Saturday, January 19, 2008

I Am Legend

Here is the summary plot for "I Am Legend", featuring Will Smith, excerpted from the imdb.

"Robert Neville is a scientist who was unable to stop the spread of the terrible virus that was incurable and man-made. Immune, Neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City and perhaps the world. For three years, Neville has faithfully sent out daily radio messages, desperate to find any other survivors who might be out there. But he is not alone. Mutant victims of the plague -- The Infected -- lurk in the shadows... watching Neville's every move... waiting for him to make a fatal mistake.

Perhaps mankind's last, best hope, Neville is driven by only one remaining mission: to find a way to reverse the effects of the virus using his own immune blood. But he knows he is outnumbered... and quickly running out of time."

This is a useless film - unengaging hokum. The star is the CGI-enhanced backcloth of a deserted, weed-and-wreck-strewn New York. Will Smith, the heroic military doctor, looks like an actor doing a good job of acting a man driven half to madness by guilt and solitude.

Interesting film feature. Despite months having elapsed of no people around, the electric power and water supplies are working just fine.

Towards the end of the film, Will Smith - Dr Robert Neville - rages to a supporting actress: "This virus has killed 5.8 billion people -- there is no God."

In an American film, after a character says something like that, you just know that (a) he'll come to a sticky end, and (b) the plot resolution will emphasise redemption, and that there is a God after all. -- And so it all came to pass.

Clare unaccountably had a more positive impression - I put it down to kids and pet animals (one of each). My summary review? "Yeah, so?"