[Movie Review] I Am Legend

[Grandmaster]

Now remember why it all goes south in the end.

Spoiler

Neville took a zombie woman to test on. It was Alpha Zombie's woman. That is why the whole thing went south and the ending is as it is. With Neville doing the head butt boom boom into Alpha Zombie. The movie gives us a small glimpse into the whole Zombie society structure that is beginning to evolve thanks to Alpha Zombie and the taking of the female Zombie. It's animalistic at best. But Smith's character doesn't pay attention to this. His mind is still borderline with all the flashbacks and years of isolation.

Spoiler

Yeah, I managed to follow all that.

He even refuses to believe that there exists a surviver community. And a community of Amish? Come on. You don't get enough of a glimpse to see what the community is or how fortified they are.

I was slightly exaggerating when I called them the Amish, but you got the point

Spoiler

Per the book, he was supposed to die. No cheesy "oh, they are all happy" ending would have sufficied.

Spoiler

It kinda felt like that with the whole community thing.

Also, we don't see any indication that the woman is the alpha male's woman. Only that they are learning simply because of the fact that Neville has grabbed a fair few number of them for experimentation. The alpha doesn't come to get his woman to Neville's place, he comes to destroy the living.

It's up to how you interpret it. I think you could think both ways. She's the only woman zombie.

The plot holes for me started with the introduction of Anna. If she had indeed been at the pier all day, why had she not met Neville who was ALSO at the pier for a fair bit of time that same day, waiting for the zombies to emerge? He didn't just show up, he had been there waiting.

I don't seem to remember this part. I thought he got caught in that trap that day? Also, was that trap set by alpha zombie or one that Neville forgot he had setup?

And it just goes downhill from there.

LOL, yup.

 

[gonaads]

Spoiler

Per the book, he was supposed to die. No cheesy "oh, they are all happy" ending would have sufficied.

Also, we don't see any indication that the woman is the alpha male's woman. Only that they are learning simply because of the fact that Neville has grabbed a fair few number of them for experimentation. The alpha doesn't come to get his woman to Neville's place, he comes to destroy the living.

The plot holes for me started with the introduction of Anna. If she had indeed been at the pier all day, why had she not met Neville who was ALSO at the pier for a fair bit of time that same day, waiting for the zombies to emerge? He didn't just show up, he had been there waiting.

And it just goes downhill from there.

The ending actually is a fitting one considering the Bob Marley song. Keep that in mind Yes, it was a bit of a cop-out but the manner of his going out goes directly with the song that was played repeatedly with Neville and Sam and Neville's explaining of things to Anna from his perspective.

Neville's refusal of a community is also not far-fetched. He has lived alone for about 3 years. There is undoubtedly some paranoia and pessimism as he has seen his fellow man fall and be exterminated for so long. Couple that with the fact that he is hurt and obviously feverish and you have the perfect recipe for delusional thinking.

Yeah, but

Spoiler

Don't you remember how the Alpha Zombie got all freaked out when Neville caught her. The Alpha was willing to go into the sunlight to get at her and Neville. And Smith's character noticed that.

 

[Sazar]

Spoiler

We are talking about a fraction of a percent of people who turned into the Dark Seekers. Do you REALLY think that there would be only ONE female?

Come on guys

The trap itself is not one set by himself but rather the Dark Seekers after copying Neville's methods. They don't appear bright and don't do anything denoting intellectual capabilities other than this trap during the entire movie so this is very out of place for the story. He saw "Fred" just the day before when he went to get the movie from the store.

Re: His being at the pier. He had obviously been there for a little bit, allowing him to position his car, a dummy for the "trap" and have his car turned off. I would say he had been there more than a couple of minutes and therefore there was ample time for Anna and himself to have met. There is no way she could not have seen him around and why was it that she waited till his car was almost pushed over the edge before saving him?

Like I said, that was a big plot hole and I have no idea why the writer's went that route. It destroyed the pacing of the movie and the sense of suspense established till then. She was a plot prop to get the cure moved from his discovery to the survivors. Too convenient unfortunately.

 

[muzikool]

Spoiler

We are talking about a fraction of a percent of people who turned into the Dark Seekers. Do you REALLY think that there would be only ONE female?

Come on guys

The trap itself is not one set by himself but rather the Dark Seekers after copying Neville's methods. They don't appear bright and don't do anything denoting intellectual capabilities other than this trap during the entire movie so this is very out of place for the story. He saw "Fred" just the day before when he went to get the movie from the store.

Re: His being at the pier. He had obviously been there for a little bit, allowing him to position his car, a dummy for the "trap" and have his car turned off. I would say he had been there more than a couple of minutes and therefore there was ample time for Anna and himself to have met. There is no way she could not have seen him around and why was it that she waited till his car was almost pushed over the edge before saving him?

Like I said, that was a big plot hole and I have no idea why the writer's went that route. It destroyed the pacing of the movie and the sense of suspense established till then. She was a plot prop to get the cure moved from his discovery to the survivors. Too convenient unfortunately.

This is a good example of what hurts this movie -- it didn't develop in some areas, such as whether or not the Dark Seekers had evolved in intelligence, or simply learned from what they saw. There's too many questions that could have been addressed -- not in a way that spoon-feeds the answers to you, but in an intelligent way that improves the story.

 

[gonaads]

Yes true, but then we have a 3 1/2 hour movie or a sequel (in order to continue down this path) that would be terrible.

I think this is why there are quite a few movies out there that could have been really really good, such as this one but most movies if not all have the damn time restraint. Otherwise they could get really boring at times throughout and then a movie that is good but with some plot flaws turns into a bad movie.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. :s

 

[Sazar]

I should be a movie critic

 

[gonaads]

Don't quit yer day job. *quickly looks for exit*

 

[BouncingSoul]

Note to Hollywood.... Taking a general plot and title does make make it an adaptation.

You will only like this if you never read the book or didn't understand the book. For those of us that did read it.... Disappointment awaits. All I can really say is that I'm sure glad its screener season.

 

[Sazar]

?

This is a far more faithful adaptation of the book than the other 2 previous versions and the character's plight is portrayed in a more meaningful manner

Compared to many other adaptations, sure, this isn't exactly faithful, but there are many plot elements that have a familiar feel, even though they have been updated for the future.

 

[tdinc]

I am finally going to watch this tonight, I have read the book, and graphic novel. My take sometime between now and Christmas.

 

[BouncingSoul]

They cut out the best/creepiest part.

Spoiler

NEVILE .. COME OUT NEVILE.

The fact was that Robert Nevile knew these people and couldn't do jack to help them. They also changed the story of the dog, the story of the other survivor, hell they didn't even include that subplot and on top of everything ... THEY CHANGED THE ENDING! Sure it had some of the same elements, but that doesn't make it the same. Or even close.

Those changes just ruined what was a great performance and could have been a great movie.

 

[Sazar]

I added spoiler tags to your post and I agree. My biggest peeve with the movie was the fact that it's pacing and last 1/3rd were weak.

However, the first 2/3 rds of the movie was really well done for the genre.

 

[Steevo]

2.5/5

Not enough filling out of characters in certain areas.
Too much time in other areas like the movie store.

Spoiler

The darkseekers were becoming different, and a really cool movie could have progressed from that. However the path it took sucked major balls.

The alpha male was interesting character, and should have been expounded upon more.

I could have done without the home erotic Will Smith body shots throughout the movie, they seem to appear in most of his last movies, I Robot, I am Legend.

The fact that being stabbed in the leg with half a little blade made him a whimpering pussy was too much. (I have a scar from a chinsaw accident on my knee, I walked home, had many bad things happen and never turned into a whimpering pussy)

The whole blow myself up ting at the end was ****. Mebey if he were to throw the nade and duck and cover and fight with at least a few remaining, then die later, but that was BS. With a solid steel safe area, I would have climbed in too and tossed the nade right before I shut the door.

Sorry, but sick humans who are starving are not that strong.

 

[Sazar]

Steevo

Spoiler

The character development of the other survivors was crap, weakest part of the movie was crap.

But, here's a few things to consider.

He had been hanging from said leg with the entire blade going through it when he falls from a height. I am presuming you were not hanging upside down from that leg with you had your chainsaw accident? As such, the who issue with him limping and having issues after having been hanging by said leg all day and also having a blade stuck in it doesn't seem so far-fetched.

The blower-upper ending was also plausible given he was essentially trying to kill himself after the loss of Samantha. And the grenade and lights and all that played along with the Bob Marley song which was an anthem of sorts.

Also, the infected peeps weren't exactly starving. They fed at night and there were plenty of animals around for them to feed on. They rested during the day. Wouldn't call them starving

 

[Steevo]

Steevo

Spoiler

The character development of the other survivors was crap, weakest part of the movie was crap.

But, here's a few things to consider.

He had been hanging from said leg with the entire blade going through it when he falls from a height. I am presuming you were not hanging upside down from that leg with you had your chainsaw accident? As such, the who issue with him limping and having issues after having been hanging by said leg all day and also having a blade stuck in it doesn't seem so far-fetched. Hanging yes, but the blade only entered his leg after the fall. He was supposedly knocked uncontentious when he was pulled up by the rope. When I was young and and stupid doing construction I turned backwards on a ladder and it fell over, breaking three ribs of mine, one leg of the ladder, from 7' in the air. I grunted a bit, and had to catch my breath, and continued on after I fixed the leg. The next day I stacked two pallets of 2X4's and three pallets of miscellaneous other stuff. So blade 1.5" into leg, and a bump on the head accounts for all that action=pussy. BTW I was 15 when I had the chainsaw accident. the scar has almost faded, but the knee still feels weird.

The blower-upper ending was also plausible given he was essentially trying to kill himself after the loss of Samantha. And the grenade and lights and all that played along with the Bob Marley song which was an anthem of sorts.

Also, the infected peeps weren't exactly starving. They fed at night and there were plenty of animals around for them to feed on. They rested during the day. Wouldn't call them starving

When is the last time a hospital assigned guards to keep sick people in?

See your spoiler.

 

[Sazar]

Steevo

Spoiler

He was hanging off the rope by that leg for the duration of daylight essentially, then he falls and has a knife enter his leg. Who knows what they script calls for the blade having damaged. I am not making assumptions here. I've had major injuries that didn't have many ill-effects and I have had small injuries that wiped me out completely.

All I am saying is, it is something that is completely plausible and was the last thing I was thinking about in light of the other plot holes.

Regarding his research lab, we have no background on it. It's not a hospital but then again, I am not sure if you are referring to the lab or something else?

Refer to my other posts for my big peeves with the movie

 

[Perris Calderon]

Spoiler

so what's the real ending if this ending isn't consistant with the novel?

I have to agree, what's with the beefcake shots?...he's doing a super hero movie next, I suppose even more beefcake shots there too.

and someone explain to me how the hell his wife and kid died, these were military escorts, they didn't know the bridges was getting blown up by their own friggin military?...did I miss something there?

anyway, I liked the movie...possibly because I didn't read the book

also, the plot was being developed that these night seekers were evolving, not devolving as smith entered in his diary

they were inteligent, trapping smith, they had communication with each other and that included caring for each other and they were probably demonstrating love, they had self awareness, they knew the meaning of death

anyway, could someone tell me the original ending from the novel?

 

[Grandmaster]

perris =>

Spoiler

In the novel (from what I've been told), Neville is actually the "bad guy". The zombies think of him as a "Legend" because he keeps on taking their "people". In the book Neville is actually the last man alive... meaning no other survivors. And he's not this super soldier/brilliant scientist with a state-of-the-art lab.

 

[Sazar]

What GM said.

 

[Dark Atheist]

typical of hollywood now - hype something right up , and it turns out to be ok, i wouldnt say this film was great, would say bad either