I am Legend Review

Name : Indra Agrianto Kurniawan

SRN : 2201408049

I am Legend

Directed by Francis Lawrence
Produced by Akiva Goldsman, David Heyman, James Lassiter, Neal H. Moritz
Starring Will Smith, Alice Braga, Dash Mihok, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith, Charlie Tahan, Abbey and Kona
Running time Theatrical cut:
100 min.
Alternate cut:
104 min.

The film opens in 2009 with a televised news broadcast with Dr. Alice Krippin (Emma Thompson) who has created a cure for cancer (100% cure rate) by altering the measles virus.

In 2012, U.S. Army virologist, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Neville (Will Smith) is left as the last healthy human in New York City and possibly the entire world. A series of flashbacks and recorded news programs reveal that the genetically re-engineered measles virus (referred to as K.V. or Krippen Virus) mutated into a lethal airborne strain that spread worldwide and killed 5.4 billion people, 90% of humanity. Only 12 million possessed a natural immunity. The remaining 588 million, after initially exhibiting symptoms resembling rabies, degenerated into primal, aggressive beings referred to as "Darkseekers" (the DVD subtitles refer to them as hemocytes) who have a painful intolerance to UV radiation, forcing them to hide in buildings and other dark places during the day. The "Darkseekers" exhibit superhuman speed, agility, and strength. They also retain some problem-solving intelligence and the capacity to organize. The remaining immune humans were killed by the infected.

Suddenly, a bestial roar sounds from outside the house. The Alpha Male leads a group of infected in an attack on the house, having followed Anna and Neville back the night before. (As Neville was bleeding badly, Anna took him straight back to the house instead of waiting for sunrise, allowing the infected to track them.) They overrun its defenses and force Neville, Anna, and Ethan to retreat into the basement laboratory. They seal themselves in with the infected woman, where they discover that Neville's treatment is working. By now, Neville has worked out a cure for the virus, and he takes a sample of the infected female's blood, containing the treatment, and gives a vial of it to Anna, telling her that she's right and God has a plan. The infected are managing to break through the glass, at which point Neville notices a butterfly tattoo on Anna's neck as she holds Ethan. Neville remembers his daughter mentioning a butterfly the night she died, and her voice rings through his mind. Neville knows now what he must do. He pushes Anna and Ethan into an old coal chute, shuts them inside, and then sacrifices himself to save their lives, using a hand grenade to kill the infected.

Anna and Ethan escape to Vermont, and locate the survivors' colony, where Anna hands over the cure.

In fact, its worst offense may be to pretend as if it's not a "wow" movie, disallowing viewers the enjoyment of being astonished by empty New York streets or the thrilling spectacle of Smith destroying a phalanx of Dark Seekers. Ultimately, there are passing thrills and breathtaking visuals to behold in I Am Legend, but even in the pantheon of films with which it presumes to share company, Lawrence's film will likely be a short-lived legend indeed