's share of the budget went to Will Smith, and to be exact, to his entertainment. The whole plot is a benefit of Will Smith, and it becomes more obvious when you look at the names of the writers. Smith is no doubt a good actor, and the film allows you to unleash his full potential - he sparkles muscles, and frowns eyebrows and protrudes lips in action scenes, and pours tears suffering from grief, and splashes saliva in bouts of madness. His attempts to demonstrate his full potential destroy the self-sufficiency of the character as a whole.
All the scenery is all about pleasing Smith's thirst for adventure, watch the trailer, you'll see for yourself. All the best that was thrown by people in the conditions of the apocalypse, now belongs to the main character. And as a result, Will Smith is a legend! Because he's the last man on Earth and a new race has come to power? Nope. Because his memory will now become the tradition of a new civilization? Nope. That’s because Smith is a sweetie, adored by producers.
Result.
5 out of 10
The plot is bland, catches only a couple of moments and most of it will demonstrate the life of the main character. The ending is ridiculous. It's like the ending of a joke about a grandmother looking for her glasses she's wearing. Action is not interesting. The acting is good, but served too much. Is it worth watching the movie? Yes, if you're a Will Smith fan or like views of the post-apocalyptic city. But even though I'm the last type, I think I wasted my time.
I first watched a movie (I am a legend) and found out it was based on a book. The movie turned out spectacular, but so stupid that it was immediately clear that much of what was in the book did not get into the film or got in a completely different form. But I didn't think so.
Well, the fact that the main character of the book is white blonde, and in the film, on the contrary, we blame it on political correctness. Yes, and Smith, regardless of everything else, looks really good in action fiction.
So I will just briefly tell you how in reality everything was in this story, and then a lot will become clear.
People were struck by bacteria that turned them into vampires. Not fucking zombies, like in movies, but vampires. They begin to grow fangs and an irresistible thirst for blood appears. What was surprising - for a book written in the mid-1940s - the author summed up a huge scientific base for this case. The bacterium feeds on blood components, but at the same time disrupts the circulation of lymph, because of which the patient's blood thickens and becomes like glue. The hidden course of the disease lasts for several weeks (not 20 minutes, as in the movie), then the person essentially dies, but in fact, his metabolism changes so much that he ceases to be in the strict sense of a person. The bacterium begins to perform a mitochondrial function - to supply the body with energy in exchange for the blood components it needs. Since the person himself can no longer produce blood, he must be administered orally so as not to move horses. The bacterium is anaerobic, so breathing and oxygen supply to the blood stops. Driving a stake into a vampire's chest opens up air and therefore kills. Damage to other organs and parts of the body is not so critical due to the fact that glutinous blood literally clings to the damage immediately.
Consciousness is maintained. Although, as a rule, in a damaged form - perhaps due to organic disorders in the brain or simply because not everyone is able to recognize themselves as dead and vampire and continue to live with it.
The main character has immunity. And he, alone in a huge city full of vampires, lives in a barricaded house and goes out for a walk in the afternoon. Vampires cannot tolerate sunlight because ultraviolet light triggers chains of reactions that are deadly to bacteria in their bodies.
And that's how he lives year after year, having fun climbing into houses and killing vampires sleeping there. The bill goes to hundreds, then thousands - and so on day by day. Until he finally gets caught.
It turns out that the dying humanity managed to create something like the necessary bacteria substances in tablet form. Patients take them and remain almost human, although with some disorders - for example, they are allergic to garlic and sunlight, and they sleep during the day. And while our hero there for years wanked alone and killed sleeping vampires with packs, these people began to slowly restore civilization - organized power, police, supply and production. Only they had one problem. Some creature would walk around town during the day and kill them sleeping. People have already made legends about the Demon of the Day. Every night they found their loved ones, working people, scientists, children killed, and no one knew how to stop it.
Finally, the situation was analyzed, special equipment was allocated, surveillance was installed and a person was caught. The last one not sick. Our hero. Legend. It was decided to execute him because, in fact, he was a real mass murderer.
Now, tell me, how could a book like that make that ridiculous, pathetic thing with a Negro and a Shepherd?
I finished reading “I Am Legend” yesterday. I watched the movie, or rather crammed into myself two days earlier. Yes, I may, like others who have read the book, pour from empty to empty. Oh, come on.
The synopsis says that this film is based on a novel. Really? I wonder if the writers read the novel, or were they guided by the phrase “And this is scooped up”? And they did!
Let's make a little comparison. No, I'm not going to compare the character description. Although the fact that according to the book Neville is blond, with a beard, fat and blue-eyed worker, and the film we have a hot African-American military doctor already signals that everything will be twisted.
The story of the book
Robert Neville is the only survivor of an epidemic that has turned people into vampires. The whole narrative shows us how the hero, who is not very smart in principle, but a brainy person analyzes everything that happened, tries to survive. Finding a cure is its main goal in life, because there are those who can still be saved, whose infection has not reached an extreme stage.
He is all alone, the ghosts of his past do not give him a moment of peace, because he had to kill his wife himself. The whole book he exterminates vampires, quietly and one by one, conducts experiments on them. As a result, through some manipulations and circumstances beyond his control, he learns that vampires have found a way to keep the bacteria in suspended animation, and have already begun to build a new society.
The whole essence of the book boils down to the fact that Man, once at the highest stage of evolution, passes before more genetically improved vampires, new turns of evolution, and then the meaning of the title of the book becomes clear.
The plot of the film.
In the wake of an epidemic in which humans have become zombie vampires, Robert Neville, a former military doctor, is the last, he thinks, member of the human race on Earth. He lives with the shepherd Sam, who remains the only living reminder of his family (his wife and daughter fell victim to the accident), and the goal in his life is to find a cure.
We are shown how he conducts research, how he “survives” – playing golf aboard an aircraft carrier, for example (this behavior is logical!). They show his psychosis against the background of loneliness. No, wait. It would be relevant and really strong only if he was really alone. But he had a dog, he had someone to sublimate on, so to speak. But more drama! Speaking of drama. Did you know that Sam's story was also woven just to suck out tears? Although, I won’t be cunning, I was sobbing (it was just me in the middle of the story in the book, and the dog was not there yet, and she did not play such a role in the plot). But the movie's ending knows it.
There are no complaints about Smith's game. He's really good when one is in the frame. I think I accomplished the task by 5 points. It's not his fault, it's the plot.
Visually, only the city itself. Special effects limping, graphics in general frankly no.
What we have in the end in the comparison book / film:
1. The main character is an ordinary worker (kn.) - a former military doctor who was in the highest circle (f.).
2. The family was lost during the epidemic (C.) - accident (F.).
3. The dog, accidentally seen near the house, was fed for a long time, accustomed to himself, barely dragged into the house, where he tried to heal the wounded paw - the dog died from infection after 6 days (book) - a close-hearted animal that has come a long way with him, and which was given an important role (f.)
4. Vampires - people who were infected with the bacterium, but did not lose their minds, and even vice versa, and began to build a new society - stupid half-naked zombie creatures.
5. In the end, Neville comes to the conclusion that he, as a representative of the human race, has become a rudiment, the same Legend - the authors made two endings, but none is even an inch close to the original.
What I wanted to say to all of this is that if you're going to do something that you write "For reasons...", you have to keep more than just the name and title of the character.