Humanity has basically screwed itself over by creating a virus that killed off 90% of the world’s population and turned about 9% of the rest into rabid creatures I dub “zompires” (cos they’re like a combination of vampires and zombies!).
Robert Neville (Will Smith) is the only survivor in New York city and tries to survive and find a cure while trying to evade the zompires that only come out at night.
Eyeris is very concerned about how the movie is not like the book. Yes, they should put this disclaimer on their movie posters: Very, very, very loosely based on the book by Richard Matheson. It’s as if they took the basic premise (man alone, surrounded by monsters) and chucked the rest away.
But is the movie any good??
Here’s this: If you have a taste for apocalyptic movies, you may enjoy this. I have a rabid taste for “humanity is screwed over, only 0.5% of us is alive” type of movies so I loved how they depicted this godforsaken world.
It’s awesome how they make New York city look so abandoned, especially since I’ve been there before and it’s sure ain’t empty. Apparently the movie was actually filmed in New York City itself. As a result, they had the most expensive scene ever filmed: US$5mil at Brooklyn bridge. They must’ve cordoned off the area and caused massive traffic jams. Awesome. The effects, I mean, not the jam.
The most expensive scene ever filmed? I hope New Yorkers appreciate it after the hell they went through…
Bottom line?
On the whole, as an apocalyptic movie, tres not bad. Not great, but not bad. I appreciate it for the gripping action sequences and how it, oh well, attempts to some successful degree to show how a man isolated and always fear-ridden acts. (I’ve always been interested in observing how people survive in dire situations like this.) But let’s not get too deep here, it’s a simple pop corn thriller, nothing deep.
The movie, however, actually made me wonder how a world like that would change after a cataclysm like that. My friend and I discussed at length what could happen after the movie’s end. Our discussion could produce quite an interesting novel!
I was also quite surprised by a certain angle they’ve decided to include: (Highlight to reveal) The God angle. What’s up with that? It’s not that I don’t appreciate it, I just think that its inclusion towards the end a little pat and doesn’t really contribute to the story.
Not enough zompire action though.
Will you watch it again?
Highlight to read: I actually cried like a baby in one scene of the movie. Those who know me well will know why. And for that reason, I don’t think I can watch the movie again because I can’t bear the trauma once more (yes I’m a softie). But if you don’t have that particular phobia/aversion like mine, it’s probably rewatchable.
My verdict? 3.5 stars.
The movie, however, actually made me wonder how a world like that would change after a cataclysm like that.
That, in a nutshell, describes what the book accomplished with its original story. Not just that, it took a well-worn legend, turned it on its heels, and created an entire new legend.
THAT is what the movie lacked, if compared to the book. On its own, the movie is just a mindless vampire/bug Will Smith movie, and nothing more.
I tried to watch ‘I Am Legend’. The beginning is ok, especially the scene were Will Smith is exercising shirtless on a cross bar!!
I had to leave halfway because I was absolutely terrified… the tension was too much for me. My heart was hammering against my chest and my eyes shut tightly.
Really scary