I Am Legend ~

Newly released I Am Legend is based on a 1954 Richard Matheson science fiction novel. This is all right with me, since I've always been a Matheson fan. In addition to writing a score of loved novels and short stories, he also wrote for two of my favorite TV shows - The Twilight Zone and Star Trek (TOS). And does anyone remember a sappy but fondly held film called Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve and *sigh* Jane Seymour? Or how about Steven Spielberg's Duel? I could go on and on, so I suppose one might say that I'm a wee bit biased, especially since I can rather demonstrate a soft spot for at least two previous incarnations of Matheson's novel, The Last Man on Earth (with Vincent Price) and The Omega Man (starring Charlton Heston).

Perhaps there may be some truth to that "softy" charge, even though neither one of those previously filmed versions were masterpieces by any stretch of the imagination -- especially the cheap, kitschy Last Man on Earth -- and this one doesn't qualify either, but it did manage to engage the full-house audience I saw it with. Most folks seemed quite engaged while watching it, gasping and caring at all the intended moments. And truth be told, I found myself feeling a bit nostalgic while watching it. It also reminded me that Matheson wrote his tale long before the likes of 28 Days Later, etc. It's ground that is well tread now, however, Matheson left his footprints early on.

Here's the plot in very short summation: the augmentation of the measles virus in an attempt to cure cancer causes almost all of Earth's population to die off while horribly mutating most of the survivors into a nasty form of vampire. Only a very few, such as Will Smith's character, military virologist Robert Neville, are immune to the effects of this deadly air-borne virus. And most of those survivors have been killed off by the mutated beasties.

I'll give credit here to director Francis Lawrence (whose only other feature credit is Constantine) for demonstrating a controlled, generally sensitive approach to his subject matter. And he coaxed a nicely subtle and sorrowful performance out of Smith. That said, the ravenous vampire elements seemed a bit heavy handed. And though the visuals were passable (they're certainly more developed than those I grew up with), Sony Imaging couldn't match the level of ILM or Weta Workshop. However, the production design is solid and James Newton Howard adds a nice touch with his deft score.

Some would say a religious element that is injected into the piece two-thirds of the way through is also heavy handed and hard to swallow. However, I did not find it so. Heck, if I'm expected to swallow a man-made virus that kills almost everyone and turns most of the rest into powerful, zombie-like, trap-setting vampires, then why not an element involving the belief in God desiring to put things back on track after mankind has screwed itself over so badly. (Neville even points out that "God didn't do this, we did.") A man unselfishly resting responsibility for mankind's woes at his feet and the feet of his own kind? I can buy that.

Besides, the thing's part social commentary and part B movie anyway, so what's the real harm? Rather, one should more question the grand laboratory setup Neville somehow made for himself and how there seems to be plenty of electrical power, etc., in this "dead" world. Those are much bigger lapses in digestibility. I also had trouble getting past the tough-guy strut our medical doctor exhibited, regardless of his military background.

A remake of I Am Legend has been germinating at Warner Brothers for at least a decade or so. Such heavy weights as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Cruise and Ridley Scott have purportedly been attached at one time or another. This latest version of Matheson's work may have its faults and contrivances, but it's certainly more emotional, sincere and even more cerebral than it would have been with someone like Mr. Schwarzenegger in the lead role.

So, if you like your horror movies with some science fiction and social commentary mixed in, or your science fiction movies with some non- Saw-type-gore horror mixed in, this one may be just the ticket for you. As I said, the group I saw it with enjoyed it so it should do well, even if it isn't exactly full of holiday cheer. Still, its ending is more upbeat than its predecessors. This will no doubt relieve some and irritate others.